Guitar player warm-up, correct posture and several exercises. Guitarist's seat and hand position How to sit correctly when playing the guitar

To learn how to play any instrument, you must first learn how to hold it correctly. The guitar is no exception, it is very important here correct landing and hand placement.

There are many schools of guitar playing, and the rules for seating and hand positioning are not very different, but they differ. However, there are rules that cannot be ignored.

Correct fit

To play the guitar, you should sit on the edge of a chair so that the neck of the guitar does not rest against its back. You need to place a low stand under your left foot, which will prevent the guitar from sliding down all the time. Using the notch, we place the guitar on our left leg and press ourselves against it, while our right leg should be slightly set aside. We hold the bar at an angle of 45-50 degrees relative to the floor, the head of the bar should be slightly higher or at shoulder level. Your back should be kept straight, without bending or turning to the side, otherwise there is a risk of getting tired quickly.

This position gives four points of support: the left and right leg, the chest and the forearm of the right hand. The guitar neck should be firmly fixed; there is no need to support it with your left hand, this will give your hand greater freedom of movement.

If inconvenience occurs during the game, this may indicate several reasons:

incorrect posture;

incorrect placement of the guitar;

the elbow of the left hand pressed to the body.

The essence of proper seating is to hold the guitar strictly in one position, and the neck at the correct angle, which will ensure comfortable playing for both left and right hands.

Hand placement

We take the guitar neck with our left hand between the thumb and index finger, leaving a small space between the palm and the neck. The thumb should be resting on the back of the bar, without peeking out from behind it. For the left hand there is great exercise: We take the pencil with our fingertips, try to alternately remove our fingers and put them back in place, trying to keep the pencil straight. The fingers must be rounded and the hand is not tense. This exercise will help you learn how to place your fingers on the bar correctly. Right hand should lie on the upper body of the guitar, with the hand hanging freely. You need to move your hand so that thumb was opposite the bass strings, and the rest at the level of the first and second strings.

On that website "Alena Kravchenko's Guitar School" can be found useful information for beginner guitarists. Correct posture and hand placement are very important point which should be given Special attention so that this does not cause problems in the future.

So, pick up the guitar. Now take your time and try to take the position that you consider comfortable for you and the most correct.
Does not work? - Still would. I'm willing to bet that you first put the guitar on your right knee, your back arched to the point of discomfort, and you decided to cross your legs and put the guitar on top, and left it at that. I am wrong? Well, that means either you have already seen the correct fit somewhere, or you have the gift of a guitarist!

Well, now try this option.

First, sit in a comfortable chair that suits your height.

Place the guitar on your left leg and place your foot on the stand. This can be either a special stand, or something at hand, for example, take and place a stack of books. Don’t be alarmed, you don’t have to sit like this for the rest of your life, you just need your hands and everything else to adapt and get used to the correct position. Keep your body straight. Legs slightly apart. The forearm of the right hand rests on the guitar, and the hand is freely suspended in the air.

The main fulcrum points of the guitar are: top part left leg, inner part thighs of the right leg, rib cage and the forearm of the right hand. Moreover, if you remove your right hand, the guitar will still be stable. Try to do this in a different position; it’s unlikely to work.

The headstock should be approximately at the performer's eye level. But if the guitar is too big for you, then you should raise it higher, just don’t overdo it, otherwise you won’t reach the 1st fret. Another nuance is that the guitar should be parallel to the guitarist’s body. You cannot move the head of the bar behind your back - this is wrong.

Traditionally, the classical guitar is played sitting down. With a side cut, the instrument is placed on the left leg, and the right leg is moved slightly to the side, providing support for the body of the guitar. The left foot is placed on a stand with a height of 10 to 15 centimeters, depending on your height. Here you need to experiment and find the height that is most convenient for you.

The neck of the guitar is angled to the floor at about 50 degrees so that the headstock is at shoulder level. You need to sit straight and naturally, as if you were sitting, say, at a dinner table.

