hang 'em high!

fourmations

your guitar that is

I went to see foals the other night and the boys
wear their guitars really high, one of them plays
it under his armpits, as it would be if he was sitting down

so last night, being the curious type , i was messing around with how high/low I wear my guitar on its strap and the difference is amazing

I have spent my life with guitars at pretty much belt level
but if you hoist it up on to your chest it is just so much
more comfortable, particulalry leads and upper fret access
your wrist is straight instead of curving

there you go, my revelation for today

try it (unless you are worried about looking like a knob)

rgds

4

Alanstrainor

I have to say i'm more in the middle, above my belt but not so high it's touching my chin. I really can't understand how people play with their guitar slung down at their ankles, my wrist hurts just thinking about it

darrenw5094

I hope Slash doesn't read this...he might think all irish play up high...:D

Don1

I vary, sometimes for chugging it'll be low, but for more technical pieces I'll hoist em up. Well, I used to do this, now I'm lazy. Usually the bottom third of the guitar is at or below the belt. Damn buckle rash on a few guitars.
I shall hoist them back up again tonight. I went through a phase of having all of them like Tom Morello. Can't remember why I stopped.

Dord

Now you see why bass players usually wear them higher. More comfortable.
Of course I don't wear mine under my armpit... ^_^

I usually have it at a level between my chest and my belt.

Doctor J

I'd usually have the bottom edge of the guitar or bass at belt level. The Mark King thing is too high, the Slash thing is way too low, just have it a little above centre.

Billy Sheehan had a video out many years ago and, among all the widdly bass stuff he made one excellent point: A lot of people practice while sitting down. When they stand up and use a strap, the instrument is much lower, their arms approach the instrument from a different angle, they can't reach around the neck as well as they could while sitting down and they just can't play as well as they do while sitting. His approach was that he set the strap so that the instrument was exactly the same height sitting or standing and, therefore, how he played and practiced was consistent. Sage advice.

Don1

Yup, that's the idea behind it. I think a lot of younger players hang 'em low to not seem so old fashioned or some crap, and wanting to be "cool" and follow trends. (see Joey Jordason or whatever his name is in the shockingly crap Murderdolls. Ass of the guitar nearly on the ground)
After a few bouts of "very sore wrist syndrome" and they'll change!

Dord

Doctor J wrote: »

I'd usually have the bottom edge of the guitar or bass at belt level. The Mark King thing is too high, the Slash thing is way too low, just have it a little above centre.

Billy Sheehan had a video out many years ago and, among all the widdly bass stuff he made one excellent point: A lot of people practice while sitting down. When they stand up and use a strap, the instrument is much lower, their arms approach the instrument from a different angle, they can't reach around the neck as well as they could while sitting down and they just can't play as well as they do while sitting. His approach was that he set the strap so that the instrument was exactly the same height sitting or standing and, therefore, how he played and practiced was consistent. Sage advice.

Bingo! That's usually how I set the level. It means I can play the same thing sitting down as standing up.

Rigsby

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I really can't understand how people play with their guitar slung down at their ankles

Because it seemingly makes you look "cool". :rolleyes: However, to each his own. I wear mine as Doctor J says, about belt level. Apart from being more comfortable this way, it gives better access to the fretboard. Your wrist is straighter too, so you avoid any physical problems.

Voodu Child

I don't wear it up on my chest, but i do have it slightly high, probably a bit higher than normal. Its comfortable and much easier on the wrists.

I remember reading an interview with some guy from one of those crappy modern bands, and he said how he totally f*ed up his back from playing the guitar low night after night. Needed all kinds of physio etc. :rolleyes:

Don1

Twas prolly a Goth Les Paul too!

Eoin Madsen

Playing bass, I find raising the instrument is better for my fretting hand, but is worse for the position of my picking hand. Ideally I'd be picking low and fretting high... kinda like a double bass. :pac:

Rustar

I must have clued in to the Billy Sheehan thing years ago, because I could never stand having my instruments belt-low. For one thing, you can't arch your fingers, forcing a Slash/Page "slap finger" approach.

If you can't arch your fingers, the blues is really tough and classical styles are impossible. Unless you do the body-low/neck high thing, but you quickly find out that the weight distribution in a guitar or bass doesn't like that position.

In my band I was always known as "the guy who didn't move" and "the guy who wore his bass proud and high".

They stopped all that stuff when I cleverly pointed out to them that my fingers were moving much better than theirs.

Edit: And playing with your wrist doubled over has got to be the fastest route to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome ever!!!

Don1

I can think of only one faster way. Dooorty.

Rustar

Don1 wrote:

I can think of only one faster way. Dooorty.

Ahhh, that technique has been venerated for centuries as the fastest way to strengthen those wrist muscles for lute playing! :pac:

Karl Hungus

I've always worn mine rather highish. Hanging the guitar low was just something I've never really considered at all, just adjusted the strap to what felt the most comfortable to me, no fuss.

