So I play my guitar with the neck up high. Some people play with it at their waist. What think ye?
The angle of the dangle
- Thread starter dreadnut
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I don't follow. If you are standing, that's a very low slung guitar if the neck is at your waist! Or are you talking about sitting, and asking about the "classical" position on the left leg vs. the "folk/rock" position on the right leg?
walrus
walrus
I hold the neck higher as well. Then I do the eyes-closed-overbite thing when I get below the 14th fret.
I'm talking about any position - my chording hand is about even with my heart.
fronobulax
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Can't find it now but there was a very interesting video on the ergonomics of playing a bass. Ignoring, for the moment, pot bellies and arthritis or other pain from the fretting shoulder down, the ideal position was where the elbow was pivoting for up and down the neck type movements and the wrist was going forward and back to access the fretboard. The other interesting thing (which works best seated) was that the neck was slanted relative to your body. Once again the idea was to pivot at the elbow and not move the whole darn arm.
The key ideas are comfort and minimize movement.
In practice when seated the neck is parallel to the floor since I don't adopt the "classical" position and slightly angled out. Standing the neck is about a 45 degree angle and the strap is holding the instrument waist high or higher.
The key ideas are comfort and minimize movement.
In practice when seated the neck is parallel to the floor since I don't adopt the "classical" position and slightly angled out. Standing the neck is about a 45 degree angle and the strap is holding the instrument waist high or higher.
The Guilds of Grot
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The barefoot night shift.
Midnight Toker
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Looking at your avatar....it's what I call a "guitar necklace".
I'm most comfortable somewhere between you....and Jimmy Page.
The bridge of the guitar right at my beltline, like in my avatar, with my left forearm basically horizontal from elbow to wrist. I'm 6'4, so up high just feels "off" to me. My arms would feel too constricted. I know several bassists that play way up high "bass necklaces", (the bottom of their bass around their belly button!) w/ their right forearm resting in the top curve of the bass and their hand bent hard downwards at the wrist like a kid reaching up into a cookie jar. Always looks uncomfortable to me, but it works best for them.
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Charlie Bernstein
Senior Member
You need another cup of joe, Wal! He's not saying he plays it with the neck at his waist. He's saying he doesn't but other people do. And he wonders what we think.
Dread, here's what I think: Different strokes!
Charlie Bernstein
Senior Member
PS - But when playing 'bro, waist is the only way to fly. Here's me sporting my gone-but-not-forgotten Smith & Young:
