Trouble Playing Standing Up

[James]

Usually when I play I sit down, but sometimes I like to stand up- you know, you can kind of get into it more. But I've found that I play vastly better while sitting down. Particularly, it's a lot easier to do large stretches and go higher up the fretboard. Has anyone else noticed this while first starting to play standing up? About how low does your guitar hang (above stomach area, stomach area, groin area, below groin)?
Kind of frustrating when you want to let the music move you and play good at the same time.

[zepo]

I was the same way great sitting down but ok standing up. But i started fooling around with my strap untill it felt just right which is just at the waist if not just a little bit higher and i have the neck almost always angled up toward me just a bit I have found it's easier for streches and speed.....at least for me. Hope something I said can help you out. If anything just play standing up for a full day of practice by the end of the day it should be second nature to you.

[Fretmeister]

this was a problem for me too, what i ended up doing was a combination of finding the right height to have my guitar strap as well as doing some of my practice time standing up.. i'll sit and play some scales, then stand up and do some other exercises, just alternate standing and sitting every now and then and it becomes very easy...

but i'd say finding the sweet spot for where to have your guitar is the most important thing.. and make sure when you practice sitting down that you don't slouch over the guitar too much because that will make a bigger difference too..

[James]

Cool, all very good advice. Thanks for the help guys.

[milkybardave]

I have the same problem as James.
I already try to do at least a quarter of my practice standing, it does take a little getting used to though.

I guess the "Sweet Spot" is just where it's more comfortable for you to play at. I've seen guys with their guitars nearly up under their chin (slight exaggeration)and some hanging down by their knees, but everyones different, right!

Take it Eazy

Dave

[Fretmeister]

i think people who have their guitar down below their nuts do so mainly because they think it looks cool... it's nearly impossibly to play leads with a guitar that low...

[zepo]

Hey after you find the elusive sweet spot and are comfortable playing standing up try to do the Stevie Ray behind the back thing, it's easier than you think.

[James]

Hey look everyone it's Jimi Hendrix! Funny... I thought he died in 1970 (71?), shows what I know. Well now that we've had Vai and the alive-and-kicking Hendrix grace us with their presence, any bets on whos next? I'm guessing SRV.

[Jimi Hendrix]

I had the exact same problem, and if you look very closely at some of my earlier performances, I am actually sitting on a very, very small stool.

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excuse me, but i must kiss the sky.

[jake sommers]

yeah i know what you guys are talking about, a way to make it easier playing standing up is to hold the guitar on like a 50 degree angle upward from the head. I know that helps me a lot while playing standing up. i know the guys from blink 182 plays his guitar down around their knees almost. that's not to wise. They think it looks cool to play down that far but i wouldn't compromise the way i play to look cool.

[Raskolnikov]

same here, I play my bass well up towards my chest, however, this is mostly for my left wrist's comfort; the straiter I can keep it, the better. When I play guitar though it sits alot lower. Basicly I'm saying what everyone else is saying: just figure out what's comfortable, and you'll be doing everybody a favor.

And I can tell you, some folk can play with their instrument slung down around their nads, look at Norwood Fisher. Of coure, maybe he considers that Warwick Bass to be a good substitute for a cup.