OK-Cancel-Apply

I happened upon this a while ago... looks pretty high to me! Does anybody here wear their bass that high?

Creamy Goodness

i'd wear my guitar that high.

it's just way more comoftable on the wrists, i can play longer and more technically when it's higher than when i do the billy joe les paul junior scraping the ground low look.

although i think that pic is a little misleading due to the shape of the rick (it is a rick right).

Seziertisch

Re: the above photo, probably just doesn't want belt rash on the back of the bass.

smellslikeshoes

Joey DeMaio can wear his bass at any height nobody is going to argue

Don1

Wish he'd wear it lower and cover that codpiece!! Nearly lost the dinner!

Fad

Don1 wrote: »

Yup, that's the idea behind it. I think a lot of younger players hang 'em low to not seem so old fashioned or some crap, and wanting to be "cool" and follow trends. (see Joey Jordason or whatever his name is in the shockingly crap Murderdolls. Ass of the guitar nearly on the ground)
After a few bouts of "very sore wrist syndrome" and they'll change!

in all fairness they were completely taking the piss and a guitar above the knees would look plain stupid!

Nahguavkire

Firstly I agree that playing your guitar up higher is much better for your health and technique, wasn't it that Billy Joe chap from Greenday who had to cancel dates to have back surgery?? Anyway it only looks uncool if you're a **** guitarist who has it high, doesn't matter at all if you can play!! Look at Johnny Hiland/ Foals/ The Fall of Troy. Secondly one of the bassist was saying there how if it's too low your fret hand hurts, if it's too low your pick hand hurts, check this out http://www.littleguitarworks.com/torzal/

The answer to all your problems

Dord

Nahguavkire wrote: »

Firstly I agree that playing your guitar up higher is much better for your health and technique, wasn't it that Billy Joe chap from Greenday who had to cancel dates to have back surgery??

Actually no, I can't remember anything about Billie Joe having to get back surgery. The bassist, Mike, had to have carpal tunnel surgery before thats about it.

Nahguavkire

Joe Robot wrote: »

Actually no, I can't remember anything about Billie Joe having to get back surgery. The bassist, Mike, had to have carpal tunnel surgery before thats about it.

Tony Lovato from Mest that's who it was! Check out those basses though http://www.littleguitarworks.com/torzal/ Genius, look so amazingly weird too!!

Bstatic

I wear mine quite low say top of the guitar 2 inches below the belt. I am a bit tall too 6'5" so I find it comfortable to wear it low. Plus I think it does look cooler and sure thats what its all about onstage!

Parsley

About yay high:

smellslikeshoes

OK-Cancel-Apply wrote: »

I happened upon this a while ago... looks pretty high to me! Does anybody here wear their bass that high?

Interesting side note, take a look at the thickness of the strings on his bass.

Rigsby

That's one bass that certainly wont have buckle rash !

Malice

I have never really given strap position too much thought. I do remember playing bass with the instrument somewhere around my knees years ago. I soon stopped when I couldn't reach some notes Normally I just have the guitar around belt level.

Assuming your playing right-handed does having the guitar at chest level not mean your right arm is at a strange angle which could lead to elbow trouble?

fourmations

smellslikeshoes wrote: »

Interesting side note, take a look at the thickness of the strings on his bass.

that really is disturbing, can we agree to stop bumping this image

i started a thread about strap position
if I thought this sort of graphic imagery would be used,
i wouldnt have!! its too much information..:D

rgds

4

OK-Cancel-Apply

smellslikeshoes wrote: »

Interesting side note, take a look at the thickness of the strings on his bass.

Check out the string gauge and neck thickness he uses nowadays:

Dord

That is one weirdass bass, and I play bass! :eek: The neck is tiny on it? wtf? it looks like half the width of a regular neck.

8k2q1gfcz9s5d4

Alanstrainor wrote: »

I really can't understand how people play with their guitar slung down at their ankles

because it looks cool!!!:cool:

i play as low as i can get away with, the pickups are pretty much over my "personal area"!. some guitarists i know play a LOT lower, i guess my arms dont know how to be as long as theirs!!

playing high doesnt bother this guy!!

OK-Cancel-Apply

Joe Robot wrote: »

That is one weirdass bass, and I play bass! :eek: The neck is tiny on it? wtf? it looks like half the width of a regular neck.

Yep, the 'Demon II' made by this guy: www.dawksound.com. One of a kind. Has ultra high output pickups too, and sounds awesome with a combined clean/dirty setting through the stereo output.

Sry, back on topic! Yeah I don't get the whole 'down by the ankles' thing. Can't say it looks particularly cool. I mean, if a guy wore his guitar up around his neck, and could play really well, that might become cool too.