Are You Holding Your Guitar Properly

Many new guitarists who dont take formal lessons are unsure of how to properly hold a guitar

. This is a very basic skill that every guitarist should have mastered before they learn how to play guitar. Therefore, here are a few tips to help you learn the proper way of holding your guitar.

Sitting posture

You should be sitting upright on an armless chair with your back straight; your feet should also be flat on the ground. When you pick up the guitar, it should be resting on your leg and slightly brush against your chest and abdomen. The neck of the guitar should always be parallel with the ground and the thickest string should be the one closest to you.

You should always feel comfortable in this position, if not make the proper adjustments.

Finger placement

If you play left handed, then you will have to do the exact opposite of what I am describing here.

Place your right arm loosely over the sound hole. This is the hand you will be using for strumming, usually with a pick. When you are strumming properly, it wont require much wrist movement.

Now take your fretting hand, (left arm) and place it over the neck of the guitar. Curl your hands over the strings and rest your thumb directly behind the neck until it is needed.

Holding the pick

You should hold the pick between your index finger and your thumb. Some people prefer to hold the pick with three fingers or with the middle finger instead of the index finger. I have found that the standard way of holding the pick works best, but it is really up to you.

Be sure to not grasp the pick too tightly or too loose. Hold it however feels comfortable, with a little bit of firm pressure. When you first start to strum, you may find the pick is falling out of your hand or coming loose. Now it is up to you if you want to make a fist or keep your other fingers extended. This is a matter or personal preference, and entirely up to you.

By following these basics tips for holding your guitar, it will help you to be not only a better guitar player, but a more comfortable one as well!

by: William Jason

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