Playing guitar seated. How is your posture?
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- Опубліковано 5 лис 2022
- I'm not a tall man - (5'7"), and I have been far fatter than I am now, and also (after cancer treatment) far thinner.
I participate on some acoustic guitar fora, and often see comments from people complaining about bacl, shoulder and other discomfort - especially when playing larger guitars.
When I look back at some of my older videos I see my right shoulder hunched up with my spine bent.
Here are some suggestions for minimising issues when playing an acoustic seated.
Just subscribed after I realised I had been watching the moustache for years. Thanks for all of your content 😊
Hi, delighted to have you aboard! Comments and questions always welcomed!!
I usually play seated in a more classical posture because of accident created leg problems that prevent standing for long periods. Lately, I have been using a foot stool as well (helps with leg problems). I find that the left hand movement is far easier with classical protocol (F chord included). Originally, I used the method that you describe and I got a bad case of "tennis elbow" and couldn't play for about 6 weeks until it healed up. At that point I started using a more classically oriented protocol as prescribed by a classical player friend of mine (even on my D28). Never had tennis elbow again and never had back, shoulder or CTS problems either. At 81 I am playing better than ever! I guess I am built differently. Of course, one uses whatever works best given body, hand and back conditions. Video was excellent and should provide help for many.
Hi Joel, yes I guess I should have mentioned that,but as I said somewhere I was discussing "western" style. Classical position for me is very uncomfortable and I lose the feeling in my left hand/arm. Hope you are both well. Thanks as ever!
@@SillyMoustache I think, that for the music we play, we use whatever we can so that we are able to execute what we need comfortably. Some of the demands of purely classical guitar those rules are necessary. For us, we have some freedom to adapt to our physical requirements.
Thank you for sharing what you've learned about body mechanics during a lifetime of playing. I especially appreciate the tip about the barre chords. I tried the F chord using my thumb, however I can see it is going to take some time to get this mastered.
Yes, it does take time, but I could probably make it easier by working with you, as I offer one-to-one tuition/mentoring via Zoom. Let me know if interested. Andy
Great Video thanks Andy
Thanks, I hope you found it useful.
Bravo Bravo Bravo!!!! Essential information for all guitar players. OMG. This should be taught in schools!!
Thanks so much William, Spread the word - I do!
Thanks for sharing your wisdom and experience with us all. I only play smaller guitars these days and really only use dreadnaught size for studio recordings to achieve specific timbre and texture.
My pleasure! Thanks for watching.
As always you give great information. Wish I would have had you around when I tried playing guitar. George in Montana
Why not now? I teach a lot of folk in the US. Fancy a zoom meeting?
Another chill video to end my weekend 😌
Chill ? I don't understand. Is that good/bad? Please explain
Thank you! I found this very helpful!
Thanks for letting me know. Best, ol' Andy.
Great tips!!
Thank you
you are welcome. My work is done!
Thanks. I've been playing for a lot of years and am having issues when I sit. Great videos.
I really hope this helps. Best, old Andy.
You covered some great fundamentals. Some great reminders of a few areas I was getting lazy with bad habits (only a few years into this journey, so bad habits are worth watching out for). Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you ❤
You're welcome ! Hope it helps.
Great info!
Glad it was helpful!
Hi Andy, some good advice there, as always.
As you know I'm a very lanky fellah,( I have a 36 inch leg). I quite like a barstool, preferably with a back support and a crossbar to rest my left foot, while my right foot is flat on the floor, tapping some semblance of time. A straight back chair is ok too.
Another favourite, which you'd certainly disapprove of, is laying back, almost horizontal, on my gigantic sofa with my feet up on a footstool. My Emerald carbon fibre guitar is cunningly moulded to fit the body, with no sharp edges. Of course I have to sit up straight to take a swig every now and again.
Hi Jon, I can imagine you in that pose! Just the one small sweet sherry I imagine! BTW - that anti-British prude by name K..... has left a certain forum! Since his/her leaving, I've only received one nasty accusation from a moderator. The forum could do with some old blood (and humour!)
