Holding Your Guitar

The 7-Step System for Perfect Guitar Posture

Follow these steps every time you pick up your guitar to develop excellent habits right from the start.

Step 1: Choose the Right Chair & Sit Correctly

• Find an armless chair: Arm rests get in the way, pushing your guitar out of position.
• Plant your feet firmly: Ensure both feet are flat on the floor. Aim for your thighs to be roughly parallel to the ground, creating a stable right angle at your knees. This provides a solid base.

Step 2: Orient the Guitar Forward

• Point the soundhole outwards: Resist the temptation to tilt the guitar up towards your face to see the strings better. While tempting, this forces your fretting hand wrist into an awkward and potentially harmful angle. Keep the guitar facing forward.

Step 3: Lower the Guitar onto Your Thigh

• Use the guitar’s contour: Notice the curve or “nook” on the bottom side of your guitar body? That’s designed to rest comfortably on your thigh (right or left, it’s up to you). Let the guitar balance there naturally.

Step 4: Angle the Guitar Neck Upwards (Crucial!)

• Lift the headstock: The neck of the guitar (where the tuning pegs are) should be angled upwards, not parallel to the floor or pointing down.
• Why? Wrist health! Look at your fretting hand wrist: when the neck points down, your wrist bends sharply. When the neck angles up, your wrist stays much straighter and more neutral. This is essential for comfort and technique.

Step 5: Secure the Guitar with Your Strumming Arm

• Rest your arm gently: If you’re right-handed, rest your right bicep/forearm lightly on the top edge of the guitar body. The crook of your elbow might naturally align near the “corner” of the guitar.
• Important: Your arm isn’t holding the guitar’s weight (your leg is doing that). It’s simply securing the guitar in place, preventing it from slipping. Your forearm should still feel free to move for strumming or picking. Avoid clamping down tightly.

Step 6: The Fretting Hand Stability Check

• Place your fretting hand: Position your left hand (for right-handed players) on the neck as if you were about to play a chord (even if you don’t know any yet).
• Let go: Briefly take your hand off the neck. The guitar should not move. If it stays stable, it means your leg and strumming arm are correctly supporting and securing the guitar.
• The goal: Your fretting hand needs to be completely free to move up and down the neck without bearing any of the guitar’s weight.

Step 7: Sit Up Straight

• Final posture check: Straighten your back and relax your shoulders, pulling them back slightly if needed. Good overall posture complements good guitar posture.

Remember these seven steps every time you practice. Use the checklist in your workbook, perhaps keeping it on your music stand or desk as a visual reminder.

Developing good guitar posture from day one allows you to focus on learning chords, playing songs, and truly enjoying your guitar journey without unnecessary physical strain. It sets you up for success in the rest of this Crash Course and beyond!