Fingerstyle Foundations: How to Hold Your Guitar
Welcome to this first installment of a series of lessons on Fingerstyle Guitar Foundations.
Today, I’m discussing the most basic concern beginners face when they begin learning to play fingerstyle guitar: How do you hold the guitar, and how do you position your hands?
In this video, I walk you through several different options you have and the pros and cons of each:
More than anything, what I want you to be aware of is the tradeoffs you make when you choose to hold the guitar one way vs. another.
Be aware of the tension in your body and notice how different ways of holding the guitar impact the straightness of your spine, the angle of your hands and fingers on the guitar and how rooted into the ground you feel.
My Preferred Methods for Holding the Guitar
When I’m practicing seriously, I use the classical position with the guitar placed between my legs and leaning against my solar plexus. However, I use the Gitano almost religiously. It is THAT fantastic. So much better than a footstool.
(If you’d like a Gitano of your very own, head here.)
If I’m looking for a more casual playing experience, I usually just place the guitar on my right leg near the hip. However, I still use the Gitano in this position, which raises the neck of the guitar up to a more comfortable level. I also rarely do any serious practicing while holding the guitar in this position. The tension that results from twisting my spine to orient my body to the guitar on my hip inhibits my ability to play relaxed and fluidly at a high level.
Let Your Experience Guide You
Whatever you do, don’t take my word for how to hold your guitar.
Explore the different options that appeal to you.
But always be aware of the many sensations your body experiences as you hold the guitar in different positions.
This may all feel like a big to-do about a very small issue, but trust me–how you hold the guitar serves as the foundation for all the music you will make moving forward.
It makes sense to choose consciously and deliberately with a good perspective on why you hold the guitar the way you do.
February 17th, 2011 at 4:59 pm
Hello Matt,
That’s some really good advice, I’m going to pay more attention to my posture. I hold my guitar in a different way that you mentioned. I’m a big fan of Erik Mongrain and I got used to the posture he usually has. What do you think about it?
February 17th, 2011 at 5:38 pm
Hey Martin,
Do you mean the lap tapping technique or when he sits with the guitar on his right leg?
I think the most important thing to keep in mind is awareness–how does your body feel with the way you hold the guitar? It takes time to begin to notice the deeper tensions that arise from our guitar holding postures.
I like having both feet on the ground, but I also like having my spine vertical while I play. That’s why I switched from using a foot stool in the traditional classical guitar posture to using the Gitano instead of the stool.
I find that a straight spine and feet grounded on the earth are the most important aspects for my comfort while holding the guitar. You?
February 18th, 2011 at 7:14 am
I meant the way when he has his guitar on right leg.
I have one leg crossing the other, it depends on the song I’m playing whether it’s left over right or the opposite. So I have only one foot on the ground.
My body feels good in this position and I like how is the guitar neck close to me. I tried those positions you talked about and the guitar feels too far away from me.
February 18th, 2011 at 7:19 am
Any new position takes time to get used to, but there are many ways to hold the guitar and play.
Cross-legged is how the flamenco players hold the guitar, and they seem to be able to blaze their music just fine.