Raised my strap about three inches and…

[PatrickE_FenderADV]

My guitar is much easier to play and I feel I played much much better! I can’t tell you how much better it felt… how can this be?

Have I seriously been playing with my guitar too low the last 5+ years?!? I don’t care if someone thinks it’s too high… 20 minutes was enough to let me know this change must be permanent. I am 55, so the “cool” factor is long gone. LOL

Anyone else have a revelation like this lately?

 

[wrenhunter]

I presume you mean your guitar strap?

 

[mtngpeopleiseasy]

I had this revelation in high school, but fortunately I was never cool and the type of music I’ve played has been favorable towards dweebs so it hasn’t caused harm to my ego

But yes, it’s so much easier to play with the guitar positioned higher. Although it does depend on style of guitar for me…might just be my body shape but Tele goes up high, LPJ feels more comfortable a little lower.

 

[poppunk]

It's easier to play stuf higher on the neck with a higher strap. But I can get way faster downpicking with the strap low.

 

[Bluedano1]

My guitar is much easier to play and I feel I played much much better! I can’t tell you how much better it felt… how can this be?

Have I seriously been playing with my guitar too low the last 5+ years?!? I don’t care if someone thinks it’s too high… 20 minutes was enough to let me know this change must be permanent. I am 55, so the “cool” factor is long gone. LOL

Anyone else have a revelation like this lately?

Many years now,
I play sitting down ( bad back) and acoustic or electric, wear my guitar ( strap) tight and high.

I know this looks goofy, but **** it! I look goofy anyway!

 

[natmiss]

Due to bad back problems I shortened my strap and it helped tremendously. The guitar now sits right around my belly instead of my waist so it's not high enough to be kinda dorky looking. I think it's easier to play at this position as well.

 

[jblake]

My band guitars hang low because it just isn’t very technically demanding (or interesting, or fun, or fulfilling) music to play. The guitars I play at home hang a lot higher.

Man, I really hate my band.

 

[lowyaw]

Please accept my apologies in advance,

Raised my strap about three inches​

This is my last resooort​

 

[stevieboy]

Can't recall when, but at some point I realized that I had my guitar too low--not low, but for me too low. I raised it to get closer to how I play at home and sitting.

Also, that's BB King in my avatar, though he's not playing a guitar he's usually associated with. He did play an ES5 a lot early on, and that's similar. But anyway, to the point of the thread, besides getting the guitar higher, I think angling it up like BB is part of the same idea, everything is just easier and more free than having to stretch. More of the movement is at the elbow rather than the shoulder. And I feel more connected to the fretboard with it closer to my head, not sure I can really explain that but it seems like it to me.

Of course, there are guitarists who do quite well with low slung guitars, and it's all about what works for each of them and each of us.

 

[Naigewron]

I keep going back and forth. Some things are easier higher up, while other things are more uncomfortable.

My picking hand definitely prefers a lower slung bass, and if my bass is too high, my fretting hand has to reach very far to get to those low notes. When the bass is lower, I can just angle the neck upwards more akd the low notes are instantly more accessible.

I've never found a sweet spot where I've stayed for more than a few months, but I don't mind the journey.

 

[Chic-Pop]

Don't slash the strap!
(Unless of course you are Slash)...

 

[Soundhog]

I have carpal tunnel in my hands,so I have to play in a position that’s comfortable for me.Id rather sound cool,then look cool.

 

[DesolationBlvd]

I like shapes that have the strap button on the back of the neck joint because I can tilt the neck up while keeping the body low. Case in point: my 335 vs. my Gretsch. I wear my 335 below my belt and my Gretsch above my waist.

 

[Soundhog]

 

[Milkman]

 

[Muddy100]

Yep.
As a teenager (many years ago) I was making fun of BB King's high position with some friends and discovered how ergonomic it actually was. However, it was the punk years and it didn't adhere to the cool factor of the day...wear it as lo as possible.
I have since hoisted it up a wee bit (mostly because max strap length seems to have shortened over time), but I still play in what's considered a low position.
I'm just too set in my ways to change now.

 

[Jim85IROC]

I still have no idea how James Hetfield can play the way he does with that guitar hanging so low.

 

[FenderLester]

I keep mine about the same (maybe slightly lower) as if I'm sitting and using proper classical guitar angle. It's ergonomically the best you can do to manipulate a guitar. Don't care what it looks like. I care what I sound like.

On rare occasion I actually will move it around (lower, or even higher) if I'm trying to play a famous song like the original person; because hand position does affect the resulting feel of how the parts come out.

 

[natmiss]

When nu metal was big, Limp Biscuit, Corn etc. they were wearing their guitars so low they have to bend over to play. It made me wonder if they brought a chiropractor with them on tour.

 

[aldridt11]

I've got long arms. Low works better for me.