Good video. One thing that I think is important (from someone with shoulder problems) is to angle the guitar away from your body; with the headstock out farther than the body of the guitar. That moves the body back, and reduces the amount you have to reach over the guitar with your picking arm.
I'm currently seeing a PT for picking arm shoulder problems because I have a tendency to round my shoulders when playing. Bad posture. So what you said about sitting up straight, and NOT trying to look over the fretboard is important.
Hi, thanks for yuor comments. I surely hope hat your PT helps you. Best, Andy
Thank you so much. This video has been really helpful.
Glad it was helpful! That is my reason for doing these videos. I also do one to one zoom lessons if interested. See : ua-cam.com/video/llRUhFkZVJA/v-deo.html
This is a great video that has a ton of "common sense" in it that would be good for someone starting out and then to review it in 3 months to avoid developing bad habits.
Thank you Charles, Please feel free to refer it to anyone that you know who might benefit.
@@SillyMoustache I sent it to my 9 year old grandson and will continue to share it.
Thank you
Thanks this is good information to be aware of. I like to play the F chord as you showed with the thumb-over style. However I only get a muted E string with my thumb, no better or worse with the narrower neck or 1.75in nut. It still makes a good chord sound, but if you know how to make a thumb longer, I’d like to know how.
Hi this "might" help : ua-cam.com/video/aXHa4jb3T70/v-deo.html
@@JR-pr8jb And do you play fingerstyle or basic strumming? Don't think my hands are very large, but my fingertips are rather flat.
Your insights are so informative. I am wondering if you can suggest any books that cover guitars - or perhaps consider writing a book of your own?
Hi, Interesting though! I have many guitar related books but about the the guitar brands and history of the models. Are you suggesting that I write a book about my hits and tips or my guitars?
@@SillyMoustache
My curiosity about guitars brought me here. You provide a lot of information that people would be willing to pay for.
Clearly, you have assimilated a lot of knowledge, and reaching out to the world as you have in this venue is fulfilling a need to share that knowledge.
A logical place for you to start could be to begin summarizing each of your videos. You already have transcripts. Some minor copy-editing ought to provide the bones for the book.
Explaining guitar sizes, dreadnoughts and their development, small guitar comparisons, Mandolins and their history are just a few of the topics I’ve learned through watching your videos.
You are off to a good start and you already have a potential customer base who know what you have to offer. I am certain they will be delighted in contributing to your success by purchasing your book.
Great video! Question: I just got a dreadnaught sized guitar and really can’t seem to get it fitting right with a relaxed shoulder as you were. Im thinking of returning it and trying out some more OM sized models. I personally play almost exclusively sitting and just for fun by myself so no need for a loud instrument. Do you think it’s a posture issue or should I just go for the smaller body?
For some context I’m 6 feet tall.
Hi, I don't believe that dreads were really designed to play seated, but, frankly, many of us (i.e., me!) do so ... and I'm on;y 5'6" 75 years old and shrinking. I have found it necessary to help clients with their seated posture, and would be willing to offer you a zoom one to one lesson if interested.. email chipickers2016@gmail.com.
@@SillyMoustache I have an old family guitar I started on that is much smaller (Yamaha FG75) so I think it’s partially an adjustment. For the last little bit I’ve been tinkering around with positioning and think I’ve found a better position but still don’t know if I’ll keep it since I don’t want it to be a burden to play! And thanks for replying, I will shoot an email if I’m ever interested but probably not right now, thanks!!
Re efficiency of your left hand, here are a couple of tips that work for me. First, always play the G chord the second way Andy showed it, with the middle and ring fingers catching the E and A strings. This has three benefits: (1) It makes makes the change between C and G very efficent and easy, (2) it also makes the change from G to G7 easy because you only have to drop you frist finger on the first string, and (3) you can leave your little finger on the first string third fret for both the G and the C which gives you a nice pivot point and pleasing common tone. My second tip is to occasionally use what I call an "inside F" by simply not freting the first or sixth string and just picking the middle four strings. You can get to this very quickly from a C chord simply by moving your second and third fingers over one string, so the shift requires only minimal effort. Also, if you are in the mood, you can play the open first string and get an F maj 7 chord, which can be a nice substitute for the regular F.
