Short Description: After you're through with this article you'll be an expert in holding the guitar.
So you got your first guitar. Bet you're itchin to start strummin!
Let's go ahead and take the first step towards mastering the instrument. Yes, you're absolutely right. We will begin with the intricacies of holding the instrument properly. It's an extremely important step since any awkward pose makes it really difficult to play even the simplest of melodies on it and you may soon drop the idea of becoming an accomplished guitarist.
Ideally, you should sit at the front edge of a straight-backed chair and let the guitar lie on your right thigh with the strings and sound hole facing outwards. The neck should point towards your left. But, if you're a left hander, don't worry; Jimi Hendrix was a leftie too! Gently place the guitar on your left thigh and let the neck point towards your right. The neck should point slightly upwards; say 30 or so.
But remember, comfort and ease is the watchword. A slight deviation here and there which might make you more comfortable wouldn't bring the heavens crashing down.
Now that your legs taken care of, let's see where your arms should be. I've described here the hand positions for a right handed player - it'd be just the opposite for a left hander.
Just let your right arm lie gently over the guitar in such a way that the fingers hang loosely over the sound hole. You'd use these fingers to pick the strings. See to it that you don't require a lot of wrist movement while doing so. People have ended up with carpal tunnel syndrome while strumming hard on their guitars; so take care not to overstrain your wrist.
Let's now go over to your left hand - the "fretting" hand, so to say. The back of the neck is curved so you'll find your palm fitting snugly over it. Keep your fingers curled so that your fingertips can freely press the strings. Now, what to do with the thumb?
But what would the poor thumb do being left alone as it were! Let it arch over the neck while you're constructing chords. But when you're playing scales keep it at the back of the neck. These are general guidelines, the watchword as always is comfort and ease while you hold a guitar.
So you got your first guitar. Bet you're itchin to start strummin!
Let's go ahead and take the first step towards mastering the instrument. Yes, you're absolutely right. We will begin with the intricacies of holding the instrument properly. It's an extremely important step since any awkward pose makes it really difficult to play even the simplest of melodies on it and you may soon drop the idea of becoming an accomplished guitarist.
Ideally, you should sit at the front edge of a straight-backed chair and let the guitar lie on your right thigh with the strings and sound hole facing outwards. The neck should point towards your left. But, if you're a left hander, don't worry; Jimi Hendrix was a leftie too! Gently place the guitar on your left thigh and let the neck point towards your right. The neck should point slightly upwards; say 30 or so.
But remember, comfort and ease is the watchword. A slight deviation here and there which might make you more comfortable wouldn't bring the heavens crashing down.
Now that your legs taken care of, let's see where your arms should be. I've described here the hand positions for a right handed player - it'd be just the opposite for a left hander.
Just let your right arm lie gently over the guitar in such a way that the fingers hang loosely over the sound hole. You'd use these fingers to pick the strings. See to it that you don't require a lot of wrist movement while doing so. People have ended up with carpal tunnel syndrome while strumming hard on their guitars; so take care not to overstrain your wrist.
Let's now go over to your left hand - the "fretting" hand, so to say. The back of the neck is curved so you'll find your palm fitting snugly over it. Keep your fingers curled so that your fingertips can freely press the strings. Now, what to do with the thumb?
But what would the poor thumb do being left alone as it were! Let it arch over the neck while you're constructing chords. But when you're playing scales keep it at the back of the neck. These are general guidelines, the watchword as always is comfort and ease while you hold a guitar.
About the Author:
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