Oh dear, I can't play standing up!

axisus

For years I would always choose to play standing up, I just liked it better. I'm my old age some years back I took to sitting on the cab in the small utility room that I generally play in. I actually decided to stand up again the other day and it completely buggered my playing! Sitting seems to angle the guitar slightly upwards with the front face so that I can see a bit more of the top. I found that standing I was trying to play with my right leg forward so that I could lean the guitar back a tad on my leg!

I need to get some practice in. Gotta be less lazy

Paul7926

As a noob I often wonder if I should spend some practice time standing up rather than sitting.  The couple of times I've tried standing up I've done exactly what you describe because I'm used to being able to see the fretboard.  

munckee

I played at the water rats jam earlier this year and had to practice playing standing up as had never done it before.  I make a point of varying it up now to get more used to it.  Managed to play a bit of lead standing up at the hertford jam last month!

carlos

This is what helped me fix the same issue:

1. Sit down in a comfortable playing position
2. Set your strap while sitting down so it's neither loose nor  tight
3. After standing up try to find a way the guitar hangs that mirrors your sitting down playing position - the height will be okay
4. Besides practicing standing up, you can also practice sitting down with the strap on so the position of the guitar is similar
5. If you have a belly pushing out the guitar so you can't see the fretboard, then I'm afraid the only solution is to have the guitar so high on the strap that your belly acts as a shelf. Sorry for the somewhat harsh words, but it's a reality of middle age guitar playing!

merciful-evans

carlos said:

This is what helped me fix the same issue:

1. Sit down in a comfortable playing position
2. Set your strap while sitting down so it's neither loose nor  tight
3. After standing up try to find a way the guitar hangs that mirrors your sitting down playing position - the height will be okay
4. Besides practicing standing up, you can also practice sitting down with the strap on so the position of the guitar is similar
5. If you have a belly pushing out the guitar so you can't see the fretboard, then I'm afraid the only solution is to have the guitar so high on the strap that your belly acts as a shelf. Sorry for the somewhat harsh words, but it's a reality of middle age guitar playing!

Excellent advice! Of course you can also use the side dots instead of the fretboard face too.

TJT1979

If playing at home (ie sitting down) I'm always on the acoustic - I find it better for practice. The electric (rehearsals & gigs) is always standing up.

octatonic

Either commit to playing seated (Robert Fripp does this) or practice playing standing up, ideally with others, a gig volume.

notanon

carlos said:

If you have a belly pushing out the guitar so you can't see the fretboard, then I'm afraid the only solution is to have the guitar so high on the strap that your belly acts as a shelf. Sorry for the somewhat harsh words, but it's a reality of middle age guitar playing!

Think Patrick Moore and trouser belt ;-) I can confirm this works lol.

CarpeDiem

I started playing seated, with the guitar rested on my right leg. I switched to resting it on the left leg, which made it an easier transition when I started playing standing up, as the neck is in a consistent position seated or standing.

Funkfingers

octatonic said:

Either commit to playing seated or practice playing standing up.

merciful-evans said:

carlos said:

This is what helped me fix the same issue:

1. Sit down in a comfortable playing position
2. Set your strap while sitting down so it's neither loose nor  tight
3. After standing up try to find a way the guitar hangs that mirrors your sitting down playing position - the height will be okay
4. Besides practicing standing up, you can also practice sitting down with the strap on so the position of the guitar is similar
5. If you have a belly pushing out the guitar so you can't see the fretboard, then I'm afraid the only solution is to have the guitar so high on the strap that your belly acts as a shelf. Sorry for the somewhat harsh words, but it's a reality of middle age guitar playing!

Excellent advice! Of course you can also use the side dots instead of the fretboard face too.

Both suggestions, copyright of David Mead - former contributor then, editor, at Guitarist magazine.

I take this idea to the extent of using a guitar strap even when playing seated. With the less ergonomic guitar body shapes, it helps to keep them hanging at the preferred angle. 

carlos said:
Somewhat harsh words ... reality of middle age guitar playing!

Indeed. My own body shape is none too ergonomic.

carlos

merciful-evans said:

Excellent advice! Of course you can also use the side dots instead of the fretboard face too.

Thanks! I find I don't use the fretboard face dots at all. I noticed this when I went back to my classical and jazz guitar with no face markers and didn't struggle one bit.

carlos

octatonic said:

Either commit to playing seated (Robert Fripp does this) or practice playing standing up, ideally with others, a gig volume.

In my current gig I play seated down for dramatic effect. It's one guitar comp'ing for spoken word, so I find playing sitting down matches the stage energy. Coincidentally the girl doing the speaking is a huge King Crimson fan, so maybe it was natural for it to happen that way.

Old_Swanner

It's the change of angle of the strumming/picking hand/arm that causes problems when moving between positions.  Most practise with their arm wrapped round the guitar when sitting and then when standing they need to keep the guitar high on their body or things function too differently (see Mark King, Gerry Marsden, Francis Dunnery).

Put your strap on as long as it goes and reassess!

Anderz

With my current Mesa Boogie rig I make it a bit of a point to stand up while plugged in. It works and I get into that old habit again. This time just more focus on playing tight so to a metronome as often as I can.

pintspiller

Have you tried altering strap length to be similar to where it rests when seated?

axisus

pintspiller said:

Have you tried altering strap length to be similar to where it rests when seated?

Necro thread! That doesn't work for me, I have the guitar lower when standing. I hate the nerdy high guitar look.

Heel

Sling it low and just chug your E string. You’ll be a hit!

hollywoodrox

Certain stuff I play is ok with the guitar at a sensible height around the waist , but anything new or challenging I feel I want it under my armpit like Alex Hutchins . Looking at it though I think it is more important to be able to play well and accurate rather than have the guitar hanging near your knees . If you could play amazing and confidently and put on a great show the position of the guitar is irrelevant.  Richie Blackmore ,petrucci , Jackie Vincent  all rockers who do not have+the guitar hanging real low

axisus

Blackmore and Petrucci are OK. That height looks cool. Alex Hutchings too high! Not cool. Amazing guitarist though.

hollywoodrox

Here’s some great high strap wearing in action. I only know. It’s and Jackie . Of the four nitas guitar is lowest lol. 

https://youtu.be/WlIxFwln7W4

axisus

hollywoodrox said:

Here’s some great high strap wearing in action. I only know. It’s and Jackie . Of the four nitas guitar is lowest lol. 

https://youtu.be/WlIxFwln7W4

Enjoyed that! I like to see a band having fun on stage