Thankyou for you input here, but I must add my comments - Firsty, develop the skiil to play 1st position G in both ways. The "bluergrass G adds a D (5) on the 2nd string which doesnchange the chord name..
I never fret a G7 with the f on the top E - i add the F on the 4th string. so it can part of a bass run or fill.
Learn alternate fretting of the 1st position C too. From the bluegrass G to a C so simply use index and middle to the 5th and 4th string, and leave the ring and pinky on thre 3rd fret of 1st and 2nd strings . This adds a D effectively turning the chord into a c add 9, but it works.
The F chord : as you only need three notes (Fc& a) to make the chord I would stronhglyadvise learning the full six strin thumb over option to to learn the six sdtring thumb over version to provide a bass, and the root of a bass fill and hamer on/pulloff, espeially is going to an Fm or E7. The Fmaj7 does NOt soing like the IV chord. See : ua-cam.com/video/aXHa4jb3T70/v-deo.html.
Hope that helps.
.
@@SillyMoustache Good points Andy. You are quite right that the only good way to make a bluegrass G is with the first two fingers reaching over. I don’t play bluegrass rhythm, so I never learned that, but it probably is skill I should have. The reason I play my cheating F is that I learned to play a real F with a bar and never learned the thumb over, so shifting to a full F was a big deal for me. I agree that everyone should learn some form of six string F to get that tonic in the bass.
Thanks! Is it okay to have your bum perched to the end of the seat? That's what i was always taught for posture in general
For classical, there are "rules", but tey don't need to apply for playing Western style (i.e. with the waist of the guitar on your right leg).
I don't sit on the edge of the seat, but I don't lean back to use the chair back as a support.
I suggest that the back is straight and shoulders relaxed. Hope that helps.
Ever think , consider to place the guitar on the left leg?
There are two options - the classical way, and the western way. I play the western way as do most who play steel string flat tops and so I have made a video to help those who play in western fashion. I don't play in classical fashion and so I am not the one to speak about posture for it. There is guidance elsewhere for the other methods, such as ua-cam.com/video/2SghWPR1KzY/v-deo.html
Question for you - I have 3 guitars. One spruce, one cedar, and one mahogany. These puppys sometime sound different each day. Sometimes the mahogany sounds like a dream, and sometimes NOT. Is it the guitar, or the ear that's changing? Sometimes same for the others... Odd...
Dan, I have eight guitars, all different, and I experience the same thing. Frankly, I think it just depends on my mood. Sometimes I love the mellow sound of mahogany, and sometimes I prefer the sparkle of rosewood. Sometimes I love the power of my jumbo, and sometimes I wonder why I play anything other than my OM. I suppose that’s the reason I have eight.
@@mountainman4774 So it's the brain, not the woods or the ears. Thanks for a great reply! I guess sometimes I like chocolate milk, some days just regular... (I also wonder if the changing temps and humidity alters the sound more than we think?)
P.S. I have been looking for an OM. I have tried the OM-28 and the Eastman OM08 and the OM10 in spruce and adirondack. Haven't found the right flavor. Which OM do you have?
@@danherrick5785 I have a Collings OM-2HT, torrefied sitka over rosewood. I also have a Collings OOO-1, which is basically a 12 fret OM, sitka over mahogany. Like Andy, I’m a big fan of Collings and regard them as well worth the money.
@@mountainman4774 I have played a few of them. But not an OM Collings. These are out of my price and skill level. It sure is nice to try these out tho. I have Furch, Taylor , and Larrivee. Price conscious quality. That 12-fret OOO-1 really would be sweet!!! Do they have that in rosewood?
@@danherrick5785 Oh yes, but it is a 000-2H. Hard to find one in a music store and I understand the the wait on a new one is well over a year. Nothing wrong with the guitars you have. I have owned a couple of Taylors and liked them very much. Great guitars at a reasonable price.