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Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jul 14 2011, 09:02 AM

Mates, over the years I have discovered a few aspects regarding the way you hold your guitar when playing. I find them important because this factor affects your playing in a substantial amount.

- try to find a position in which the guitar is about the same level when you practice sitting or standing. You'll discover that if you swing it around your knees when standing, aside from the fact that your hands won't be able to tackle about 80% of what you usually play while sitting, your mind will feel boggled by the distance created between your eyes and the guitar neck. It's a VERY strange sensation

- if you hold your guitar about your waist when standing, let the body of your axe lean on your right hip - it's going to offer a good position for your right handand you'll be able to incline the neck sufficient enough for your left hand to feel comfy as well.

- it DOESN'T MATTER how you look (a lot of people are trying to look cool by holding their guitars around their knees ) look at Tom Morello - he keeps his guitar almost like a bow tie that doesn't take away one bit of his attitude on stage.

So, explore, find what's working for you and let your attitude take over, once you're confident and comfortable with what you have to play

Posted by: Chris Evans Jul 14 2011, 09:25 AM

for a long time years ago I used to have my guitar quite low when standing, as you mentioned it made trickier stuff a lot harder to play or I`d find I would kneel to play a stretching run.

I found that I slowly shortened the strap over the years to somewhere that is pretty comfortable to play everything.

its a valid point to find somewhere that is fairly close to your sitting position height.

if you take a look at this photo of me (I`m on the left btw) and imagine me bringing my legs up into a sitting position the guitar would more or less be in the same position as standing and in my opinion at this height it doesnt appear like I`m wearing the guitar (as Cosmin put it ) like a bow tie

Posted by: Ben Higgins Jul 14 2011, 10:20 AM

This is a very important aspect of guitar... it took me years before I was happy with my guitar position.. I wear mine about the same height as Chris I'd say.

Posted by: Gitarrero Jul 14 2011, 11:20 AM

I also experimented a bit in the past, but now I wear my guitar in the classical Jimmy Page position I'd say it's a tiny bit lower than Chris' and Ben's.

Christian

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jul 14 2011, 11:39 AM

When performing at Mozart Rocks! I'm always trying a little bit of bow tie stance but with Voodoo, Stripsearch and Aria it's always swung just about the waist and usually, if I have to play something more demanding, I'm placing one foot on the monitors - Petrucci style

Posted by: Daniel Realpe Jul 14 2011, 12:33 PM

I wanna emulate this guy:



He plays so effortlessly even the guitar that low, and some very technical stuff

or check Paul Gilbert! it's insane how low his guitar is, but he pulls it off, so I guess it's a matter of getting used to it

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Jul 14 2011, 01:00 PM

QUOTE (Daniel Realpe @ Jul 14 2011, 11:33 AM)

Posted by: Daniel Realpe Jul 14 2011, 01:03 PM

QUOTE (Cosmin Lupu @ Jul 14 2011, 01:00 PM)

Indeed! But note the fact that Paul's arms have the lenght of an ourangutan

Posted by: thefireball Jul 14 2011, 01:41 PM

Yeah, this a very good topic. When I'm standing, I must bring the guitar up a little more than desired. I have to have it like I practiced.

Posted by: Bossie Jul 14 2011, 07:24 PM

I allways practiced sitting down for a long time...when i started playin standing up it was like i couldn't play anything.

This position advice is very wise...

Posted by: MonkeyDAthos Jul 14 2011, 07:39 PM

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=138163796263426&set=a.138162286263577.35648.100002094197398&type=1&theater

here my normal playing position.

but lately i have been using it a bit more higher.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Jul 15 2011, 09:21 AM

Since I'm practicing in standing position for years now, it's not that hard to play anything when standing, as long as the strap is normally adjusted. I wouldn't go into extremes of lowering the guitar a lot, cause sometimes there are no monitors to place the leg on, and the soloing ability is lower (although proper notes get punched in)