Shoulder Dip.

Hi guys,

I've been playing guitar since September of last year (when I joined this site) and have found it very enjoyable thanks to the massive amount of information and diversity on the website.

I still consider myself a beginner and have recently noticed that my left shoulder tends to dip, especially when I'm playing barre chords. It feels like I'm compensating to get that extra reach and get my wrist out further to play the barre chords easier (if that makes any sense). The dip isn't significant (at the moment), but I know it's bad posture and want to eradicate it immediately before it becomes worse.

I should mention that I play standing up with the strap adjusted so that the guitar is by my hip. Should I adjust the strap so the guitar is higher up on my body or should I angle the guitar more, or is this just simply bad habit?

Any advice would be very helpful, thanks.

Sean

I used to adjust my strap so the guitar was by my hip. Not as low as Jimmy Page, but low. I thought it looked cool and it seems to be OK. Watching the videos on this website, it seemed like the instructors would have their guitar higher up when playing. So I decided to try it it I find playing less fatiguing and my playing is more accurate.

If you have long gangly arms, wearing it slung down low may work for you. The idea is to wear it at a height where your arms, hands, and wrists naturally fall into a compfortable place without having to compensate.

I would say adjust it a little higher for a practice session and see how it works for you.

Thank you Maggior, I will try that and see how it goes.

Sean

Hey dude,

What could be a problem is your musculus Trapezius or musculus supraspinatus (look it up on google) is somewhat weak and needs some proper fitness training.

That or it could be tightness or shortness in the ligaments in your underarm. Our human body is very good at shifting muscleactivity if the musclework in the needed area is not sufficient. I hope that makes sence.

Either raise your guitarstrap or keep playing like you do now. Eventually your body will find a way to make it work properly. But only if you correct yourself when you see the dip you mention

I know it screams rock and roll have that axe slung low but have you ever seen tom morello or les claypool? thier guitar/bass is really high up. I still am experimenting with where I feel most comfortable.