With this landing, the guitar receives 4 points of support: the right and left legs, the chest and the forearm of the right hand. Thus it turns out that left hand completely freed from the need to support the weight of the guitar and can move as freely as possible.

Protrude your elbow!

The whole point of the correct posture of a classical guitarist is to fix the guitar in one position and raise the neck to the desired height, providing maximum freedom for both hands.

A common mistake made by beginning guitarists is that they press their left elbow too hard against their body, thereby hindering their movements. If in this position you try to take a note closer to the 12th fret, the elbow rests on the body and does not let go of the hand.

Conclusion: try to keep your left elbow away from your body, but not too far away so as not to cause discomfort to your hand.

Left hand

To understand what position your hand should be on the fretboard while playing, simply lower it along your body and completely relax it. Please note that there is no tension, no bending or “breaking” of the joints. The fingers are slightly bent towards the palm, but not clenched. There is a distance of several centimeters between the thumb and the rest of the fingers. All you need to do now is “insert” the neck of the guitar into this gap between your fingers.

Remember that if the bar rests on your palm, this increases the load on the hand and hinders movement. If you feel like you're supporting your guitar by the neck, go back to your stance and make sure your instrument has the 4 points of support discussed above.

About the thumb

Thumb

The thumb of the left hand should be placed at the level of two-thirds of the width of the neck, since when placing the thumb in the middle when playing the upper strings, the remaining fingers have to be strongly straightened, which again hinders the movements of the hand.

The thumb can periodically act as a hinge on which the hand rotates, thereby increasing the range of “reach” of the fingers.

Instructions

First, choose a chair suitable for playing. It should be such that when sitting on it, your thigh should be parallel to the floor. In case you want to use the landing, you will need a footrest. Typically this is a structure with a height of 5-10 cm and a surface area sufficient to place a foot on it.

Sit on the edge of the chair, so that you are comfortable. For classic exercise, place your left foot on the footrest. Your knee will thus be elevated. Place it on your left leg. Your right foot should be moved to the side at a distance sufficient for the body of the guitar to rest comfortably and steadily against your feet. Bring your body closer to your body. In this case, the soundboard of the guitar during playing should be perpendicular or almost perpendicular to the plane of the floor. Find a position that is comfortable for you. Try to keep your back straight.

If you want to use a non-classic fit, then you won't need a stand. Place the guitar with the notch of the shell on your right leg. All other recommendations are similar to those given for the classic landing.

Place your right hand on the body of the guitar so that your palm is positioned above the strings in the area of the soundhole (about half obscuring it). The elbow of the hand should be approximately at the junction of the shell and the upper deck. Adjust the position of your hand so that it is comfortable for you.

The fingers of the right hand should stand on the strings, while being only slightly curved at the joints.

Place your left palm around the neck of the guitar. The correct position of the left hand is when the palm touches the fingerboard only with the pads of the “playing” fingers (or, when using the barre technique, with the entire surface of the finger) and part of the surface of the thumb.

The thumb, located on the back of the bar, should not fall too low or rise too high. Moreover, it should not appear above the upper edge of the fingerboard.

Video on the topic

Sources:

"Guitar. Lessons from a master for beginners", D. Ageev, 2009

An electric guitar is an electronic type of plucked string musical instrument. Despite a large number of similar features (notation system, number and tuning of strings, basic playing techniques), the electric guitar also has differences, including in the manner of holding the instrument.

Instructions

The neck, like a regular one, is on the left, above the body. It should be at such a height that the left arm, bent at the elbow, can move freely along it without experiencing tension. The fingers, except the thumb, are on the outer (visible to the audience) side of the fingerboard.

Unlike the classical setting, where the thumb strictly rests on the middle of the neck from behind, on an electric guitar it is allowed to completely wrap around the neck. The tip of the thumb may be visible from behind the fingerboard and may even bend slightly at the knuckle. In addition, a strong bend in the wrist is allowed, especially in some techniques. Comfort plays an important role here: if you feel pain, it means you are doing something wrong.

