Sitting position

[Reg]

Yea, this is fun thread.

So maybe another aspect or just a question... do you need to watch your fret hand while playing?

I was watching some of the other players.... and generally most are looking at their fretboard and without much movement.

Much of where my preference is from.... I don't watch what I'm playing or my fretting hand, (left). I do sometime for effect LOL. But generally I'm watching everything else, other players, music, audience. And I generally have lots of movement which somewhat reflects what I'm playing. Good or Bad... ? but generally other musicians tend to like it... it's another cue as to what's going on with the music, LOL. And I'm having Fun... which translated to to audience. I think I'm somewhat normal for working musicians ...

Disclaimer... studio etc... sometimes, the goal isn't to be live etc...

[Reg]

OK... I just looked at old vid of gig I was subbing at.... and the strap looks more like a safety net... I have terrible looking posture etc.... so maybe I'm more of a freak. So OP... maybe watch and listen to other guitarist.

This was 1st gig I played with this band... and I think the drummer was also sub... the mando player was and still is great Blue Grass player in a few bands....(I still perform with them, I have some great working musicians sitting in at many of the gigs... He also gets great big $ gigs at Google etc... along with the normal shit).

[Peter C]

Nothing wrong with being a freak, lol. At a jam last night my "sitting position" (atop a little combo amp) was predetermined by the close proximity of two horn players, who were kind enough to step to one side when I took a solo on a borrowed 1960s ES335. Cramped, but fun. Nice guitar, too.

[Reg]

Nothing wrong with being a freak, lol. At a jam last night my "sitting position" (atop a little combo amp) was predetermined by the close proximity of two horn players, who were kind enough to step to one side when I took a solo on a borrowed 1960s ES335. Cramped, but fun. Nice guitar, too.

Yea thanks Peter.... I'm pretty use to label, LOL. I'm way to loose and love being on he edge. A 60s ES... yea very cool... Those were great working guitars for louder music. They were so easy to play... I miss Jams.

[Peter C]

^ It was fun, long time without jamming, too. I'm a jazz impostor, but they let me loose on Impressions and The Sidewinder and of course, I didn't stick to the script. It seemed to go down well judging by the smiles and handshakes, so will be going back.

[RickyHolden]

The 335 body shape is inherently uncomfortable to play. I had one for years and played it as I did, but then I got a stratocaster and my playing took off, partly because it is so comfortable to sit on a sofa with, I ended up playing a hell of a lot more, no red marks on lower ribs!

Sound is harsh for Jazz compared to semi hollows, this is well known, but no different when it comes to putting the time in practicing and working things out. For doing that comfort has to be a priority for me.

[Christian Miller]

I have a sofa tele: although I don’t find the 335 to be that bad?

[RickyHolden]

I have a sofa tele: although I don’t find the 335 to be that bad?

Yeh everyone's got a tele in front of their sofa, this forum is about guitars!

[mr. beaumont]

You DO get used to it, playing a semi or solid body seated. A tele was my only guitar for many years, so used to it I got. I do use a strap now when sitting, but I never used to.

Of course, I've also been on a long kick of only wanting to play acoustic, so...I get that too.

[James W]

Having been used to my Godin Fifth Avenue Kingpin, it took some adjustment when I first got my Fender Mustang, but the latter is now my favourite guitar in terms of comfort. I generally play sitting down with the strap on, but during the hourly intervals in which I practice, by around the 40-45 minute mark I often feel the need to take the strap off and rest the guitar on my right leg, which frees up my right arm and the general change in posture feels better, and this is easier to do with the Mustang owing to its more slender shape compared with the Godin (although the Godin in many respects is a better guitar, and I feel I should play it more often).

[rdlmd]

I had the same problem with a 335-style guitar. I tried using classical foot rests, balancing on different legs, using one of those supports, different width straps, and on and on. My eventual solution was to sell the 335-style guitar and get a different one. After several years of experimentation, I have found that a 17-inch bout, 3-inch depth archtop fits best for me. I use a 2-inch strap most of the time and almost always play seated in a firm chair so that my knees are bent at 90 degrees. It used to occupy a lot of my thought, but now that I've found what works, thankfully I can play without any discomfort without having to think about these things.

When I see many jazz greats playing a 335-style guitar, I feel tempted to buy one again. But then I remind myself of all the time I spent (i.e. wasted) trying to make it feel comfortable to play with. It may work well for some, but it doesn't for me. And that's ok.

Good luck on your quest.

[Roberoo]

I have an Ibanez AS73 that is very comfortable to play and it is a 335 style. That said, I have an Epiphone 335 that I struggle to get comfortable with for the reasons the OP mentions. My sense is the bout on the 335 is cut too far forward making it intrinsically unbalanced and the weight of the guitar is high compared to most instruments. Unfortunate because the guitar sounds great and plays great. I use a strap to deal with the issue but after a long gig you feel it.

[darkwaters]

I also place my right foot on a footstool. Raising the guitar a couple of inches makes all the difference for my comfort. I do this for acoustics, electrics, even my classical. The only guitar that it doesn’t work for me is my dreadnaught sized acoustic.

