Alternate Picking - Position, Wondering which position to take
Fre
Jan 9 2011, 10:27 PM
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Posts: 319
Joined: 10-January 10
From: Belgium
Lately I have been working on my alternate picking with the help of Zsolt's and Todd's lessons.
Now I see both of them playing with the guitar between the legs, the classical position. Like here or here!.

Now I do these alternate picking exercises in this position, with my guitar on my right upper-leg. smile.gif

I'm wondering, is the first position easier or better? Or is it really a choice for guitarist. ohmy.gif
I have a Telecaster (maybe it has nothing to do with that) and I find it not so comfortable in the first position. mad.gif Or is it just getting used to the position?

Thanks in progress guys!

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dark dude
Jan 9 2011, 10:31 PM
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The position is down to what you find to be more comfortable.

Try prop your left leg up (assuming you're right handed) and then place the tele on the left. Use the inside of your right leg to stop it slipping down. I'd give it a bit longer of a trial run, just to be sure.

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Todd Simpson
Jan 10 2011, 06:13 AM
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Glad the lessons are helping smile.gif Darkdude has a good point, it will come down to what you find to be comfortable at some point. That said, I really would suggest trying the "Classical" position if you can. There is a good reason that position is part of traditional classical guitar method, it creates an ergonomic angle for the guitar and provides really good fret access. Some folks just can't stand playing that way, so they go "Side Saddle", or put the guitar over an outside leg. The problem with this is that once you stand up, your hand position changes, so you develop a "sitting style" different from your "standing style".

The best case scenario would be finding a mid point so that when you are sitting or standing, your guitar hits you about the same place and same angle. For example, try to sit in classical position, prop your foot up on something (classical foot rest or a stack of books) and find your ideal, comfy position. Once you find it, simply hold your guitar in that position and stand up. The guitar should stay in the same spot relative to your body, that is the spot that you might try to adjust your guitar strap to keep centered.

In other words, your guitar should rest on your body and in your hands at roughly the same place sitting or standing so that when you learn a lick sitting, you can play it once you stand up without having to relearn it because your neck angle, and hand position had to change because the guitar position is different.

of course, there is a lot of back and forth on this. But if you can find your "center" position, and keep it for sitting and standing, you will notice transitioning between sitting and standing and being able to play feels much smoother. Give the classical position a shot, and see if it works for you.

Todd

QUOTE (Fre @ Jan 9 2011, 04:27 PM) *
Lately I have been working on my alternate picking with the help of Zsolt's and Todd's lessons.
Now I see both of them playing with the guitar between the legs, the classical position. Like here or here!.

Now I do these alternate picking exercises in this position, with my guitar on my right upper-leg. smile.gif

I'm wondering, is the first position easier or better? Or is it really a choice for guitarist. ohmy.gif
I have a Telecaster (maybe it has nothing to do with that) and I find it not so comfortable in the first position. mad.gif Or is it just getting used to the position?

Thanks in progress guys!

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net


Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!
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Fre
Jan 10 2011, 12:58 PM
Learning Rock Star
Posts: 319
Joined: 10-January 10
From: Belgium
QUOTE (Todd Simpson @ Jan 10 2011, 06:13 AM) *
Glad the lessons are helping smile.gif Darkdude has a good point, it will come down to what you find to be comfortable at some point. That said, I really would suggest trying the "Classical" position if you can. There is a good reason that position is part of traditional classical guitar method, it creates an ergonomic angle for the guitar and provides really good fret access. Some folks just can't stand playing that way, so they go "Side Saddle", or put the guitar over an outside leg. The problem with this is that once you stand up, your hand position changes, so you develop a "sitting style" different from your "standing style".

The best case scenario would be finding a mid point so that when you are sitting or standing, your guitar hits you about the same place and same angle. For example, try to sit in classical position, prop your foot up on something (classical foot rest or a stack of books) and find your ideal, comfy position. Once you find it, simply hold your guitar in that position and stand up. The guitar should stay in the same spot relative to your body, that is the spot that you might try to adjust your guitar strap to keep centered.

In other words, your guitar should rest on your body and in your hands at roughly the same place sitting or standing so that when you learn a lick sitting, you can play it once you stand up without having to relearn it because your neck angle, and hand position had to change because the guitar position is different.

of course, there is a lot of back and forth on this. But if you can find your "center" position, and keep it for sitting and standing, you will notice transitioning between sitting and standing and being able to play feels much smoother. Give the classical position a shot, and see if it works for you.

Todd


Great man! I was hoping for such an explanation! Thanks alot!
I'll definately try what you're saying. My licks are a bit more difficult standing up. Now I know how to easily resolve this.
Thanks guys for the explanations. And thanks Todd for your lessons, they are great.

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Ivan Milenkovic
Jan 12 2011, 01:58 AM
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From: Belgrade, Serbia
My experience is that as time goes by, the position between the legs is more natural one for practicing. There are couple of reasons, but most important one is that your arms have a bit more natural positioning, as opposed to the right leg position, where the picking hand and right shoulder is not that natural (try to walk a bit with the same position and you can clearly see that it will definitely not work for picking up girls biggrin.gif ).

Joke aside, the between the leg pose is closer to the standing pose, and less stressful on the shoulders and arms, but more on the spine. With a proper chair (something to lean your back against), it can be a nice way to practice. I tend to practice almost everything in standing position these days. You won't have any problems playing everything you practice in standing position when you sit, but you will have problems playing everything in standing position if you practice sitting (hope it makes sense biggrin.gif ).

On the other hand, I know lots of players who practice only on a right leg, and they are awesome players, so that shouldn't be that big of a deal. If you ask me, the middle pose or standing pose is the way to do.

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This post has been edited by Ivan Milenkovic: Jan 12 2011, 01:59 AM


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