Posture, Seating

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Posture, Seating

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Posts: 13
Joined: Feb. 22 2012

Posture, Seating

Hi

I have a few sporting injuries, some permanent : neck, wrist and knees. Can someone give a detailed explanation on what posture may be best suitable and what works best for you - Seating, (with/without back, with/without padding), left/right arm and finger position, footstool, ergonomic aids etc. I have just started out and need to look at the fretboard as well (I've tried the a mirror, but get confused when I don't have one). Also, are there any books out there that cover these questions. Thanks.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 11 2012 7:26:56

erictjie

Posts: 163
Joined: Apr. 11 2011

RE: Posture, Seating (in reply to AG)

the best posture is Juan serrano style, but i found it hard to play.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 11 2012 8:01:59

keith

Posts: 1108
Joined: Sep. 29 2009
From: Back in Boston

RE: Posture, Seating (in reply to AG)

AG--as for padding i leave that up to your rear end to be the judge but for most folks some padding will be necessary. as for posture, the rules that apply to sitting in general apply to playing the guitar with respect to the probability of a pathology developing or becoming clinically significant (as in pain). sitting is one of the worse thing we can do to our backs and back injuries are the second leading cause of missed work. sitting is often cited as a primary cause especially as the years add up.

that said, how does one sit properly holding the guitar? the traditional style allows the person to sit properly to a degree better than the "paco' style. the literature is pretty clear about sitting positions and the effects it has on our backs and hips--especially as the years add up. add injuries to other parts of the body and the importance of proper sitting (even with taking frequent breaks) becomes even greater. the other problem to this equation is holding an object (the guitar) for long periods of time can be problematic especially for someone with a less than optimal body (i.e., injuries). holding a guitar and hunching is over is all too frequently mentioned by guitarists--classical and flamenco alike.

there are two things that are probably the best thing we can do that most people playing nylon string guitars will balk at but which make biomechanic sense. the first, recommended by kenny hill, is to use a strap and stand up. this makes a lot of sense in that with a strap one can stand for a while, sit for a while, etc. etc. and still hold the guitar in an optimal position. of course, a strap requires a couple of holes and has a very "unflamenco" look. the second method is to use a guitar support such as the efel or gitano. these allow the user to sit properly and angle the guitar in such a way to make playing easy as well tilting the guitar backwards to reduce hunching. the support reduces the accumulating pathology to joints involved with hold the guitar--especially in the shoulder and neck area as well as the back and hips as they promote good sitting posture.

many folks have written, or think privately to themselves, that guitar supports look uncool but the reality is they work (and many guitarist are using them especially as the years/injuries accumulate). kenny hill said it best (to paraphrase): what is more uncool--standing on stage playing guitar with a strap or rolling off the doctor's table after getting shot up to reduce the pain?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 11 2012 8:19:46

Ricardo

Posts: 14839
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: Posture, Seating (in reply to AG)

quote:

Can someone give a detailed explanation on what posture may be best suitable and what works best for you -

No. But lots in the archives.
http://www.foroflamenco.com/searchpro.asp?topicreply=both&message=both&timeframe=%3E&timefilter=0&top=300&criteria=AND&minRank=10&language=single&phrase=Sitting

http://www.foroflamenco.com/searchpro.asp?topicreply=both&message=both&timeframe=%3E&timefilter=0&top=300&criteria=AND&minRank=10&language=single&phrase=traditional+position

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CD's and transcriptions available here:
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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 11 2012 15:29:06

Posts: 13
Joined: Feb. 22 2012

RE: Posture, Seating (in reply to AG)

Thanks everyone. I used to sit in front of the computer in my previous job and it completely damaged my upper back. I now stand and still have similar problems - must have something to do with having a screen in front of you - just hope the guitar doesn't bring up even newer problems.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 17 2012 22:59:52

Ruphus

Posts: 3782
Joined: Nov. 18 2010

RE: Posture, Seating (in reply to keith)

quote:

ORIGINAL: keith

the first, recommended by kenny hill, is to use a strap and stand up. this makes a lot of sense in that with a strap one can stand for a while, sit for a while, etc. etc. and still hold the guitar in an optimal position. of course, a strap requires a couple of holes and has a very "unflamenco" look.

Flamenco looking would be a neckstrap with soundhole clamp, which with its centered suspense besides is much more ergonomically suiting than any strap. It also helps considerably with developing technical confidence.

A further improve to the neckstrap would be lateral fixation, enabled through a harness.

As mentioned before, I found it a perfect solution to employ a sax harness and replace its snap link with a soundhole clamp.
Think this way:

Ruphus

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 18 2012 9:53:36

Posts: 13
Joined: Feb. 22 2012

RE: Posture, Seating (in reply to AG)

I had a wrist injury, just when I started playing the guitar and it seems to have gone worse now. If feel sharp pains in my forearm as well. So, I must be doing something wrong. Does anyone play using the classical method and are there any websites or books that show you the correct position (flamenco) in detail. I've had someone look at me, but they can't see anything wrong. I've taken some time off as well, but would like to start off right the next time I pick up a guitar. I would prefer not to use any supports at this stage.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 26 2012 4:47:33