zombywoof Posted January 9, 2010 Share Posted January 9, 2010 I prefer to play standing up with the guitar strapped on. For whatever reason I just gotta move when I play. But when I'm just noodlin' around and do sit - I pretty much flop down in a comfy chair often with one leg cast over the arm. At times I tend to hold the guitar just about straight up like Bill Wyman used to hold his bass. Ain't exactly a pretty sight I would imagine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 http://www.vamu.se/Product%20Information.html There is an alternative I've found that works suprisingly well. It's a kidney/wedge shaped cushion that sits on your right knee and holds the guitar up at a a much better height. They come in 4 inch and 5.5 inch if I remember. Bing (or Google) "Dynarette" or go to the link above. G'uck. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 I started on classical. A "secretarial" desk chair or just a straight chair has been what I mostly sit on, although I've used a number of piano benches. Then either the little "Classical guitarist" stool or sitting with the left leg crossed over the right to get a similar position. That seems to work with an acoustic of most sizes and types, with a 175 or larger "jazz" guitar, 335 style or even an "sg" style electric - although the solidbody is played with legs crossed rather than the stool. Okay... why? I can turn the body to get a correct (pretty much "classical" style) position for my left hand while not losing the right hand since I'm 99 percent playing fingerstyle nowadays. I make variations in posture depending on the instrument I'm playing at a given time. Or, I usually turn a but more if I'm using a flatpick. Doing a solo or duo bar gig type thing, a regular bar stool and the leg crossed position works well for me. In fact, it works a lot better for playing and vocal together since the body is less likely to be "crunched" as happens sometimes with some guitars on a stool. But as for "looking cool," at my age I pretty much could care less. I want comfort and access to the instrument. BTW, my current avatar pretty much tells it, although note that it's shot from a very low angle. m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 I do most of my playing, including performances, sitting down, both feet on the floor, with the guitar on the right thigh. Any striaght back chair will do, and with the big band the venue has to furnish 20 chairs, so sometimes thet are pretty ratty looking. With the sextet we play on stools, and years ago I picked up a couple of $10-15 plain wooden stools that work great. They have two sets of crossbars, which give you two different footrest positions. Generally the left leg is on the lower bar, and the right leg (with the guitar) is on the higher one which makes for a very comfortable playing position. Never really tried the "classical" position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanvillRob Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 Never really tried the "classical" position. I almost always go with the Missionary Position.... I find it more direct and easy to assume....what? Guitar playing position? Oh.... nevermind!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 Larry... U B Bad... m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjulch Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 On my butt? Seriously... I've noticed lately that my chording arm is uncomfortable... I may try the between the legs position to see if it helps' date=' but it WILL diminish my "coolness"!!!![/quote'] Most rock guitarist were never formally trained. They learned like most of us by picking it up and strumming. What looks cool is someone picking up a guitar a playing like there was no tomorrow. No one cares how you are holding it, they just know you can play. I've seen some people who keep the guitar up high, almost on their chest when they are standing. People still think they are cool. Think Dave Matthews or Robert Cray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanvillRob Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 Most rock guitarist were never formally trained. They learned like most of us by picking it up and strumming. What looks cool is someone picking up a guitar a playing like there was no tomorrow. No one cares how you are holding it' date=' they just know you can play. I've seen some people who keep the guitar up high, almost on their chest when they are standing. People still think they are cool. Think Dave Matthews or Robert Cray. [/quote'] I actually took lessons for like 5 years...('til the instructor said he couldn't teach me anything more), and I have always been comfortable just holding the guitar on my right thigh.... but age and whatever ails me, has rendered my left arm hurting after awhile of playing. I can still stand to play...but why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluenote Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 I have a couple of slipped discs so I don't stay in any one position for too long. I either sit on a mechanic's stool with the rotating seat, or a good quality folding card player's chair. -Actually, look at Kevin Eubanks on the Jay Leno Show......- He sits very relaxed, leaning way back. I tried this and its surprising how comfortable it is for me to practice like that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluenote Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 Has anybody tried a Drummer's stool? They're pretty big and they look comfortable..... maybe too low? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
