About 95% of the time I'm sitting.
I saw a Parks and Rec show today. The lead guitarist had the guitar slung low and he was pouring his soul as well as his body into every note. It was a good show. This guy wasn't young or fit and had some type of truss to support his back and the guitar. Still I was impressed with the passion he put into playing. I play standing about once a year if that. Years gone by when I was performing live it was all standing and I'd put on a show for the crowd.
How do you play? (Standing / Sitting)
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- KVRAF
- 7923 posts since 20 Jan, 2008
Dell Vostro i9 64GB Ram Windows 11 Pro, Cubase, Bitwig, Mixcraft Guitar Pod Go, Linntrument Nektar P1, Novation Launchpad
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- KVRAF
- 8513 posts since 12 Feb, 2006 from Helsinki, Finland
I'd say I probably play about 1/3rd of the time standing and 2/3rds sitting, but that's not really the whole story, because the "sitting" further needs to be divided (roughly half and half I guess) into "sitting upright holding guitar on a strap" (in which case the instrument plays about exactly the same as if I was actually standing) and "sitting casually holding guitar on the leg" (where the guitar is fundamentally in a different position).
That said, my guitar (and especially the neck of the guitar as I tend to try to keep the thing about as vertical as possible) is actually higher when I'm standing or sitting upright, which makes it slightly easier to play. When sitting casually the neck points a bit more forward. Trying to stand and keep the guitar low in order to look cool makes it impossible for me to play anything that requires the slightest bit of dexterity in the fretting hand and kinda makes my wrist hurt too. The only situation where I'd do this is if I'm borrowing someone's guitar in a jam and that's the way their strap is setup.
That said, my guitar (and especially the neck of the guitar as I tend to try to keep the thing about as vertical as possible) is actually higher when I'm standing or sitting upright, which makes it slightly easier to play. When sitting casually the neck points a bit more forward. Trying to stand and keep the guitar low in order to look cool makes it impossible for me to play anything that requires the slightest bit of dexterity in the fretting hand and kinda makes my wrist hurt too. The only situation where I'd do this is if I'm borrowing someone's guitar in a jam and that's the way their strap is setup.
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 7923 posts since 20 Jan, 2008
It seems odd to me to stand and go through the whole physical emoting of playing while alone. I stand all day at work and the last thing I want to do is stand when I get home. While standing works against me for standing as well as classical. I sometimes feel that my music (especially when there is a lot of vibrato and passionate bending isn't cutting it because I'm not living in the moment of performance.
Right now I'm tired and I don't want to get my energy up before I lay down for sleep because then it will make it harder for me to sleep.
Right now I'm tired and I don't want to get my energy up before I lay down for sleep because then it will make it harder for me to sleep.
Dell Vostro i9 64GB Ram Windows 11 Pro, Cubase, Bitwig, Mixcraft Guitar Pod Go, Linntrument Nektar P1, Novation Launchpad
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- KVRAF
- 18525 posts since 26 Jun, 2006 from San Francisco Bay Area
Lately I’ve been practicing while on a stationary bike.
Zerocrossing Media
4th Law of Robotics: When turning evil, display a red indicator light. ~[ ●_● ]~
4th Law of Robotics: When turning evil, display a red indicator light. ~[ ●_● ]~
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- KVRAF
- 4688 posts since 6 Jan, 2003
I went with “mostly standing.” With the way I play bass, standing gives me a more comfortable playing angle for both arms when I’m largely staying below the 12th. Also, I just can’t keep my ass in the chair when I’m really digging it. Not that I move around at all…I just feel the groove and energy so much more when standing.
However I’ll sit when playing melodically above the 12th and whenever my right forearm has to be more horizontal (chordal stuff, guitar, etc). I sit with the ABG but only due to its proportions, and with the stick because the belt hook is incompatible with comfortable pants (I use a lap bar).
However I’ll sit when playing melodically above the 12th and whenever my right forearm has to be more horizontal (chordal stuff, guitar, etc). I sit with the ABG but only due to its proportions, and with the stick because the belt hook is incompatible with comfortable pants (I use a lap bar).