How To Hold The Guitar

The first thing to do is to make sure you are sitting properly. Make sure you are sitting in a comfortable chair with no arms. Knowing how to hold the guitar properly is going to do a couple of things for you. It is going to give you good, relaxed posture which will encourage you to breathe properly when practicing for any period of time. This practice will assist with fatigue, avoid unnecessary back problems and it will ensure that the guitar sessions go as well as possible.

If you are right handed, you can start by sitting the guitar on your right leg​. Use a foot stool to elevate the right leg into a more comfortable position. Use a strap to hold the guitar in position. You do not want to feel the need to support the guitar with your arms.

It is important to ensure that the guitar is not rested in a slouched position but held upright. It is better to practice using the correct position. It is also a good idea to bring the right strumming arm over to secure the guitar in position. You do not want the arm to be too far over. Just rest it in the bend of your arm. It will prevent the guitar from slouching and it will remain in a good position for practice. It is important to maintain a even, balanced posture to avoid a possible repetitive strain injury to the shoulder.

If you are right handed, It is necessary to ensure that you grip the neck of the guitar properly with the left hand to ensure that the hands are in the proper place. It is essential to dexterity and articulation of notes and will assist you in the proper formation of the chords.

Avoid placing the thumb on top of the neck. For better leverage, place the thumb square on the back of the neck. Avoid bending the wrist at too much of an angle. If you continually do this, there is a risk of a repetitive strain injury to the hand and fingers caused by the compression of a major nerve in the wrist and is called carpel tunnel syndrome.

An alternative and recommended method involves you moving the stool from the right foot to the left foot. If you are right handed, you are going to move the guitar over to rest on the left leg. This will bring the guitar over to the left and elevate it a little more. This will enable you a better position to access all the positions on the fretboard. It will straighten the left wrist avoiding potential repetitive injury. It elevates the position of the fretboard avoiding the need to bend over the guitar and it evens out the level of the shoulders, overall improving posture.

Proper positioning is key for playing the guitar for any length of time without discomfort.