L5Larry Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 look at Kevin Eubanks on the Jay Leno Show......- He sits very relaxed' date=' leaning way back. I tried this and its surprising how comfortable it is for me to practice like that.[/quote'] I've noticed that too. The most relaxed looking player I've ever seen is Freddie Green of the old Count Basie Band. He was always sitting with his butt forward on the chair leaning way back with his legs tightly crossed. Kind of looked like he was sitting on a sofa watching TV with a cocktail in one hand and a cig in the other. He also made some incredible guitar playing look and sound very easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taylor Player Posted January 11, 2010 Share Posted January 11, 2010 Has anybody tried a Drummer's stool? They're pretty big and they look comfortable..... maybe too low? Larry... That is basically the inspiration for the SoundSeat design that I have. (See my earlier post with my cat on my Soundseat) The owner of the company was/is a drummer and the chair I have also can be sold just as a drum throne I believe. You really can sit for hours without any problem in these chairs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tw2_usa Posted January 20, 2010 Author Share Posted January 20, 2010 An alternative would be to play with a strap and hang the guitar over your right leg like Rev. Gary Davis/Ernie Hawkins http://www.bluesartstudio.com/komponenten2/ERNIE-HAWKINS2.jpg. Ernie preaches this set up in his workshops. This works for me. Thank you. I am committed to this now. I did try this setup' date=' strap connected to headstock, when I first got my git and it felt awful. Now it feels ideal. Progress - always welcome. On the downside, the rhythm guitar dvd I ordered is all on an electric. And I'm trying these chord positions on a full sized dread with medium strings. Regression - always a challenge. The final upside is that lately when stopping in to sample guitars for sale, they all, regardless of quality, seem to play so EASILY (with their light strings and all)... Thanks again to all who posted. I'm learning so much here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 I've found this to be the most....."comfortable" way to sit and play guitar...... http://www.amazon.com/DMI-Rubber-Inflatable-Ring-16/dp/B002W0G9BU Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertjohn Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 I've found this to be the most....."comfortable" way to sit and play guitar...... http://www.amazon.com/DMI-Rubber-Inflatable-Ring-16/dp/B002W0G9BU Great for those post vasectomy practice sessions too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 I've missed some of the responses on here, but... 1. Why is it still comfortable to stand and play when it's not comfortable sitting with the guitar on the right thigh? Because the standing position is more like the traditional classical guitarist's positioning, depending on some variables. 2. Yeah, the left leg crossed tightly over the right gives a similar positioning to the traditional left thigh and stool. 3. As a fingerpicker I may prefer my guitar a little higher. Overall I think a lot has to do with guitar playing style. I've found that just switching instruments also brings a difference both in how I sit/stand and play and even how I think of technique. So... consider the leaning back guy will have a type of technique that fits well with his physical positioning. For what it's worth, if I'm doing a solo gig I tend to prefer a stool, left leg crossed over the right, and a boom mike if I'm doing vocals. Or a straight chair. It does cut the amount of available air for vocals, though. With other players doing blues, especially if I'm doing the vocals, I'll stand - then back to the stool if it's just picking. m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Lee Posted January 20, 2010 Share Posted January 20, 2010 Depends what I'm playing - I play most of my guitars in the normal position, but I play my acoustic archtops sitting down, holding the body of the guitar at about a 30 degree angle to the ground in the way Freddie Green played. That way I can still hear the tone of the guitar and it projects more than if the back of the guitar is held tight against my body. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nodehopper Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 I wanted to weigh in on this one. I have been dealing with 9 months now of throbbing pain in my right arm and shoulder. I have been to 3 G.P's - 1 Neurologist - 1 Kinesiologist - 1 Chiropractor - 1 P.T. and 2 massage therapists. I have gotten diagnosis of Tenosynovitis - Tendinitis - Carpal Tunnel - Cubit Tunnel Entrapment - Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. The two G.P's ....as soon as I said I do IT work and play guitar ...you could see their minds shut down and the words Carpel Tunnel automatically come out of their mouths and that was that! So I guess I am hyper-sensitized to the idea of playing guitar (and everything else for that matter) in a way to minimize the chances of injury. Definitely if something feels even a little bit painful ...stop and rethink your posture - position - whatever so you don't hurt yourself. I have switched to playing mostly in a classical position simply because it puts much less strain on the upper body because the arm doesn't need to wrap around the guitar as far way from the body. I do switch positions back and forth if I feel the slightest fatigue, just to avoid putting strain on any one spot. One big advantage I found about the classical position is it does allow the player to hear the guitar a bit better than