The position of the right hand also has significant differences. Unlike classical, the brush can touch the strings, for example, when muffling with the edge of the palm. In addition, the mediator technique is more often used rather than the finger technique. The position of the hand depends on the specific playing technique. It is also permissible to move the hand along the body to give a specific color (in the classics it is necessary to hold the hand strictly above the resonant hole).

Allowed to hold electric guitar horizontally (with hands on the lower deck, like on a person's back), vertically, or in other non-standard positions. However, such positions are rather acceptable as a stage effect and are possible only with good knowledge of the part and the ability to perform it “blindly”.

Video on the topic

The sound quality when playing any instrument largely depends on the position of the hands and the ability to accept correct posture. Of course, rock music performers sometimes take the most incredible positions while playing, as do flamenco virtuosos. But a musician can choose the optimal position of the body and hands once he masters the technique. It’s better to start with the pose adopted by performers of classical guitar music.

Where to begin

Before you start learning, you need to become thoroughly familiar with the instrument. Try tuning your guitar. It is better to do this yourself from the very beginning, especially since finding an electronic tuner is now not difficult, as well as a tuning scheme. You may need to adjust the height of the neck, sharpen the saddles, etc. In short, the guitar should be ready for practice, just like the musician himself. To learn how to hold a classical guitar correctly, you will also need a low stool. You can buy it where they sell tools, or. At first, improvised means will do - a stack of books or a small wooden box. The height of the stand should be approximately 15-20 cm. Some guitarists order inclined stools so that the heel and toe are at different heights.

Guitarist pose

Sit on a chair. It must be strong enough and stable. It is better to choose a chair with four legs. The chair is not suitable because it is difficult to sit upright. Lean forward a little. Pay special attention to the position of your shoulders. They should be free, just like your hands. Tension not only interferes with proper sound production, but can negatively affect your health. Left leg put it on a bench. The leg should be stable. At first, this position may not seem very comfortable, but very soon you will get used to it.

Guitar position

Take your guitar. Place it with the cutout on the thigh of your left leg, standing on a stool. The bar should be in your left hand, unless, of course, you are left-handed. The head of the bar should be at the level of your left shoulder. The neck should be positioned so that, turning your head slightly to the left, you can clearly see even the first frets. Move your right leg slightly to the side. The distance is determined empirically. In any case, the guitar must be stable. Men and women who play classical guitar sit slightly differently. A woman usually takes her right leg back a little and places it on her toes. This position is more comfortable if the performer is wearing a long dress and high-heeled shoes. But modern female guitarists often perform in trousers, so a masculine pose is quite appropriate.

Hand position

The "starting position" of the left hand depends on whether you are playing a six-string guitar or a seven-string guitar. When playing the six-string, the neck rests on the thumb of the left hand. Wrist flexed but free. The fingers press the different frets with pads. For seven-string players, the neck may lie in the palm of the left hand, since quite often the technique is used when the thumb pinch the sixth or seventh string from above. The right hand touches the shell at the point between the wrist and elbow, and the hand is above the socket. There are some techniques when the right hand is placed edgewise on a stand, but you will have to master this type of technique later.

To be able to run fast, a person must first learn to walk. Likewise, you'll have to learn how to hold the guitar correctly before you can play a Mixolydian tapping solo on E flat. By holding the guitar correctly, you will develop the fundamental skills needed to build correct technique, and later you can freely and easily play whatever you want. Good guitarists take the time to develop habits that help them improve their skills. Whether you like acoustic or electric guitars, whether you like to play standing or sitting, it is very important to learn how to hold a guitar correctly.

Steps

Holding a guitar while sitting

Sit on a comfortable chair. When you first try to learn guitar, it's best to practice sitting position. Before you can dance around on stage while simultaneously performing a solo, you need to learn how to hold your guitar in such a way that you can strum chords and pluck the strings effortlessly. The best way to learn how to hold a guitar correctly is on a suitable chair.

