How do you sit with your guitar/do you sit with strap?

[Guest mgoetting]

Thee are many ways to sit with a guitar. What do you do it with full size guitars so you have access across the fretboard? Do you cross your legs, use a stool. or something else?

 

Thanks.

 

Mark

[Kuz]

I almost always stand.

 

Even when practicing. I am really not that comfortable playing in a sitting position.

 

I figured, your are going to stand when playing out so practice that way.

 

I am more comfortable now playing while sitting, but not as comfortable as standing.

[kbp810]

I almost always stand.

 

Even when practicing. I am really not that comfortable playing in a sitting position.

 

I figured, your are going to stand when playing out so practice that way.

 

I am more comfortable now playing while sitting, but not as comfortable as standing.

 

I find sitting and playing for me actually feels a little more comfortable... but I usually stand when I practice for the very same reason as Kuz mentioned above

 

As far as sitting goes though... If I was playing my H535 or my HFT445 acoustic, I find just over the leg is fine. I have to be sitting somewhere free of armrests though as it really bugs me to have either my elbows or the headstock hit up against something when playing; when I can, I do like to prop my leg up slightly to help give a little better feel of stability. My G&L Legacy is a whole different story though... it's a bit slippery due to the rounded edges of the body so it always slides forward while playing; a strap here adds protection from dropping it completely, but doesn't really stop it from sliding. - in fact, I tend to rarely play it while sitting for that very same reason.

[brentrocks]

i prefer to stand as well...and i ALWAYS USE STRAP LOCKS!!!!!

[Guest mgoetting]

Standing is good sometimes, especially for thinner electrics. I also sit and use a strap. Using a stool helps since there are no arm rests and your lap is more open to allow the guitar to hang.

 

A dreadnaught or a full sized archtop is harder when sitting. I noticed some use a classical position with the guitar resting on the left thign. Even Les Paul did that with his little bodied guitar. It puts the neck at 45 degrees and makes higher fretboard work a breeze.

 

The reason for a strap when sitting is to keep the guitar in the same position as with standing, which helps consistency.

[blueox]

Sometimes I stand, but mostly I sit and use a strap every time. A strap lets one concentrate on the music without thought of a guitar flopping on the floor. Years ago, I bought a couple of armless, height-adjustable, padded, swivel bar stools that are nice for jamming with the axe.

[111518]

I mostly practice sitting, and several of my performance opportunities over the last couple of years have involved playing while sitting --almost always if some sort of chart is involved. I use a strap whether standing or sitting to keep my arm position consistent --without a strap, a strat or LP style guitar would be much lower than where I like to have the guitar sit. The only exception is when I play acoustic --my basic playing position has been determined by playing an acoustic while sitting, so I don't need a strap to achieve that position, unless standing.

 

I have a couple of old wooden folding chairs that are armless and have a fairly straight back; these are very close to the chairs that we have at school that I notice are the choice of the orchestral players and others who always play sitting, though if anything an even straighter back would be an advantage. My worst habit is to play while sitting on the couch hunched over while keeping half an eye on a basketball game or something else on the tube --that almost always leaves me with a sore back. Same for me with stools --I tend to hunch over the guitar instead of straightening my back.

 

Happen to have this recent pic from work, which shows how much higher the strap makes my 135 than it would be sitting on my leg.

 

[pegleg32]

Seem like I do it an odd way as usual. I sit with my left leg bent normal and my right leg staight which makes it angle downward, with a space between my two legs. I put the guitar on my left leg and then cradle it between my two legs with the lower right leg firming up the bottom of the guitar. I also use a strap so it doesn't slide down my leg. My intentions are to practice more standing up since that would be the "normal" playing position if you were playing out.

[FredZepp]

i prefer to stand as well...and i ALWAYS USE STRAP LOCKS!!!!!

Although I usually stand, there are many times that I just grab a guitar for a quick tune without a strap.

 

And while most all of my guitars have straplocks, I love the straps that have the lock built into it and work on any guitar. That saved me from buying more locks.

[chico]

I always use a strap, acoustic/electric doesn't matter whether I'm standing or sitting.

 

Jamming, in a group, then I'm standing while playing.

 

in my studio I like to use office chairs (you know, with cushioned seats/back support) without ARMS, the ones with rollers on the bottom so I can wheel around (but you gotta be careful not to roll over chords, etc.) while using pedal, etc.

 

preference wise, I would say that I probably play "better" standing. but working on riffs, new songs, repeating a line over and over (using a computer/internet) sitting works best for me.

[shook494]

I play mine sitting down with the body between my legs. Classical style. The neck points up towards the sky. No strap. I started playing this way sitting down very young because my first guitar was a V and I had no strap at the time. I just got used to it and that's how I've played for 20+ years now. I of course always stood up during band situations.

[Gitfiddler]

Here's a shot of how to properly play your gitfiddle (or banjo) either sitting or standing.

 

 

[Kuz]

Here's a shot of how to properly play your gitfiddle (or banjo) either sitting or standing.

 

 

 

Now THAT IS FUNNY!!!

[barrymclark]

If sitting, and I play right handed, I have the guitar resting on my right leg with the neck angled out from me somewhat. Funny... that is kinda how I have it position when I play standing.

[tbonesullivan]

recently due to my basement being a giant mess, I've been practicing mostly sitting. I usually don't use a strap because it just gets in the way.

 

Today though I'm going to take one of my amps back down and start standing up again.

 

when I practice trombone I ALWAYS stand up.

 

Which is strange because I'm almost always sitting when actually performing.

[peterbright]

Seldom sit while I play, but I use the strap when seated as I play with guitars almost in the pits (the odor disguises the bad notes).