the folk / rocker position. The sound hole is facing forward and is canted up toward the players face a little while in the folk position the sound hole is pointed away and to the side. This was an added benefit that I found to be really nice for practicing. So regarding the solution to my issues...I have found a book that has significantly helped and would HIGHLY recommend this to everyone who has any discomfort. The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook: Your Self-Treatment Guide for Pain Relief, Second Edition by Clair Davies You have to think of this as taking charge of your own body and figuring out your particular issues, but the science behind this is very strong, yet since it doesn't involve a doctor $$ giving you a prescription $$$ and sending you to a specialist $$$$$$ ...most doctors don't think in terms of muscular-skeletal pain causalities or therapy. In 3 weeks of working with this workbook and 1 visit to a Trigger Point Massage Therapist I am already 70% better. I figure I can't completely fix 9 months of pain in only 3 weeks so I am hopeful that this will get me back 100% with more time and work. I have to thank OneWilyFool for all his support and encouragement for me not to give up and sell off all my guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanvillRob Posted January 21, 2010 Share Posted January 21, 2010 I wanted to weigh in on this one. I have been dealing with 9 months now of throbbing pain in my right arm and shoulder. I have been to 3 G.P's - 1 Neurologist - 1 Kinesiologist - 1 Chiropractor - 1 P.T. and 2 massage therapists. I have gotten diagnosis of Tenosynovitis - Tendinitis - Carpal Tunnel - Cubit Tunnel Entrapment - Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. The two G.P's ....as soon as I said I do IT work and play guitar ...you could see their minds shut down and the words Carpel Tunnel automatically come out of their mouths and that was that! So I guess I am hyper-sensitized to the idea of playing guitar (and everything else for that matter) in a way to minimize the chances of injury. Definitely if something feels even a little bit painful ...stop and rethink your posture - position - whatever so you don't hurt yourself. I have switched to playing mostly in a classical position simply because it puts much less strain on the upper body because the arm doesn't need to wrap around the guitar as far way from the body. I do switch positions back and forth if I feel the slightest fatigue' date=' just to avoid putting strain on any one spot. One big advantage I found about the classical position is it does allow the player to hear the guitar a bit better than the folk / rocker position. The sound hole is facing forward and is canted up toward the players face a little while in the folk position the sound hole is pointed away and to the side. This was an added benefit that I found to be really nice for practicing. So regarding the solution to my issues...I have found a book that has significantly helped and would HIGHLY recommend this to everyone who has any discomfort. [img']http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/514vQiMqvQL.jpg[/img] The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook: Your Self-Treatment Guide for Pain Relief, Second Edition by Clair Davies You have to think of this as taking charge of your own body and figuring out your particular issues, but the science behind this is very strong, yet since it doesn't involve a doctor $$ giving you a prescription $$$ and sending you to a specialist $$$$$$ ...most doctors don't think in terms of muscular-skeletal pain causalities or therapy. In 3 weeks of working with this workbook and 1 visit to a Trigger Point Massage Therapist I am already 70% better. I figure I can't completely fix 9 months of pain in only 3 weeks so I am hopeful that this will get me back 100% with more time and work. I have to thank OneWilyFool for all his support and encouragement for me not to give up and sell off all my guitars. Bummer... I think all guitarists worry about just this scenario...especially at my age, (60). My best friend has diabetes, it almost totally blind now...and lost the use of his hands to the point where he can't play any more. He said being blind is rough...but NOTHING like not being able to play anymore! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertjohn Posted January 22, 2010 Share Posted January 22, 2010 Nodehopper. It's great to read that you have found something to improve your problem. And as for taking advice from Wily. You're either a brave man or I've got him all wrong! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nodehopper Posted January 22, 2010 Share Posted January 22, 2010 Nodehopper. It's great to read that you have found something to improve your problem. And as for taking advice from Wily. You're either a brave man or I've got him all wrong!:) No AJ....you have him absolutely correct.....but when he gives me advice I do the exact opposite and it really works great!! :- ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albertjohn Posted January 22, 2010 Share Posted January 22, 2010 No AJ....you have him absolutely correct.....but when he gives me advice I do the exact opposite and it really works great!! :- LOL Still looking out for more of "The Lost Sessions" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted January 22, 2010 Share Posted January 22, 2010 This is the chair I recommended Node get to improve his posture when playing. I thought it would make him sit straight up.....oh well..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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