Acoustic Guitar Technique: Sitting with the Guitar

Classical Sitting Style for Guitar

Benefits

This position is the preferred style of some of the most technically astute guitarists to have played the instrument. When mastered, its accessibility allows really incredible things to happen. Of course these things can happen with the casual style as well. Also this is the position that has been tried and true to perfect technically demanding playing.

Things to look out for

• twisting your shoulders and back to reach for the fretboard (like you’re turning backwards)
• pulling the neck towards you causing the above
• leaning one way or the other causing your back to curve
• lowering your fretting hand’s shoulder causing your spine to get out of alignment
• cocking your head in one direction one way or another causing your spine to get out of alignment
• hunching or leaning back too much
• lowering the headstock of the guitar
• back pain

Things to try to do

• stay relaxed
• keep your spine aligned
• keep the headstock of the guitar head up eye level or thereabouts
• keep your shoulders straight and level
• keep good right and left hand form

Front view: foot stool

• Shoulders: shoulders are level and straight forward
• Back: back is aligned and along with arms and shoulders, envelops the guitar
• Head: head is aligned with spine
• Legs: guitar on left leg, raised for easier access with right and left hands, thighs about parallel to floor (for seat adjustment)
• Feet: feet on the floor, foot supporting the guitar perpendicular to the torso to avoid twisting to reach the guitar.
• Guitar: guitar headstock is raised, guitar is angled so that the neck is slightly pointing forward. Allows for easier access to fretboard (strap
facilitates this, prevents guitar from sliding off or around on leg) guitar is slightly tilted back into the body

classical guitar sitting

Side view / Fisk style:

A guitar instructor I studied with years ago told me that you
should tilt the guitar back into the body and it opens up the face
of the guitar to your hands. It allows for easier access he said. I
agree to a point. But if you look at the great guitarist Eliot Fisk
you’ll notice that he tucks his guitar into him. Or he tucks the
bottom into his body so that he kind of envelopes the guitar. I
don’t know if he intentionally does this but experiment with it.
You may find that it is a bit more comfortable.

Conclusion

I remember when I was first learning to find my sitting position. I had played without thinking about it for years and now my instructor was telling me its importance and I HAD to think about it. I thought, “ignorance is bliss” because it seemed the more I tried to get it right, the more uncomfortable and awkward I felt. Finally I realized that the guitar can move. I don’t have to build my perfect structure around it.

The most important thing to remember is that the guitar should conform to you. Not you to it. You shouldn’t have to contort your body to find the right way to hold it. You might also try to wear a guitar strap while you play in either position. I’ve really found this helpful in moving and making adjustments as the intensity of my playing fluctuates or if something feel not quite right. It also helps at times if you need to adjust the neck to facilitate a certain fingering. When you play, try moving the guitar to get to the position you need as opposed to moving yourself to get there. This makes for more efficient playing, less fatigue, better technique and even better health in the long run. Hope this helps.

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