How Do You Find a Comfortable Sitting Position with Guitar?

You enjoy playing guitar.

But your sitting position does not always feel good.

Your back gets stiff and your shoulders hurt.

To fix this, find a comfortable position without the guitar.

Put your feet flat on the floor, your knees at a 90-degree angle, and your thighs parallel to the floor.

Sit with your back aligned, not hunched or bowed.

Have both shoulders facing forward.

Relax.

Then bring the guitar to you rather than contorting your body around the guitar.

Once you have the guitar on your lap while maintaining the comfortable position described above, you can make further tweaks to the positioning of the guitar in five ways:

1. Guitar High or Low

If the guitar is too low, you may need to reach down for it. If the guitar is too high, your arms may feel cramped.

My recommendation: guitar soundhole near the arch of your ribcage. A guitar support helps put the guitar at this height.

2. Guitar Left or Right

If the guitar is too far to the left, your left arm may have an uncomfortable reach. If the guitar is too far to the right, your right arm may be forced into an awkward position.

My recommendation: guitar soundhole near the center of your body.

3. Guitar Tilted Forward or Back

Tilting the top of the guitar far forward makes it hard for the right arm to reach over the guitar. Tilting the top of the guitar far back makes it hard for the left wrist to reach around the neck.

My recommendation: top of the guitar slightly tilted back.

4. Slope of the Neck

If the neck is too horizontal, the right-hand plucking angle may be awkward. If the neck is too vertical, the left arm may have a difficult time playing in first position.

My recommendation: neck slope of about 45 degrees, resulting in the middle tuning peg near eye level.

5. Headstock Forward or Back

If the headstock is too far forward, the left arm may have an awkward reach. If the headstock is too far back, the right arm may have an awkward reach.

My recommendation: headstock slightly forward.

Doing these things helps create a good balance between what is best for the right hand and what is best for the left hand.

What would you suggest to help someone improve their sitting position with guitar?

Finding a good sitting position is one of eight things I do at the beginning of each practice session. These eight things are my Warmup Routine.

If you would like a free PDF of my Warmup Routine, click here.