How To Hold An Electric Guitar Properly, Everyone has their own style, which is perfectly OK! However, there are “proper” ways to begin playing electric guitar that are universally acknowledged. Let’s examine the most common techniques for holding an electric guitar.
Although it may seem obvious, the way you hold your guitar impacts a multitude of facets of your performance. Imagine yourself maintaining a certain stance. If you constantly slouch or shrug your shoulders, you will get pain.
The Correct Way To Hold A Guitar
The same thing can be said for how you hold your guitar. You want to find the perfect balance for yourself, without causing any long-lasting bad habits. Unfortunately, there are a metric ton of bad habits you can pick up when it comes to playing guitar. especially how you hold the instrument.
There are generally three different preferred methods when it comes to holding an electric guitar, as follows:
The Correct Way To Hold A Guitar
The same thing can be said for how you hold your guitar. You want to find the perfect balance for yourself, without causing any long-lasting bad habits. Unfortunately, there are a metric ton of bad habits you can pick up when it comes to playing guitar. especially how you hold the instrument.
There are generally three different preferred methods when it comes to holding an electric guitar, as follows:
- Sitting/ Parallel to the body
- Classical Position
- Standing with a strap
Now it should be said that different guitar body shapes can definitely render different methods. Such as a Flying V or Explorer style guitar. If you have ever held either of these, you’ll know that they have an odd shape that is not balanced. The Flying V, in particular, is best for playing while standing up.
Whichever you ultimately choose, there are some easily learned bad habits that you will want to avoid. We are going to check these potential habits out, and show you how to avoid them!
How To Hold An Electric Guitar: The Importance of A Guitar Strap…
You may initially believe that learning how to carry a guitar only requires a guitar strap when standing. This is partially true, yet it is a good practice to always wear a strap. Even in a seated position!
However, why?
Ergonomically speaking, electric guitars were created to be played while standing. If you are training to someday perform on stage, it is essential that you become accustomed to balancing the guitar on your shoulder.
Using a strap will assist you in adjusting your posture, and the guitar’s weight will no longer rest exclusively on your knee. While this is beneficial for getting accustomed to playing the guitar while standing, I believe it is good practice in general.
I always wear a strap when I am seated. It simply feels more balanced overall. The additional benefit is that the guitar will not move on your lap or knee. This is significant when discussing positions.
Many formal guitar instructors will instruct beginning students to sit with a strap. I’m sure mine did! Later in this post, we will address standing with the guitar strap; if you have practiced sitting with it, it will feel more natural when we talk standing with it.
How To Hold An Electric Guitar: Standard Sitting Position
This is how the majority of guitar players sit. This technique typically seems quite natural, and if you have played guitar for any length of time, you are likely already familiar with it.
Your knee serves as a balancing beam for the guitar’s lower half. This is effective with Stratocasters and Les Pauls. This is because the guitars are often well-balanced and ergonomic. You should have no trouble adjusting to this method of holding your electric guitar.
Earlier, we discussed the significance of a guitar strap for sitting and practicing. This is the position where it becomes useful. The objective is to alleviate some of the pressure associated with balancing the guitar on your knee. Additionally, using a strap will improve your playing posture!
Posture is crucial to holding the guitar correctly. Self-injury can result from poor posture. Never curl your fretting hand at the wrist when clutching the guitar neck. This can result in significant long-term problems! Adjust your position if you are curving your wrist to reach the frets.
Similarly, your picking hand/arm should be loose with a minor elbow bend. This will help prevent problems with your wrist while picking and conserve energy in your arm muscles.
How To Hold An Electric Guitar: The Classical Position
This position has a lot of advantages, even for a new player! While this method has it’s roots in the acoustic guitar, it can also be used with an electric. Many guitar teachers will also show you this method when you are starting out.
If you are an intermediate level guitarist, this position can feel almost alien at first if you have been using the first position we talked about for a while. Getting used to it as a beginner is a great idea!
Classical Position can be used in a myriad of different situations. Holding your guitar this way gives you easier access to the higher frets, while at the same time allowing you to form chords easier up and down the neck! But it takes a little practice to get used to…
In this position, your knee needs to be elevated by a foot rest. Now you can use just about any household item, like a small stool. Many companies also make special, fully adjustable rests to elevate the knee, as seen below.
How To Hold An Electric Guitar: Standing Up
Standing up with your electric guitar is the “final form” when it comes to learning how to hold your electric guitar. If you plan on taking the stage one day, this will be your default position.
There is a misnomer about where to set your strap height when you are standing up. Particularly in Metal, you will see guitars slung very low, below the belt buckle. This may work for James Hetfield, but it probably isn’t the greatest practice for a beginner.
Remember when we were discussing posture while sitting down earlier and the importance of using a strap? This is where all of that comes full circle!
You want to adjust your strap to where the guitar sits in the same place as when you are sitting down. In fact, if you adjusted your strap properly while sitting down, balancing the guitar between your knee…you should be set!