Holding the Guitar
Strap height, wrist angle, picking-hand anchor.
Lesson
Sit or stand — pick one and commit
Sitting is easier to start; standing is what you'll do at most gigs. Whichever you pick, the guitar should sit at roughly the same height in both positions, so set your strap accordingly.
Where the guitar should sit
- Sitting: guitar resting on your right leg (if right-handed). Body of the guitar perpendicular to the floor — not tipped back so you can see the strings.
- Standing: strap adjusted so the guitar sits at the same height as it does sitting. If it's hanging at your knees, you can't reach it cleanly.
Fretting hand
Thumb on the back of the neck, roughly opposite the second fret. Fingers curved, fingertips perpendicular to the fretboard so they don't mute adjacent strings. Wrist relaxed — not bent into a question mark.
Picking hand
Anchor your forearm on the body of the guitar, near the bridge. Hold the pick between thumb and side of index, with just the tip protruding. The motion should come from the wrist, not the elbow.
Don't death-grip
If your fretting hand is sore in 30 seconds, you're squeezing too hard. Press just enough for the note to ring. Tension is the enemy of speed, accuracy, and pleasure.