Learn Acoustic Guitar: The Right Posture Can Make Or Brake Your Playing
This guitar tutorial is aimed to help you learn the basic posture when playing guitar. Posture is one of the most neglected problems with beginners and if properly addressed can make a huge difference in their playing.
Playing with a good posture can help the student avoid stress and play with more ease but also helps prevent injuries such as “Tennis Elbow”, “Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) Carpel Tunnel Syndrome” or in worst cases “Tendinitis”. I have met a few students over the years that had to stop playing for these same reasons.
The movements required to play the guitar are not natural, and when you are starting to learn acoustic you will put your body under some stress. Pressing strings, picking or strumming at the same time with the beat require a certain amount of coordination and commitment and doesn’t come natural. If you hear otherwise it’s probably from those “special” guys that where born with calluses on their fingers and are generally so good already that don’t need to practice.
Unfortunately I had to work hard to learn how to play and I wasn’t part of that “elite”, that’s why I can understand these of us that are starting out and are finding it difficult to learn acoustic guitar. Don’t worry guys you are not the only one that had a tough time at the beginning and be assured that it can be done – learning to play is a process.
Always remember that when you practice you should be as relaxed as possible and that you should not struggle. Think of your guitar as it’s your girlfriend that you have in your arms. Many think that it’s a good thing to do some warm up exercises before you start your daily practice routine.
Many modern acoustic guitar players practice sitting down and resting the guitar on their right leg. A more “classical” way would be to rest the guitar on the left leg while keeping the guitar at an angle. Both techniques are comfortable and I suggest that you try them both and see which one works best for you. Keep the wrist of the fretting hand as straight as possible to prevent the risk of a trapped nerve
Often you will see videos of rock bands with guitars strapped so low that in order for the fingers to make contact with the frets the wrist is at a right angle, no need to say this is quite bad for the nerves in the forearm as well as the general circulation of blood.
When playing standing up I always suggest to have the strap long enough to ensure the guitar is in the same position as when you are sitting down. Many of us practice most of the time sitting down and perform standing up, therefore having the guitar always in the same position will ensure you’ll have always the same fell with the instrument.
The strumming hand should also be completely relaxed, as you play the muscles should not tense up at all, remain loose and strum from the forearm.
Learn acoustic guitar is now possible even with out a physical tutor. The Author has a fantastic FREE “Learn Acoustic Guitar Chords” eBook. Go and get it.
