#1 resource for Cigar Box Guitars, Free Plans, How-To, Parts & More!

Do you like to do it standing up, or sitting down...?

...you know what i'm talking about of course don't you....! (-;

...but seriously folks, now i've got your attention (you mucky lot...!) playing position has been something I have given a lot of thought to lately, with live stints looming up I really need to get it sorted!

I have always been comfortably seated while playing - a more secure hold on the guitar, conveniently placed drum pedals and word sheets (yes, still struggling to remember my own lyrics...for now!), everything flows nicely, perfect... I feel like a real musician, but thrust into the limelight shouting from behind my 'gear'...it can't look good!

Many of our most esteemed musicians on this site are quite happy and relaxed in their "cockpit" and still manage to project themselves amazingly, some prefer a standing position, even with a beater, and are very much at ease with the freedom this gives them..it looks good, but I tried this and it felt good on all but my most intricate pieces (if they could be called at all intricate...) ...but then after 15 or so minutes "the pain" appeared...it crept up my leg, up my spine, then neck...uh oh am I gonna have to suffer this every time i play?

After some days of perseverance it passed, the pedal action was easier, a little breathless on the vocals (requires some re-training) but my guitar work still felt a little wobbly - songs were tough to get through, energy levels dropped...my playing suffered, but I found a freedom and rawness about it that was missing before in my lazy comfort zone!

So who knows, I'm not ready for a Zimmer frame quite yet, but want to try things differently...maybe I need to get used to standing, maybe both positions are workable...?

...as always, thanks for listening! (-;

by the way....don't feel too bad about the Football, guys, we still have some amazing things to look forward to in good ol' Blighty this Summer....The Shindig, Cambridge CBG Festival, Boxstock...!!

oh, and that Olympic thingy... (-;

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Ron "Oily" Sprague on June 25, 2012 at 4:13am

I like it with my git on top...

Of my tummy. >:-E

Seriously, though, CBGs I almost have to play sitting down, for all the reasons you mentioned. Didn't start learning to play standing up until I was in a church choir for 20+ years, and in various pickup bands. With regular gits, I find that a wide strap, with the git up high on my chest, gives me the most comfort. Unfortunately, most CBGs are neck heavy, which makes standing impractical. My opinion, a wide strap and well balanced git are two keys to playing out standing ;-).

Sitting down provides ease of access to pedals, but music stands tend to block one from the audience, so I usually set mine lower down, use a high backed armless bar chair when possible, and a slightly elevated stage to compensate for sitting down. That way I can look down at my music stand, and the audience thinks I'm looking down on them ( which I indeed am, for at least some of my audiences, especially ones with hecklers;-). ).

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Clock The Wolf on June 25, 2012 at 4:24am

" Do l like it WHAT ... ? "

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Vinylhed on June 25, 2012 at 4:35am

Interestingly, I find it very difficult playing sitting down, I can't seem to get a comfortable position and my left hand cramps up. Perhaps I spent far too much time as a teenager stood up perfecting my Rock God pose in front of a mirror.

I've always fixed the strap to the neck at the nut so I can get the perfect balance across my shoulders, and this is no difference with the guitars I've made.

I like to see a player sat down behind a drum kicking out the jams. I've never seen someone stood up playing while working a drum pedal, and reckon it would look rather ungainly. But for all I know it might look incredibly cool.