Playing guitar sitting or standing?

[CanyonCarver]

Hi all,

I've been playing with a group of coworkers and friends twice a month. We've been doing it for three months now and it's a lot of fun. Most of time I play standing up, as long as it's power chords or something brainless. When comes time to solo or improvise I find myself looking for a chair to either sit on or prop my right foot up for better suport and to bring the guitar closer to me.

The way we play, I'm not sure we'll ever get to play in front of any audience, but one never knows, and I'd rather learn how to play standing up while I get the chance.
Is there a method or a magic approach to stand up and play at your full potential? I'm sure Steve Vai or EVH would have great advice to give, but I don't see them posting here often...

Your suggestions are welcome. [img]images/smilies/icon_jam.gif[/img]

[ericgtr]

You are right, but Ed's attorney's stop by from time to time so if you have any questions for them I am sure they will be glad to help [img]images/smilies/icon_wink.gif[/img]


But seriously...
For me, when I play with others I usually stand with a strap so I can get used to it because when I practice myself I am always sitting. I think it's just a matter of getting used to it and it takes some time because it's awkward but after a while and lots of gigs or practices you won't notice the difference.

[CanyonCarver]

What happens is that my left hand makes this “hook” around the neck when I'm standing up with the guitar strapped on and it doesn't feel natural. I makes my tendons stretch too much and doesn't allow freedom of movement, not to mention the fact that I don't get the same visual perspective on the neck.

I don't have my eyes riveted on the neck at all times, but when I'm playing more intricate stuff, I need to see where I am.

As for Ed, I'm open for a private lesson, if ya get a chance, pal. You don't have to come my way, I'll take the 101South to Coldwater Canyon. Give me directions from there. [img]images/smilies/icon_bowdown.gif[/img]

[ericgtr]

I think that's a problem for us all at first, one thing you can do is shorten up your strap so it's higher up and then you will find your wrist won't be as twisted up. As far as visual perspective goes, altough there are times we all need to look, eventually you won't need to look as much especially once you have played the same tunes over and over [img]images/smilies/smile.gif[/img]

[Stiglar]

Canyon i had a similar problem beacause i just never used to stand ever ... at one stage i was a classical guitarist where you sit down all the time ... the way i got over it was just to stand *all* the time .. it's the only way i think to get it really comfortable ..

even today when playing something really tough or strenuous i think to myself "If i were sitting down.. ... "

[siN]

I've been practising again (but still to little) for about two or three years now (before that I had about a decade of "no-progression"). All the time I was still in the same band, but I didn't do much private practise.

Anyway, during these last two years, I mention that I'm practising while sitting. While sitting I can do some more difficult playing stuff than while standing. In these last two years I've been hanging my guitar (while standing) more up. I think I've rehung it about 5 times now (last one was two weeks ago) and I must admit that it looks less cool, but it is easier to play the difficult things.

It is not that my guitar hangs under my mouth.... LOL, but more in front of my belly right now than on knee-hight.....

So that's one thing.

The other thing is that while sitting, the guitar rests on more points, so is more stable.

Advice: If you like to do some "showmanshit" while playing, you'd better learn to stand and play. If you only want to play and it doesn't need to look cool or you don't need to put out a show then feel free to sit down.
----> A good player don't need to look cool to be cool!!
I can enjoy good players while they sit.

[JoyBasu]

If you are ever gonna play live I highly reccomend practicing standing up. Most stuff is fairly simple to play standing untill it comes to shred type soloing. A few yrs ago I was doing an all instrumental gig at the NAMM show. It was my originals that I had recorded sitting down. I thought fu$# I better be able to play my own tunes or I am an idiot. So I started practicing with the guitar up fairly high. I am one of those guys that think ya look cooler with the guitar fairly low, atleast under the belly button. Everyday I practiced these songs and everyday I lowered the strap a bit by bit. By the time the show came I had it where I wanted it. That method really works. Good luck.

Joy

[CanyonCarver]

Thanks, Joy! Good tip.

Like CC, I tend to like to see the neck when i play so its foot-up which is my favorite [img]images/smilies/icon_dance.gif[/img]

[ericgtr]

What do you do when your down foot falls asleep though [img]images/smilies/icon_wink.gif[/img] Welcome aboard Kamikaze [img]images/smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Sit down for a bit.. [img]images/smilies/smile.gif[/img] Cheers bud, nice to be here [img]images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif[/img]

[CanyonCarver]

If I were on stage and kicking ass, I think I would adopt what I call the Steve Harris stance, with left foot on the return speakers. Must be a great way to play, stay in control and balanced,... and look kool at the same time.

[Stiglar]

i had a guitar world magazine based on 80's guitar and it had some guitar player .. i think it was the dude from motorhead or something and it had a picture of him doing that stance and underneath it had 'classic rock pose #47" made me laugh !

[Rob]

I always practice sitting down, usually with a cd player going so I can track along with the passage I'm learning. Live I wear the guitar so it's below my left nip! HAHAHAHA! If it's my Les Paul I wear it around waist level! I do also suggest practicing sitting down, it seems to work best for me at least!