Standing or sitting??

[Highway Star]

I recently fitted some strap locks to my Les Paul. Now.... for the past few years I have always played sitting down but, with strap locks fitted, I started playing standing up, bugger! It is so damned different! I figure that if you can play standing then playing sitting down is a doddle but... if you always play seated then standing and playing is, initially, damned awkward!

Norman

[Stew]

I found this too Farl so I adjusted the strap whilst sitting so that when I stood up the guitar was still roughly in same position. I think I was going for the cool down at my ankles look and didn't have the sense to realise my arms didn't stretch that far to be able to fret properly. :smile:

[Highway Star]

I found this too Farl so I adjusted the strap whilst sitting so that when I stood up the guitar was still roughly in same position. I think I was going for the cool down at my ankles look and didn't have the sense to realise my arms didn't stretch that far to be able to fret properly. :smile:

I think it is the neck angle that does it for me. When I'm sitting, I can see the fretboard. When I'm standing I just see the dot makers on the side of the neck and not the frets. I used to play standing (as a lad) and thought nothing of it and I'm pretty sure that it'll not take long to get used to again but it does seem wierd!

Norm

[Stew]

Why not hook the strap over the top corner of the guitar to allow the guitar to sit at a slight angle? this part of strat type guitars is bevelled away and the strap will hold it in that position nicely.

[Six]

I think this is a very common problem for us so-called 'bedroom' guitarists.

I used to play stood up too, back when I was a lad, but for the last few years it has all been done sitting down. A couple of weeks ago I was asked to play a few tunes for a neighbour and all the seats in our house were taken so I played stood up. Damn it I suck at stood-up playing!!!

[Highway Star]

I think this is a very common problem for us so-called 'bedroom' guitarists.

I used to play stood up too, back when I was a lad, but for the last few years it has all been done sitting down. A couple of weeks ago I was asked to play a few tunes for a neighbour and all the seats in our house were taken so I played stood up. Damn it I suck at stood-up playing!!!

Oh!!!! The embarrasment!! LOL

Norman

[Rick_Lamoreaux]

When I first started playing I used to have my strap adjusted so that my guitar was way down low, but I practiced sitting down most of the time, LOL. For me it makes a huge difference adjusting the strap so that the guitar rests about the same as it would while you're sitting, if that's how you practice most of the time - bedroom guitarist or not. :mrgreen:

[Guitarpima]

I always use a strap standing or sitting.

Norman, try not to rely on looking at your hands and look straight ahead. Easier said than done. I can do it very well. I had a strat once but got rid of it because I kept missing my position shifts. I just could not get used to it. wierd eh?

[Viscolex]

sitting allows me to play more accurately... but since the band requires to play standing... i must do it!


and its most fun while standing, you can headbang and stuff!

[bwdavis99]

Practice playing in the dark if your dependent on seeing your hands helps with ear training too. I suck sitting or standing so I guess it doesn't matter to me, although acoustic is a bit akward standing as I play seated usually and it's a jumbo

[Danny Danzi]

We all go through this, but I'll give you a few pointers and pros and cons.

If you sit and play long enough, you pick up bad habits. This is why it feels so different when you finally stand and play. First off, your neck angle is different as Norm mentions. Secondly, your hand position is a bit different though you may not notice. And the worst of all...you look down so much and so far to get a closer look at your fretboard, you take this on the stage with you as well when your standing.

There's nothing worse then a guy that is looking down so far while standing that he is hunched over. I've been a victim of this for a long time. To deal with it, I have to literally practice standing up and ready myself for a gig. Also, I have to experiment with playing certain things using certain poses or leg positions so I can pull things off due to the new angle of the neck while standing and my hand positions.

Anyone ever see Petrucci live? He brings special wedges with him to put his feet on in certain solo's so his angle of attack is more comfortable. These wedges look like speaker monitors when in fact, they are not. Just foot rests for him so he can pull off scary things and reach all the right positions.

So in my humble opinion, always be conscious of how far you look down when sitting and when standing, look for poses and positions that will help you reach where you need to be and make them a part of your show antics/presentation.

Also, practice for a week standing while going through your set and you will learn how to deal with things much easier. While you stand, keep a mental note of how much you look down and how far you may be hunching over to look down. This is important. When we sit and play, we get lazy from doing it for so many hours. When you stand and play, it's a new ballgame and you have to learn to accommodate for it. A few days of standing while running through your set usually cures this. If it takes you anymore than a week to feel comfortable, you have to take a look at what is different that you may be doing or not doing.

[Blue]

Oh this topic is about playing the guitar? Thought it may have been about something else. :twisted:

I'm playing exclusively in my bedroom at the computer desk at the moment and because my wife has so much junk in the room (she complains I have too may guitars in the bedroom but 5 isn't excessive is it?) I don't have any room to stand up and play.

When I'm rehearsing band stuff I try to practice standing up if I can. Otherise I go on stage and I want to just sit on stool and play like Skunk Baxter.

[Rick_Lamoreaux]

I like to practice looking up at the ceiling or closing my eyes while looking straight ahead while playing or just looking someplace else other than the guitar. I only need to look down at the guitar when I have to do a long slide. Maybe that's why it's never bothered me that much practicing while sitting, as opposed to practicing while standing.

[mgrowe]

I play both sitting and standing depending on what I am doing.

I find playing a solo I have to be on my feet or it sucks (Think it is psychological as I need to get myself moving about). I am one of those players who cannot stand still while playing.

I play a lot of acoustic sitting down (Quiet passages and classical sounding stuff). However as I rehearse acoustically I stand up for that.

I think both work if you do them both. You just adjust when you change over. I would think if you just do one or the other the change would be more marked.

I lie on the sofa and play sometimes so it could be one of three I guess (-:

[bluesgeek]

yeah when I started gigging with the blues band I had to practice standing up for a good week or so before our first gig. Then I practiced standing up with a mic stand in front - its amazing how easy they are to knock over if you don't watch what you're doing, especially when you're in the 'zone' and you're gurning like Gary Moore ;)

[mullyman]

Yeah, standing and playing sucks. People say my guitar is pretty high up but if I lower it down like Hetfield I can't reach the 6th string very well, and I've got big hands. I keep mine just above waist level around my belly button.
MULLY