Position the guitar correctly. First of all, you need to place the guitar in the correct position relative to your body. IN correct position The guitar's thickest string should be at the top and the thinnest string at the bottom. The body of the guitar - a wooden box with a hole - should be on the side of your dominant hand, that is, the hand with which you write in your notebook. The neck of the guitar - a long board with markings - should be on the side of the auxiliary hand.

You will use your dominant hand to strike the strings and produce sound. Although it may seem to you that it is more convenient to play chords with this hand, it will later be easier for you to master the instrument in this position.
You'll use your side hand to play chords and create individual notes.

Place the body of the guitar in a balanced position on your hip. When holding the guitar in a seated position, place your lead leg slightly forward and bend your knee at a right angle, with your foot flat on the floor. Take your other leg back a little and place it in a way that is comfortable for you. Keep your back straight. Balance the position of the guitar body on the thigh of your lead leg.

Some dreadnought-style acoustic guitars have a comfortable curve that fits well on the hip and helps position the guitar correctly. Take some time to get a good feel for your guitar and position it comfortably on your lap. If the guitar is balanced correctly, you won't have to support it with your hands.

Tilt the neck of the guitar. When positioned correctly, the neck of the guitar should be at a 45-degree angle, not parallel to the floor. Although it is sometimes called " classic style", this position is the most convenient for mastering the instrument, regardless of what style you will play it in.

Some instructors do not insist on this position of the guitar. You can hold it in any way that suits you. However, this makes it much easier for beginners to reach the frets. If your instructor teaches you to play with the neck of the guitar parallel to the floor, try holding the instrument this way.

Support the body of the guitar with your elbow or forearm with your dominant hand. You need to lightly press the back of the guitar body towards your torso. The front wall of the housing should be perpendicular to the floor. Avoid tilting the guitar back to better see the fretboard. Hold the guitar lightly against your body with your elbow and forearm of your dominant hand behind the sound hole.

To check if you're pressing the guitar too hard, try playing it. Your hand should be free to reach a few inches below the sound hole on an acoustic guitar or level with the pickups on an electric guitar.
When playing, you should not so much "hold" the guitar as simply let it rest comfortably on your lap. The less you “hold” it, the easier it will be for you to play.

Place the bar between the index finger and thumb of your supporting hand. This hand does not need to support the guitar. In the correct position, the guitar should rest on the knee of your dominant leg, lightly pressed by the elbow of your dominant hand. Make a V with your thumb and forefinger on your secondary hand and control the bar with that hand.

Some instructors place a piece of tape on the back of the fingerboard behind the third fret to mark where the thumb should be. If you're doing it right, your thumb should always be on the back of the fingerboard and your other fingers should be around the fretboard. No need thumb grab the bar from above.
Virtuosos such as Hendrix and John Fahey completely ignored this rule, skillfully fingering the frets with their thumbs. If you have enough long fingers, you can do it too. Follow your instructor's recommendations if you agree, or experiment and find a style that suits you.

Keep your back as straight as possible. To master the instrument correctly, it is very important to keep your back straight and the body of the guitar to be perpendicular to the floor. If you tilt your guitar back to see the frets better, you'll end up slouching. This way you will very quickly acquire the wrong playing skills. If you want to hold your guitar correctly, keep your back straight.

Holding a guitar while standing

Buy a belt with an adjustable length. When performing on stage, guitarists usually use a special guitar strap. Belts available for sale include the most different styles and types range from mariachi-style loop belts to banjo-style short ones, but generally the most common types of belts are easy to use. Choose a strap made of thick textile or high-quality leather with an adjustable length so that you can find the most comfortable position for the guitar.

Before purchasing a strap, make sure your guitar has strap mounts, or contact a musical instrument store to have them installed. To secure the strap, you need at least one clip on the body of the guitar. Most guitars are sold with clamps installed.

Attach the belt correctly. How you attach the strap will depend on whether your guitar has one or two clips. As a rule, acoustic guitars are equipped with only one mount, while electric guitars have two. Always attach the strap to the body of the guitar first, and then to the neck.