It’s easy to play guitar, but bad posture can make it a lot harder!
Most of the problems actually result from the focus we put into learning how to play guitar. We lose track of our body! We concentrate on getting our fingers on the right strings in the sweet spot with enough pressure and the rest of our body is forgotten! This can result in some odd positions. Once during a home recording project (another overly encompassing hobby!) long hours of attention focused on my work resulted in bad posture that did damage to my right shoulder that took months of physical therapy to put right!
Looking at the guitar is a common cause too. To see the strings we tilt the bottom out away from our body and lean over to look down on it. Now your left wrist is twisted and straining and your body is wrapped around the guitar without even noticing! In this picture you can see a very dedicated guitar student contorting her body around the guitar.
One solution is simply to check your position every now and then. Set an alarm on your phone if you tend to get particularly focused. I personally find pain in my back, neck or wrist to be a good cue! When practicing becomes uncomfortable, I adjust my posture. Also, if I repeatedly have trouble playing a difficult bit, that’s when I know need to sit up and reposition my guitar.
Here’s another student sitting up and ready to shred!!!
Back straight, feet firmly on the ground, both arms relaxed and in position, steely gaze focused on his musical goals! He can play anything he tries most comfortably.
Good posture makes playing guitar easier!
If you have other questions, check out How To Play Guitar: The Ultimate Beginners Guide!
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