keeping it still.

Hello everyone.

hoping to get some suggestions from teachers or peers about this issue I have when playing.

Basically the guitar tends to move a lot when changing chords, specially between bar chords and open chords. It happens even more when standing but sitting as well.

I see that I am putting some pressure with my right elbow on the body plus the pressure from the barred chords when I make changes the guitar tends to move forward and back.

does this happens to others? how do you approch this?

I am trying to figure out what keeps the guitar still and in place as we change chords, looking into my physicallity and tension.

imaging a fast change from F (barred)- Dm- C. guitar neck swings.

tips are welcome.

thanks a lot.

Originally Posted by: osmanitellez

Basically the guitar tends to move a lot when changing chords, specially between bar chords and open chords. It happens even more when standing but sitting as well.[/quote][p]Three things will fix this: good posture, a properly adjusted strap, good technique.

[quote=osmanitellez]I am trying to figure out what keeps the guitar still and in place as we change chords, looking into my physicallity and tension.

Use less tension, stay more relaxed. Also, use minimal motion. The wider, bigger, stronger your motions are while changing chords or strumming the more you are likely to move the guitar around too much. Too much motion & tension also hinders your ability to get to the next motion (note, chord, change, strum, etc.) on time.

Hope this helps!

Originally Posted by: ChristopherSchlegel

Originally Posted by: osmanitellez

Basically the guitar tends to move a lot when changing chords, specially between bar chords and open chords. It happens even more when standing but sitting as well.[/quote][p]Three things will fix this: good posture, a properly adjusted strap, good technique.

[quote=osmanitellez]I am trying to figure out what keeps the guitar still and in place as we change chords, looking into my physicallity and tension.

Use less tension, stay more relaxed. Also, use minimal motion. The wider, bigger, stronger your motions are while changing chords or strumming the more you are likely to move the guitar around too much. Too much motion & tension also hinders your ability to get to the next motion (note, chord, change, strum, etc.) on time.

Hope this helps!

it does help, thanks so much Chris.

yeah..trying to figure out how to keep the guitar anchored down. it becomes more challenging as I am pressing very hard on barred chords to make sure the notes comes out.

I am doing standing up practices to figure this out. will work on our tips.

thanks

are you playing on a les paul?

Originally Posted by: snojones

are you playing on a les paul?

No, just a squier strat. affinity.

Originally Posted by: osmanitellez

Originally Posted by: ChristopherSchlegel

Originally Posted by: osmanitellez

Basically the guitar tends to move a lot when changing chords, specially between bar chords and open chords. It happens even more when standing but sitting as well.[/quote][p]Three things will fix this: good posture, a properly adjusted strap, good technique.

[quote=osmanitellez]I am trying to figure out what keeps the guitar still and in place as we change chords, looking into my physicallity and tension.

Use less tension, stay more relaxed. Also, use minimal motion. The wider, bigger, stronger your motions are while changing chords or strumming the more you are likely to move the guitar around too much. Too much motion & tension also hinders your ability to get to the next motion (note, chord, change, strum, etc.) on time.

Hope this helps!

it does help, thanks so much Chris.

yeah..trying to figure out how to keep the guitar anchored down. it becomes more challenging as I am pressing very hard on barred chords to make sure the notes comes out.

I am doing standing up practices to figure this out. will work on our tips.

thanks

Do you use a strap? Even sitting?

Chris has mentioned this and I've lived by it for decades; I play with a strap even when sitting. It allows the guitar to just hand in a natural position. Oten when you start out, everything is on 'ultra'. You feel like you need to grip every chord like life depended on it and you need to hold on to the guitar for dear life. You don't.

In your original post, you'd mention about putting pressure. That's kind of a tip off there. Liek Chis said, be more relaxed. However, it is awkward to hold the guitar and learn new things like chords etc. Practicing with a strap allows you to not think about holding the guitar and concentrate on the skills you need.

You're welcome! Glad it helps!

Originally Posted by: osmanitellez

yeah..trying to figure out how to keep the guitar anchored down. it becomes more challenging as I am pressing very hard on barred chords to make sure the notes comes out.

Originally Posted by: JeffS65

Originally Posted by: osmanitellez

Originally Posted by: ChristopherSchlegel

Originally Posted by: osmanitellez

Basically the guitar tends to move a lot when changing chords, specially between bar chords and open chords. It happens even more when standing but sitting as well.[/quote][p]Three things will fix this: good posture, a properly adjusted strap, good technique.

[quote=osmanitellez]I am trying to figure out what keeps the guitar still and in place as we change chords, looking into my physicallity and tension.

Use less tension, stay more relaxed. Also, use minimal motion. The wider, bigger, stronger your motions are while changing chords or strumming the more you are likely to move the guitar around too much. Too much motion & tension also hinders your ability to get to the next motion (note, chord, change, strum, etc.) on time.

Hope this helps!

it does help, thanks so much Chris.

yeah..trying to figure out how to keep the guitar anchored down. it becomes more challenging as I am pressing very hard on barred chords to make sure the notes comes out.

I am doing standing up practices to figure this out. will work on our tips.

thanks

Do you use a strap? Even sitting?

Chris has mentioned this and I've lived by it for decades; I play with a strap even when sitting. It allows the guitar to just hand in a natural position. Oten when you start out, everything is on 'ultra'. You feel like you need to grip every chord like life depended on it and you need to hold on to the guitar for dear life. You don't.

In your original post, you'd mention about putting pressure. That's kind of a tip off there. Liek Chis said, be more relaxed. However, it is awkward to hold the guitar and learn new things like chords etc. Practicing with a strap allows you to not think about holding the guitar and concentrate on the skills you need.

yeah, I use a strap all the time. I think it is just a matter of too much weigh on my right elbow and too much pressure on that F chord on first fret. trying to find the best way to grip the guitar and change chords.

thanks for your help.

and everyone else.