nodehopper Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 I recently started using a strap when playing. Helps support the guitar while sitting and playing. But this led to over the weekend I got up and was standing and playing guitar. It was a revelation...my singing got better and I ended up dancing with my guitar while playing. It added a completely different physical aspect to playing guitar. Expressing music with my whole body while singing and playing guitar. Swaying with the rhythm and feeling like the guitar is my dance partner. Very cool! Gonna get straps for all my guitars and now that I have felt the difference I am not sitting down to play guitar and sing much at all. Any one else have this revelation? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-minor7 Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 He he he - What a party, terrific ! I know what you're talking about. Do it once in a while when I rehearse flatpicking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 I'm a sitter.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhanners623 Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 When I play out, nine times out of 10 I'll stand up. I just seem to have more energy that way and I've always felt a standing performer commands the stage more than a sitting one. Of course there are plenty of great performers who sit while they play, and they command the stage pretty well from their chair. As for myself, I find that when I sit and play, my guitar work is slightly better and more nuanced. And I don't speed the songs up as much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 OH.......SITTING.....I'm sorry, I mis-read this one...I remember Node posting about practicing in the bathroom, and I inferred something completely different....sorry , node!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McDuff Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 I sit but that is mostly because it bothers the other people who live in my house if I wander about playing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroAussie Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 Sitting when at home, when playing out a combination of sitting and standing. I find strumming quite ok while standing and agree it really gets you into the groove, but find flatpicking difficult while standing, thats when i usually sit down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larryp58 Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 The group that I play with get on me all the time about "dancing around" while I'm playing! I can't help it! Man, I feel the music and just can't be still! Some folks can play and not move a muscle (The Darlins'-Andy Griffith Show), but that's just not me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyK Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 Yup. Daily practice while seated is good. If the guitar does not rest on your lap, but suspended by the strap, the geographic location of the guitar and your playing hands don't change when you stand up. While practicing in a seated position is good, eventually, if you intend to perform and sing, you should condition your body to stand and play for the usual duration of a set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
devellis Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 As I don't sing a note, sitting is my position of choice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tennroots Posted March 14, 2011 Share Posted March 14, 2011 I recently started using a strap when playing. Helps support the guitar while sitting and playing. But this led to over the weekend I got up and was standing and playing guitar. It was a revelation...my singing got better and I ended up dancing with my guitar while playing. It added a completely different physical aspect to playing guitar. Expressing music with my whole body while singing and playing guitar. Swaying with the rhythm and feeling like the guitar is my dance partner. Very cool! Gonna get straps for all my guitars and now that I have felt the difference I am not sitting down to play guitar and sing much at all. Any one else have this revelation? So you're making it work, remember talking about it at the Thursday jam? I'm probably around 75% standing 24% sitting & 1% on my knees with a can of lighter fluid, like Bill Monroe used to do. I've found that when standing I naturally stretch or elongate my torso as opposed to hunching over my stringed instrument of choice. This really helps with the mandolin as I can get better tone and keep it off my 12 pack abdomen. I hate tone guards!! I know there is the proper sitting form in resting the guitar on your leg and getting a step up for your left foot, spine straight, eyes forward & begin - tick tock, tick tock... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nodehopper Posted March 15, 2011 Author Share Posted March 15, 2011 So you're making it work, remember talking about it at the Thursday jam? I'm probably around 75% standing 24% sitting & 1% on my knees with a can of lighter fluid, like Bill Monroe used to do. I've found that when standing I naturally stretch or elongate my torso as opposed to hunching over my stringed instrument of choice. This really helps with the mandolin as I can get better tone and keep it off my 12 pack abdomen. I hate tone guards!! I know there is the proper sitting form in resting the guitar on your leg and getting a step up for your left foot, spine straight, eyes forward & begin - tick tock, tick tock... Yah Terry.... I think it does help with posture and keeps the blood moving to be standing when playing. Although when I finish my second glass of Scotch....I will sit down so I don't fall down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pschaafs Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 I think it really helps with singing to be standing - or perhaps sitting on a tall stool. I tend to crunch up when sitting, getting my face over the fretboard to see what I'm doing. I must of missed the Thursday jam when you had scotch! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onewilyfool Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 A little Scotch, a Thursday Jam.....and a strap on......?????? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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