Comfortable guitar shape, is there one?

[0zoro]

Hej Patrick, that looks like it has potential for me. You look pretty comfortable in that position. Is that the high version of the cushion you have? Btw, how tall are you, I am 176 cm.

[PatrickWD]

It's the small cushion. I haven't tried the tall one. I am 172 cm tall, and the small one is perfect for me.

[citizenk74]

Without adjusting how you hold the instrument, jazzmaster.

Or a Jaguar

[0zoro]

It's the small cushion. I haven't tried the tall one. I am 172 cm tall, and the small one is perfect for me.

Tack, jag skall titta på Thomann i eftermiddag.

[0zoro]

Thanks all for your input here!

[Jim Soloway]

After some issues with pain in my shoulders and hands i took some lessons in posture and movement for musicians. Mainly the Timani method. When i learned a more correct way of sitting i found that my guitar felt way to low, since i used to bend over the guitar before. The best setup i have found that allows me to play comfortably with correct posture is using my telecaster with a dynarette guitar cusion. The way i use it is slightly different than the way it's supposed to be used, since it is meant for using on the left leg and with a classical guitar. This is the way i use it:

My solution as well and I have both sizes so I can use them with all my guitars. Even a few minutes with a strap is painful for me.

[Jim Soloway]

Hej Patrick, that looks like it has potential for me. You look pretty comfortable in that position. Is that the high version of the cushion you have? Btw, how tall are you, I am 176 cm.

I use the small one with my larger guitars and the large one with the electric solid body so they're all at the same height.

[fasteddie]

Stratocaster

I agree. I like humbucker pickups better, tone wise. But In my opinion the Stratocaster has to be one of the best ergonomic comfortable guitars to play.

[jonh]

At least standing while playing, the original Parker Fly was perfect!

Bonus points: jads57 has the correct answer.

-Jon

[dvkerner96]

I have a similar issue. It started during a week when I was reading music 10 hours a day or so. Hunched over, tense.

That was more than a year ago and I still have the problem.

My lay diagnosis is that some muscles went into spasm and stayed that way. I believe this is a well known and accepted phenomenon.

Absent Covid, I'd have visited a pain specialist. I believe the treatment is to inject a muscle relaxer right into the spasmed muscle. I know someone who was severely debilitated by something similar for about a year and returned to normal a couple of weeks after this treatment. That doesn't prove cause and effect, but it's good enough to try a treatment with very little downside (that I'm aware of).

It sounds like physical therapy might be a better option for you! Those shots are more like a band aid for a more serious problem. Better to find the root and correct it long term. If you have insurance and/or can afford physical therapy, that is. I've been going to physical therapy for shoulder/neck/back issues that were hindering my playing and that had made a world of difference! That plus playing lighter guitars and keeping better posture

[citizenk74]

It sounds like physical therapy might be a better option for you! Those shots are more like a band aid for a more serious problem. Better to find the root and correct it long term. If you have insurance and/or can afford physical therapy, that is. I've been going to physical therapy for shoulder/neck/back issues that were hindering my playing and that had made a world of difference! That plus playing lighter guitars and keeping better posture

[guavajelly]

I have a similar issue. It started during a week when I was reading music 10 hours a day or so. Hunched over, tense.

That was more than a year ago and I still have the problem.

My lay diagnosis is that some muscles went into spasm and stayed that way. I believe this is a well known and accepted phenomenon.

Absent Covid, I'd have visited a pain specialist. I believe the treatment is to inject a muscle relaxer right into the spasmed muscle. I know someone who was severely debilitated by something similar for about a year and returned to normal a couple of weeks after this treatment. That doesn't prove cause and effect, but it's good enough to try a treatment with very little downside (that I'm aware of).

You mean trigger point treatment? This year I met a medical doctor while on holiday who does trigger point acupuncture. No injections, just the needles. It seems to work pretty well. He did some sessions on my aching shoulder on the beach.

[Average Joe]

I found the Kiesel Allan Holdsworth HH2 uncomfortable to play seated.

The comfort of the hollow HH2 is imho to be found in the lightness rather than the shape: I can keep it on a strap for a good long while without discomfort. The shape is nothing special, but it does have the benefit compared to archtops that your right arm is placed in a more natural way, something I'v had issues with. But that's common to all plank guitars.

[Litterick]

The answer is a stand.

[Marcel_A]

I never used a stand, but i'd miss 'feeling one with the guitar'.

I am most comfortable with a classical guitar with a cutaway. It's light. In terms of comfort weight is very impartant.

[jazzkritter]

From my classical side I can’t recommend a leg cushion highly enough. My problem wasn’t so much back pain as hip/leg while using a foot rest. There are models from both Dynarette and Oasis. I have a long back, so I had tried many mechanical ones that suction on. But they all to me felt restrictive. The cushions are not…they move with you. (Check out Accessories at strings by mail dot com.)
I like them so much I use them with my arch tops. (I use my left thigh). But… a strap works just fine too.

Most comfy guitar I had was a Jaguar…loved the cut of the body. Me, Citizen74, and Joe Pass Lolol.
jk

[AllanAllen]

JI find that after a few hours practice, during which time flies, I have a pain in my lower back. I am sure something can be said about posture, and I have tried to experiment with that as well.

Just stand up every 30 minutes or so and stretch. Discomfort after a few hours is a human body problem, not a guitar problem.

Chest Openers - Exercise How-to - Workout Trainer by Skimble

[DRS]

I am shortish (5'8", 172cm) and I have a short waist which means playing seated doesn't leave a lot of room between my thigh and armpit. Acoustically, I've found a small bodied 12 fret works best in a classical position. I use a Taylor CE 312CE which has a cutaway. A 14 fret acoustic move my left arm to far away from my body causing discomfort.

For electric playing, I've tried everything including classical position, Dynarette cushions, straps, etc. Tried all the positions (Kama Sutra for guitar players. lol.) I've tried playing a 17" archtop in the classical position but it feels like I'm hugging a small bear. Smaller body electrics feel funny in the classical position. I find the most comfortable is a smaller bodied electric like a Strat, Tele, or Johnny A, using a tall stool, and playing the guitar on my right thigh with a strap. I would love to try a Forshage like Jim's. I also toyed with the idea buying a Warmoth neck and fabricate a custom body like a Forshage.

Comfort is now the #1 consideration when I buy a guitar. I feel I can get the sound I want out of most guitar.