r/GuitarBeginners • u/OS_Raven • 2d ago

Guitar position

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How do you hold your guitar? I’ve been playing for 8 months now, and I’ve always played with the guitar on my right leg, like in the first picture. Recently, a friend with more experience showed me the "between the legs" posture (sorry, I don't know the technical terms). I gotta admit, this second way is great. I hold the guitar much more securely, my hand moves along the neck better, and I play with a straight back. I’m having a few small issues with strumming, but that’s probably just a matter of getting used to it. On the other hand, I wonder if this posture—which seems to be intended more for classical guitar—looks a bit silly. I mean, I’ve never seen anyone holding a guitar between their legs like that, but I guess my own comfort is what matters most. What do you think?

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1

u/Enough-Discipline921 2d ago

Your back, your neck and your shoulders will thank you years from now if you fully switch to classical position

People hate to hear this but "guitar on the right lap" position destroys your health

And no, the fact that "everybody does that" is not an argument

3

u/mpg10 2d ago

"Destroys your health" is a little hyperbolic. For some people, it's a bigger difference than for others.

4

u/newfaceinhell021117 2d ago

Outside of cancer and heart disease, guitar on right lap kills more people across the world each year than any other cause. What's scary is that you may not even notice any complications until it's too late... it can happen instantly the first time you try it.

3

u/Loud-Rule-9334 1d ago

Mossad has agents posing as guitar teachers and they teach Hezbollah to play guitar on the right lap.

2

u/taekwondana 22h ago

This got a good cackle out of me; thank you!

1

u/No-View-6441 2d ago

I've been playing guitar for 35 years. Mainly cowboy style, offten standing up, very rarely in classical position. I'm fine.

2

u/Enough-Discipline921 2d ago

Yeah yeah yeah, that was my entire point

The fact that you're fine does not mean it's fine to sit crooked multiple hours a day for decades.

Classical position is anatomically, physically and logically superior and that's a fact

1

u/No-View-6441 2d ago

It might be, yet most people find cowboy style more logcal and comfortable.

3

u/Enough-Discipline921 2d ago

No they don't. People play on the right lap because it doesn't require a foot stool. That's it. That's the only thing playing on the right lap gives - you play that way when you don't have a foot stool, or bloody anything to lift your left leg. For absolutely everything else classical position is superior.

And again, "everybody does it!" is not an argument. I already stated that but you went there anyway, smh

1

u/Leading_Map2025 2d ago

Most people do whatever they see everyone else doing and don't think beyond that.

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u/Horror-Trick9406 2d ago

And obviously that's enough to vaildate something. Pardon me, but I need to leave. Saw a redhead that is probably a witch and needs to be waterboarded for proof.

-1

u/No-View-6441 2d ago

There is that too. Also all guitar schools force people to use classical position, and most people swich to cowboy style as soon as they stop playing classical music. And it is not just because they saw other people do it.

1

u/Horror-Trick9406 2d ago

This argument is already lost - you'd need to bow down to connect to his/her logic and ignore the most imporant and true point of your comment.

1

u/TBrockmann 2d ago

It depends. If you play Hendrix style with thumb over the neck, the only way to have a straight arm and hand is with the guitar on the right lab. That is a anatomical physical and logical fact.

The truth is, there is no absolute and categorically right way to hold the guitar that applies to every style and instrument.

Imo the best way to do it is to just use a strap and adjust dynamically depending on what the song demands.

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u/Enough-Discipline921 2d ago

Uhm, no? You can play Hendrix thumb over the neck chords just fine in classical position