Sitting or Standing

Hi everyone,

Has anyone noticed a big difference in your ability when playing sitting down or standing up?
I've been playing for years and have finally resorted to practicing standing up. I always noticed it's harder to play certain things while onstage standing when I just played it perfectly sitting down, and I was also wondering why I was gripping the neck so hard and I think that's why. And it's not like I have the guitar hung way low too.

What's your experience with this?

I know exactly what you mean!!! Personally, I have a big problem with standing up. I play guitar in my room all the time, so Im always sitting in front of the TV or computer. I have gotten so used to it, that when I stand up, its COMPLETELY different. It's easier to play sitting down because you have easier access to the fretboard, and you can play more comfortably. When you stand up, you have to worry about how high/low you have the guitar because that will not only change your angle of picking, but it will also affect your fretting wrist and finger reach.

For me, the biggest change is getting used to my picking hand. If feels wierd because it is at a completely different angle/position than when sitting.

Yeah exactly.
I would come off a gig thinking damn I can do better, what's wrong?
So then I would naturally conclude that I must not be practicing enough.
So back to drawing board and more practicing and not much change.
And then I thought I wasn't warming up enough before the show etc.etc.

So frick it, I now practice standing up, always.
I think I'll try sleeping standing up too. ;)

Yep, theres is a difference unless you strap the guitar up to your chest. I use to practice only standing since it was such a pain to learn something sitting down, then slow it down a bit to be able to play it standing up. The best way I fixed that was by setting the guitar on my left leg, and have the "ass end" of the guitar pushed up against on the other, with the strap button keeping it from sliding down. It makes things easier to play sitting down and I never have a problem switching from sitting to standing.

Its funny because I didn't start doing that for that reason. I saw a video lesson by Mark Tremonti and thats how he was sitting with it. I though that was the proper way to sit with it, since the only other video lesson I saw at the time was Esteban's and that was with an acoustic.

Yup - practicing with the guitar on your left leg (if you're right-handed) is the better way as the fretboard ends up at about eye level, making it easier to play.

What I do to get around the sitting/standing problem is practice sitting down but with a strap on the guitar, and the guitar hanging just above my leg. That way, it's in the same position wheteher I sit or stand, and the problem is over.... :cool:

I know what you mean man! I've been playing for about 3 years now, and I just sit around playing guitar infront of my PC. I use Guitar Pro for learning and putting in stuff I make up, 'cause I can't remember what I make up >.< I find it hard to play some things while standing up, but I'm getting used to it from mates being at mine, and no seats left lol!

I've never played at a gig, always wanted to though. I wouldn't mind being in an alternative/rock or metal band, going to try and learn some alternative style..

When I first started playing I always practiced both sitting and standing.
First I practiced sat down to teach my fingers the correct strings and frets so I knew them perfectly without having to read any music or w/e.
Then I would stand up and practice the exact same thing how I would play on-stage.

In time when muscle memory takes over more, you find that it matters less and you can play easily any way.

I play sitting almost exclusively and it has made playing standing a lot harder. So I am trying to play standing more now to try and correct it. I think the others are right. You should probably do both.

I should have thought of that before! :)

Just gotta adjust the strap so that you look like some 60 yr old jazz player thats trying to choke themself with the guitar. :eek: (That is uber high indeed) I'd sacrifice looks for skills man... :rolleyes:

lol or you could play in a stance of semi- standing, semi- sitting and get a medium range of playing ability, no? jokes, I always practise while sitting although I find if I tilt my neck forwards a little while playing in a standing position at a gig it helps me, not because of posture, but because I feel more comfortable if I'm watching fingers on the frets.... it's the only difference to me.

I have no trouble playing either way really.. I remember years ago I did have trouble playing while standing.. but yeh.. I don't even think about it any more.. If I have the choice, I will stand because it allows me to walk around on stage and talk to the other band members while I am playing if I need to communicate something.. like "my string just broke".. or something equally as important.

Anyway yeh.. even in a studio situation, I would still stand.. I feel more energetic as well.. anyway..

Originally Posted by: light487I will stand because it allows me to walk around on stage and talk to the other band members while I am playing if I need to communicate something.. like "my string just broke".. or something equally as important.
..

Like..."Check out the rack on that one!". ? :D

yeah i always practice standing up, like one third of a live performance is show! if you must sit, lean back against somthing

I have had the same experience. I found the other problem with only playing sitting down (apart from what the others have said) is that when you are sitting down the guitar is anchored pretty firmly in place by your picking arm and your legs. This is not the case when standing up.

So as a consequence to only playing sitting down you develop the bad habit of being too rigid. When you stand up the guitar seems to swing around uncontrollably. It's kind of like bobbing for apples - you make the adjustments you are used to doing in the sitting position and you just can't keep the guitar still. I have found by concentrating on not pushing down with your picking arm the guitar will come to rest. But don't raise your shoulder or it will get sore.

Also, when you are picking take a look at what the headstock of the guitar is doing. Is it bouncing around? If it is then you are pushing too much with your picking arm or fingering too firmly. Have a look at the great guitarists play when you have a chance. They keep the guitar dead still. It looks like they have it on an invisible stand or something. This is what I try to cultivate in my playing.