Playing position

[Burntweenie]

I've been taking a long hard look at my playing, trying to break decades-old habits and been thinking carefully about my approach to the instrument. I recently came across an old interview with Davy Graham in which he advises two things - don't rest your hand on the soundboard or bridge, and rest the guitar on your left knee (if you're a righty), classical/Spanish style.

The first tip makes plenty of sense to me in that not touching the soundboard should (theoretically) improve resonance.

Sitting with the guitar on my left knee does raise the neck up to a 'better' angle for fingering, but it I'm finding it difficult to get comfortable - my back hurts after a few minutes and I feel like my leg isn't long enough! (insert joke here!)

Does anyone else here suffer like this or have any tips - is it worth persevering i.e. are the benefits worth it? I'd be interested to know your thoughts.

Cheers!

[MexicoMike]

I'd suggest you hold it however it is most comfortable for you.  What "fits" someone else is not necessarily the best way, even if it is the "correct" position.  Some of the best guitarists in the world play "wrong." 

[Lizzy]

The first guitar I bought was a dread. I love their sound but they are just too big for me. The salesman, when I brought it back to talk with him about how my neck and shoulder were hurting, suggested I try the classical position. Turns out he has his masters in classical guitar. Anyway, after a few months I'm like chuck this, this guitar is just too big for me and I got a different model and didn't have to end up contorting myself to play more comfortably. You should find a guitar that fits you and what's comfortable for you to play, don't try to contort yourself to fit the guitar. Just my 2 cents:)

[michaelw]

a foot rest may help
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/GtrFootRest?utm_source=Google&utm_medium=PPC&utm_campaign=guitars&utm_term=adwords_labelsGuitar_Stands&device=c&network=g&matchtype=&gclid=CJ26953m97sCFQPNOgodtSoA4w
or, maybe slightly modified seating posture

this may be the correct posture for classical guitar, but my back,
right knee & ankle are beginning to hurt just looking at this picture

a small bean bag propped on your right leg or a cozy wrapped around a empty can with one side slightly flattened
may  raise the waist of the guitar up enough to where the neck will naturally angle up a bit with no other changes

[Earl]

Try a little experiment.  With the guitar on your right leg, hold a Bm chord shape (barre) and move it up to the 8th fret or so.  Feel the tension in your wrist as it bends back, and in the shoulder.  Then keeping the chord in place, move the guitar to your left leg.  You should feel most of that tension and stress relax.  Nuff said.

When I am working on a difficult piece that is giving me trouble, it almost always helps to move the guitar to the left leg.

[TaylorMate]

The first guitar I bought was a dread. I love their sound but they are just too big for me. The salesman, when I brought it back to talk with him about how my neck and shoulder were hurting, suggested I try the classical position. Turns out he has his masters in classical guitar. Anyway, after a few months I'm like chuck this, this guitar is just too big for me and I got a different model and didn't have to end up contorting myself to play more comfortably. You should find a guitar that fits you and what's comfortable for you to play, don't try to contort yourself to fit the guitar. Just my 2 cents:)

I agree with Lizzy that the size of the guitar can really make a difference. I am not a big guy myself and seem to better of with somewhat smaller bodies. Also the size of you hands counts (although you see sometimes guitarist with the smalles hands and fattest fingers do the most magical things). Yet, the playing position makes a difference for me: sitting (guitar on right of left knee, with or without foot support), standing (with a strap), the way you hold your hand... This summer I mastered after a lot of practicing Sting's Shape of hy heart with the beautiful guitar accompaniment by Dominic Miller. In the beginning it was so hard to get the streched chords. Now I can play them in almost any playing postion, but Dominic tought me some interesting lessons on one of his Youtube videos: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ-6pR1Cea4

[MexicoMike]

I think it depends a lot on what you are doing.  In my flamenco days I always sat to play and had the guitar in the "folky" position, right leg crossed over left and guitar on right leg. Worked best for me.  The traditional flamenco position (which hardly anyone actually uses) or the classical position didn't work at all.   But for singing/playing I usually stand and adjust the strap for the most comfortable position.  The position of the guitar in relation to my body is different comfort-wise for the Taylor 414ce as opposed to my Martin HD28. 

You really have to just find what works for YOU with the specific guitar.

If you want to see an example of how any instructor would tell you NOT to hold a guitar, watch a video of Paco de Lucia.
Here's a video of him in his younger days playing with some other musicians… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0o8vszqVL2U

I can just hear a teacher cautioning students about using that position, "Don't do that, do you want to end up like HIM?" 

[MB]

For me a strap adjusted high works best...even when sitting down.
I can then make adjustments by simply tilting the neck up and down in mid song.
It is very consistent and keeps the guitar in a stable playing position.
You gotta do what works best for you....experiment and you will find your way.

[Earl]

I agree with MB's strap comment.  The strap puts the guitar in a central position, and can be easily adjusted for height.

Due to a shoulder issue, I have actually started using a strap for all playing and with all guitars.  I use cloth or suede straps.  The extra friction helps to stabilize the position.  The cheap nylon straps slide around too much.

[Paul60]

I have to be seated to play guitar, even electric. I don't gig so no need. Even if I did gig I'd feel awkward standing.

That said, I just sit with the guitar cradled on my stomach and right leg. It just feels right and seems to be the way 1000's of guitarists play when seated.

Have never tried that 'classical' position. Might give that a try.

Whatever feels comfy to you I guess.

[Carlinla]

Ha!

Regarding touching the sound board. ..  just last Thursday my guitar teacher suggested that I "anchor" my right hand by touching my pinky to the sound board when finger picking or the back edge of my hand to the bridge when regular picking.   He said the anchor would force the muscles in my hand to do the work rather than mixing some hand muscle and some arm muscle.

go figure.

[Tarekith]

I naturally just learned to anchor with my pinky, feels weird NOT doing that now.

[Burntweenie]

Some interesting points here, especially regarding using straps and the size of the guitar.

Liked the Dominic Miller vid too, good advice re: calisthenics/efficiency of movement, chimes in with a lot of the Guitar Craft/Guitar Circle 'method'.

Here's a .swf metronome for those who are interested:

http://www.justinguitar.com/apps/metronome/

I'd also recommend the rest of that chap's site; lots of goodies. For the record, he also recommends grounding the pinky...guess it really is a case of 'horses for courses'!

[MexicoMike]

Some great guitarists ground the pinky; some don't.  It's all a function of how each individual's muscle system works.  Although it's good to have some view of what "correct technique" is supposed to be, it's just a general guide.  Remember that it comes from whoever is teaching it so they teach what works for them.  Do what works for you.  I have a very unfortunate experience with focal dystonia that I brought on by trying to make my right hand do in one way what it wanted to do a different way.  As a result, I can no longer finger pick at all and I had to learn to use a flat pick...

There are tons of great musicians in all areas of music who play their instruments "incorrectly."  DO NOT try to go against what your body is telling you.

[jerrytubes]

I'd also recommend the rest of that chap's site; lots of goodies. For the record, he also recommends grounding the pinky...guess it really is a case of 'horses for courses'!

For me, grounding the pinky provides a reference point for the other picking fingers;  I don't have any resonance issues doing this - I keep the "pinky pressure" extremely light.