[Dave_E]

Hi All,

I see this thread is a few years old, but I thought I should respond. I only read a couple replies that talked about the left leg being the support for the guitar. I’m a classical player and I recently picked up my jazz tune maker, set it on the right leg like all good jazz and acoustic players do and within two days I knew something wasn't correct. I again, like all good electric guitar players do, had my thumb way up around the neck far enough to easily mute or fret the low E anywhere. The other four fingers were like “can’t do this”. So I did what I do when playing the classical, got out the footrest and will try to play the heavier Gretsch on the left leg and see how it goes.

I watched a video on YouTube tonight that has a seven point explanation on why to use the left leg. Here’s the good catch… use your strap, adjusted so that when you stand up, the guitar is in the correct playing position. Sit back down the guitar goes to the left leg and the it remains in the optimum good playing position. No worries about “balance” and all the other things I read.

Cheers - dave

[Aiq]

If I’m sitting (all the time) the instrument is on my left leg no matter what style: solid body, dreadnought, and these days archtop.

A strap occasionally, a quality skinny one.

Just feels right. If I ever play out again I’m sitting with the strap for mishap management.

[StormyMonday]

I did 4 hours of solo playing this weekend, borrowed equipment and whatever stool they had. I couldn't get comfortable the whole gig, and after neck surgery this winter it was wicked. Now 2 days later my back and neck are killing me, I'm sure the comfy plane seats will be a joy. Anyways for me the sitting position can vary with the stool provided and the guitar used but getting it wrong hurts! I do look at the fretboard but less now that I have lost some range of motion.

[Dave_E]

Don’t know about doing a gig without your own gear etc.. Having played classical for 30 years in the traditional high left leg fashion (footstool), I thought the (much heavier) Gretsch would sit there like the classical, no problem. I only experimented with leg position and foot stool for an hour and I had a lower back ache that lasted a whole day. I ended up using a classical foot rest (at it’s lowest position) for the right leg and have found what works for my studio at home. Honestly have seen lots of photo’s and videos of guitarist on stools now that you mention it. I might give that a try.

[Tim Clark]

I did 4 hours of solo playing this weekend, borrowed equipment and whatever stool they had. I couldn't get comfortable the whole gig, and after neck surgery this winter it was wicked.

This is why I always bring my own stool.

[StormyMonday]

This is why I always bring my own stool.

Locally I always do as well, had to travel this time. My bass player has one with a drink holder and although I don't drink while playing it does seem like a cool thing for over 60 rock players lol.

[RLetson]

Despite all the conventional advice, I've always played sitting and never use a strap--I squirm around on my chair, change the position of the guitar, often turn one foot sideways to serve as a stool to elevate the opposite leg. But then, I'm not attempting complicated, physically difficult left-hand work, though I do move the neck around to accommodate some fingerstyle work and my left hand's now-creaky thumb joint. So far, my shoulders, elbows, and wrists are holding up OK--posture matters more for singing than playing. (Sit up straight, shoulders back, chin up, breathe from the diaphragm. . . .)

[Aiq]

This is why I always bring my own stool.

Do you mind sharing what model?

[Dave_E]

Years ago my wife bought me a “fender” guitar stool. I didn’t have the guitar collection I do now and had the stool in my man cave at my modeling workbench. With all this stool talk, I took it to the music room, sat down with the Gretsch, right foot on the stool (bar between each leg) and just simply thought “unbelievable”. I can leave the left foot on the floor or also set it on the stool. Guitar is on the right leg, shoulders are square, left wrist is in line with the arm, upper forward bout is resting on my chest comfortably… almost like someone knew what they were doing when they designed the thing. Needless to say, have to find a new stool for the modeling table.

[Tim Clark]

Do you mind sharing what model?

Round Ikea $7.99 stackable, put a round pad on top with Velcro. Very lightweight, I think it is about 18 inches tall.

[m_d]

Years ago my wife bought me a “fender” guitar stool. I didn’t have the guitar collection I do now and had the stool in my man cave at my modeling workbench. With all this stool talk, I took it to the music room, sat down with the Gretsch, right foot on the stool (bar between each leg) and just simply thought “unbelievable”. I can leave the left foot on the floor or also set it on the stool. Guitar is on the right leg, shoulders are square, left wrist is in line with the arm, upper forward bout is resting on my chest comfortably… almost like someone knew what they were doing when they designed the thing. Needless to say, have to find a new stool for the modeling table.

Interesting. I play as you describe in your previous post, with a foot rest for the right leg and it works well. I always thought a Fender style stool would not raise my right leg high enough compared to the stool. I bought and sold a K&M guitar stool because it couldn't set my right thigh higher than flat horizontal.

[Dave_E]

Interesting. I play as you describe in your previous post, with a foot rest for the right leg and it works well. I always thought a Fender style stool would not raise my right leg high enough compared to the stool. I bought and sold a K&M guitar stool because it couldn't set my right thigh higher than flat horizontal.

Hey M,

Here is a picture of my rig, the stool is 24” tall, the bar is 12” off the ground. I really thought I had it with the foot stool. What I think I’ve figured out is someone did some real research with some of these “guitar” stools, (could be a banjo, mandolin, etc.). It all boils down to what works for each of us, I like forums like this because ideas are shared and tried.