Why do many hold their guitar vertical while playing solos?


da_beaver
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da_beaver
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01/30/2006 8:54 pm
Like Slash for example.

I noticed that this makes a huge difference in how far you can fret. When the guitar is vertical you have a much wider range compared to your guitar being horizontal. Is this the reason? :confused:
When you have your guitar horizontal you can't reach as far as when it's vertical. I just tried it. So when people say "I can reach from the first to the sixth fret" do they do it horizontal or vertical?
# 1
bigbuda
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bigbuda
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01/30/2006 9:01 pm
Some people like to play that way for the reasons you already described. The other reason they play this way is 'cause it looks cool. :cool:
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# 2
Armenian
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Armenian
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01/30/2006 11:00 pm
it is a music video :rolleyes:
# 3
HDJ
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HDJ
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01/30/2006 11:05 pm
I usually don't hold my guitar vertically like that unless I'm playing a really fast passage during a solo or something. It makes it easier to play just b/c of the position.....put the foot up on a monitor and wail the way Zakk Wylde does....

That's why you see classical players hold their guitars at an angle, it makes it easier to fret the notes/chords...it's more natural.
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rockonn91
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01/31/2006 12:18 am
Originally Posted by: JFRICKI usually don't hold my guitar vertically like that unless I'm playing a really fast passage during a solo or something. It makes it easier to play just b/c of the position.....put the foot up on a monitor and wail the way Zakk Wylde does....

That's why you see classical players hold their guitars at an angle, it makes it easier to fret the notes/chords...it's more natural.

yeah.... AND CUZ IT LOOKS COOL.

hahhaa
JK :cool:

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alucard0941
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alucard0941
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01/31/2006 12:56 am
for a wider fret range (Zakk Wylde)

BTW, is Slash black? :D
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Flatearth
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Flatearth
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01/31/2006 1:00 am
I believe Slash is half-black.
# 7
quickfingers
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quickfingers
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01/31/2006 2:53 am
yea, he is.
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jeffhx
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jeffhx
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01/31/2006 3:05 am
korn's bass guitarist plays vertically as well...no offense but i find his style a little retarded...he's just slapping the strings while holding the guitar verticaly... then he hops around as if something's up his rear end...
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01/31/2006 7:20 am
Another crummy player who tends to go for the vertical approach is the bassist from the Used. He doesn't even look cool when he tries to do it, let alone sound like he's keeping up with the drums!

Marty Friedman - now, there's a guy who knows how to wave a guitar around and look cool :cool:
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ericthecableguy
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01/31/2006 7:35 pm
I can't describe him within the laws of this forum...
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Forget about your sin - give the audience a grin
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# 11
alucard0941
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alucard0941
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01/31/2006 9:42 pm
maybe hes used to play double bass
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# 12
ericthecableguy
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ericthecableguy
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01/31/2006 11:43 pm
Originally Posted by: AkiraMaybe he wishes he used to play double bass.


Maybe you wish that he wishes he used to play double bass. :D

I hope he was better at double bass.
For life is quite absurd and death's the final word, You must always face the curtain with a bow
Forget about your sin - give the audience a grin
Enjoy it - it's your last chance anyhow.

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# 13
Polera
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Polera
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02/01/2006 12:09 pm
Slash is half black, half jewish and born in England. Thank for the pic, man hes awesome! cheers. I beleive its a habit thing for looks.
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# 14
ericthecableguy
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ericthecableguy
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02/01/2006 3:05 pm
Originally Posted by: PoleraSlash is half black, half jewish and born in England. Thank for the pic, man hes awesome! cheers. I beleive its a habit thing for looks.


*AND raised in california.
For life is quite absurd and death's the final word, You must always face the curtain with a bow
Forget about your sin - give the audience a grin
Enjoy it - it's your last chance anyhow.

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aschleman
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02/01/2006 4:16 pm
I would say its a habit... A lot of guitar players have that one move that they do... Stevie Ray Vaughan had the shoulder shrug pucker face while he would do a nasty run... Petrucci always puts his foot up on a footrest when he has to do a hard part of any Dream Theatre song because he's mainly classically trained and he plays best when he's in the classical "sit down" position... Zakk Wylde and Slash (among others)tend to tilt the guitar towards the heaven... Its a stage presence thing... No one likes a guitarist that just stands there.
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da_beaver
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da_beaver
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02/01/2006 8:19 pm
Yes. It simply looks cool. I guess Zakk and Slash don't play this way in the studio or maybe who knows.... :D
Maybe Slash also plays this way at home in front of the mirror.
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6stringaddict
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02/02/2006 1:45 am
its cuz of these 5 letters arranged just so....

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DeadInMagazines
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02/04/2006 2:52 pm
Playing like that only makes it easier to play if you play with your guitar low. I play with m guitar at the bottom of my chest so I don't have any problem reaching any notes.
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02/05/2006 3:34 pm
Originally Posted by: aschlemanI would say its a habit... A lot of guitar players have that one move that they do... Petrucci always puts his foot up on a footrest when he has to do a hard part of any Dream Theatre song because he's mainly classically trained and he plays best when he's in the classical "sit down" position.


I was wondering about that during a concert of Dream Theater :rolleyes: I was used to putting my foot up something because it was easier for me to play more difficult parts, though now I try to play in an upright position as often as possible, because you just can't have your foot on something the entire performance :p
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