How to Hold a Guitar Properly, (without destroying your body!)

Most players put themselves in sitting positions and postures that slump them over, twist their backs, hurt their wrists, and make them work harder than they have to.

The guitar is a weirdly shaped instrument that we have to compromise and adjust to. Having some basic guidelines to help you know how to hold a guitar will save your back and lead to a more enjoyable guitar practice experience.

Avoid arching your back, collapsing your front and hunching or slumping, twisting, craning your neck, getting too tense, leaning too far to the left, and many other common traps.

If you would like to hear me (Allen Mathews) playing, visit my other youtube channel:

[ClassicalGuitarShed]

If you are interested in positioning, you should take a look at our free E-Book on Ergonomics:

[UndaGroundPlayz]

Came to learn guitar
*starts rocking back and forth

[charlotteice]

I always had trouble holding the guitar in way that was both healthy for my back and healthy for my wrists... until now. It is such an awesome feeling to easily reach every fret on every string.

[kishoreshreedharan]

This guy is good. I have seen a few videos and he always talks sense and to the point.

[stevedaniel]

Thank you for posting this. I"m new to guitar and was holding the neck WAY too low. Much easier when it's raised! Thanks again.

[gorkemkacakgil]

I was trying to play some pieces but sometimes some notes came too hard to play for my fingers and wrists. Then I saw this video on my recommendations. I tried this posture and it really helped. Little things creates big differences. Thank you!

[Blank-znzk]

Holy fucking shit. I am so sorry for swearing, but this fixed everything. I can play better and I'm not getting frustrated as easily when I was having the neck down. I truly thank you. I've always seen people with the neck down, so I thought that was the only correct way to hold it, but one single click on this video, my recommendation is filled with people holding the neck upwards. I was searching for "how to hold guitar while standing without strap" and luckily I found this.

[jessicawilliams]

omg i heart you. this was exactly what i needed. no one has told me how to sit with a guitar.

[Ron]

Very enlightening video, thanks for sharing…❤

[burntt]

I didnt know Peter Bretter played guitar and piano. Such talent.

[yungchangsta]

Never realized classical guitar was so different from acoustic! The neck seems wider

[inponderland]

I hope your channel has helped support you. You seem very friendly and this was an all-around great video. Thanks. I subscribed in hopes that it keeps you making videos :-)

[harkoffsband]

I'm using the HBBasic guitar support. Had terrible backpains, guitar support and Yoga helped me to feel good again.

[ninodivino]

But how to do that if it has a pick up on the side?

[davidmuls]

One thing I found helped me for posture is playing of a score rather than memory. I find it rather easy to memorize a piece, but then I have a tendency to stare at my left hand and crouch over the guitar. Avoiding memorization keeps me looking at the score and maintain a better posture.

[puppycat]

this was extremely helpful thank u so much :D i really appreciate it

[alanamccool]

I really prefer neck horizontal. I sit with footstool this way for years and it always hurt my back and butt. I decided it is stupid to sit a certain way if it hurts me because other people tell me it is right.

[ytano]

How this works with bigger guitars, like dreadnought?

[denisemaxwell]

Is this just for the classical guitar or all?

[commandmastacheef]

Um yea that was the best one youtube. Seriously thank you