Do you play sitting down or standing up?

darkvalley

I have been struggling with this for sometime. I play sitting down most of the time, but bought a guitar strap on a whim and when I tried to play standing up I couldn't!! Struming chords was ok, fingerpicking was out completely.
Has anyone else tried changing?, do both? Any tips?
I play only acoustic guitar, which doesn't seem so bad playing sitting down, but for some reason I seem to think electirc should only be played standing up!!!?
regards

-=al=-

just different positioning from what your used too really, mabe your straps too low!? electrics are a bit easier standing up since they're thinner, but shudnt be too different

theres a coolness factor vs. an ease of playing factor that you just gota find a happy medium for yourself inbetween i guess!

Enygma

I was watching a video interview with Slash recently and he was saying that when he practices he'll stand up for the last hour or so because it's different to playing sitting down. Makes sense when you think about it.

Just adjust your strap so that the guitar is at the same height when you're standing as when you're sitting down.

ttoppcat

I've recently moved on to trying to play electric after a year of acoustic (which i always play sitting down) I'm finding it extremely difficult to get my hand to reach round the neck to play..its killing my wrist and if i tighten the strap anymore the guitar will be up at my neck....I already look like an 60's beatle:D

Knifey Spoony

All it takes is some getting use to and a bit of practice. I play electric and started out playing sitting, but just forced myself to be comfortable standing up. It feels a bit weird at first but I think that it is a much more satisfying experience playing standing rather than sitting.

strobe

ttoppcat wrote: »

I've recently moved on to trying to play electric after a year of acoustic (which i always play sitting down) I'm finding it extremely difficult to get my hand to reach round the neck to play..its killing my wrist and if i tighten the strap anymore the guitar will be up at my neck....I already look like an 60's beatle:D

You could try adjusting the guitar so that the neck is at more of an upright angle, if that makes sense.

More like this:


As opposed to this:



Should make it make it easier to reach round the neck.

rgjmce

I've actually gotten into a bit of a habit of sitting down while playing pretty much since I got my les paul but after getting a tele, I'm trying to get back into a habit of standing up playing electric. My problem is at the moment I'm playing nothing but acoustic gigs, in which I sit down for but as the guys said above, it just takes a bit of getting used to and of course adjust the strap so it's comfortable for you, screw hetfield and his wish to play hunched over, that will f*** up your back anyway.

K.Hammett

Ive gotten into such a habit of practicing sitting down that i really found it difficult to adjust to playing standing up. Ive started to get the hang of it in the last month or so. I began by adjusting the strap so the the guitar was higher up and after every 3 or 4 days letting it down a little so i dont look like im part of a 60s rock band.:)

Paolo_M

K.Hammett wrote: »

Ive gotten into such a habit of practicing sitting down that i really found it difficult to adjust to playing standing up. Ive started to get the hang of it in the last month or so. I began by adjusting the strap so the the guitar was higher up and after every 3 or 4 days letting it down a little so i dont look like im part of a 60s rock band.:)

Kirk? Is that you?

If so then you're not really qualified to offer advice to guitarists, are you?

Sandvich

I need to get one of those straps that goes on both shoulders. Anyone know where to get one?

rgjmce

Paolo_M wrote: »

Kirk? Is that you?

If so then you're not really qualified to offer advice to guitarists, are you?

laughed so hard this

K.Hammett

Paolo_M wrote: »

Kirk? Is that you?

If so then you're not really qualified to offer advice to guitarists, are you?

We all have to start somewhere i suppose.:P

ttoppcat

strobe wrote: »

You could try adjusting the guitar so that the neck is at more of an upright angle, if that makes sense.

More like this:


As opposed to this:



Should make it make it easier to reach round the neck.

Cheers strobe, will give that a try

fobster

Sandvich wrote: »

I need to get one of those straps that goes on both shoulders. Anyone know where to get one?

Thomann do them.

http://www.thomann.de/ie/planet_waves_50dare000_gitarrengurt.htm?sid=c6021e28b448b89d56d0647e421b9847

I bought one but haven't used it in a while, can't remember if it helped or not. Will have to take it out again.

**Vai**

Just wear it at the same height as when sitting down as mentioned earlier in the thread. Playing it too low on your body causes some of your muscles to tense up which leads to bad playing....oh, and sore muscles. Anyone who plays with the guitar around their knees to get the effect of coolness needs a labotomy...and probably some surgery on their spine by the time they hit 40.

Johnny Storm

IMHO you should position the guitar so that your wrists are as straight as possible when playing

Sandvich

Bending your wrists inwards is really bad for them. They should be bent upwards slightly at all times if possible.

This is why I had to quit playing my 7 string. Might get a Baritone instead.

Malice

I play in either position depending on what I'm doing. If I'm writing, recording or trying to learn a song I'll sit down to ensure the fingering is as precise as possible. If I'm just jamming along to a song or playing something I know quite well I'll usually stand up as that way I can get into the music a bit more (and I can practice my posing ).

Sandvich wrote:

Bending your wrists inwards is really bad for them. They should be bent upwards slightly at all times if possible.

This is why I had to quit playing my 7 string.

Was that down to the width of the neck? Also, what's the difference between bending your wrist upwards rather than inwards?

-=al=-

Puts more strain on the joint, i had tendonitis on my fretting hand wrist for about a year or 2, its a bitch to shift off, even considered quiting it got that bad

its harder to heal than bones when you **** up your tendons, look after your wrists fellas... then i fcked up my index finger on my picking hand last year, not much luck there, but i seem to have gotten over it lately, doesnt really effect my playing

playing sitting down and standing up are two different things unless u play standing up with the guitar in the exact same position as you do sitting down, but it will look a bit naff... gotta find a nice compromise between the two

chris85

I play sitting down all the time. usually just practising at home so no need to stand up and just sit and play. Hopefully getting electric soon which i would imagine will be standing playing as the acoustic is easier playing sitting down due to its size.