Warren
So like...
How low do you folks sling your axes and why?
Page constantly looked like he was about to fall over his Les Paul...I can't imagine being able to play ANYTHING with the neck at that angle...but somehow he looked so tall, lanky and loose that it seemed to fit. I know the metal dudes seem to favour low-slung axes, not sure why...
On the other hand, Johnny Cash looked really hilarious with his windsurfing style (guitar under armpit), although it looked pretty cool when he slung it over his back. ?
Me: I'm very middle-of-the-road, keeping the upper part of the guitar body about kidney height. Most comfortable for me, but it looks kind of dorky (maybe because I'm usually wearing work clothes when we practice, I feel like someone out of The Shadows).
I have no signature moves yet...the best I can manage is an awkward kinda pelvic thrust to bring the angle of the guitar more horizontal so that you can really feel my solo vibe, yeah baby! That's all before I start muting and missing strings and suffering from solo-claw, of course. Guitar-face mandatory.
flatfourfan
Depends, with my Warlock, I like it low, very low, probably just off and below my hip. In all honesty, I started playing it there because it was the only position where the damn horns didn't poke me. ?
Playing a strat style I like it up a bit. I'm just used to playing a guitar low. Now it's more of a comfort thing.
cain
Its all down to comfort. I feel the lower you let it hang the harder it gets to control, especially when playing lead. My guitar goes fairly high, its not about looking cool for me ?
PeteM
I say put it where it is the most comfortable place for you - bugger the look. 8)
AlanRatcliffe
Pretty high up, so the stomach contour becomes a chest contour. I've seen necklaces which were lower slung. ? Lower increases the cool factor, higher is better for control and left hand comfort.
aubs1
George Harrison and John Lennon both played with their guitars virtually under their armpits. I thought that was pretty cool, when I was a kid, perhaps because the Beatles were so awesome......... And AFAIR, they were playing pretty big guitars, Gretsch and Rickenbacker respectively. But then I also liked Jimmy Page "low slung" style, but I also felt uncomfortable with that..........
I agree fully with Pete, Francis and others, use what is comfortable and works for you.......stuff "looking cool"......(but then that's all part of "image"....hahahaha
DonovanB
I am not very low, but it will cover me if I leave my fly down...
When I solo I find a way to raise the guitar, especially when I get higher up the neck.
Warren
So what I'm hearing is that we're all a bunch of pansy-sniffing arthritics who favour comfort and ergnomics above all else?
Are there none here willing to sacrifice their tendons and carpal tunnels on the mighty altar of rock aesthetics?? ?
PeteM
Warren wrote:
So what I'm hearing is that we're all a bunch of pansy-sniffing arthritics who favour comfort and ergnomics above all else?
Are there none here willing to sacrifice their tendons and carpal tunnels on the mighty altar of rock aesthetics?? ?
Can suffer those, but not prepared to sacrifice quality and accuracy of my playing. 8)
singemonkey
Warren wrote:
So what I'm hearing is that we're all a bunch of pansy-sniffing arthritics who favour comfort and ergnomics above all else?
Are there none here willing to sacrifice their tendons and carpal tunnels on the mighty altar of rock aesthetics?? ?
Not me. But it's still a question of degree. In my own experience a pretty low slung guitar is very comforable for thumb over the top playing, and bends and vibrato. Not quite as low as Page, but definitely a ways below the belly button - the saddle only slightly above the belt. I find those string bends really easy when my arm isn't raised up and I feel like I have a lot of control there. So that's about where I sling my Tokai LP for blues playing.
But it's not nearly as comfortable for thumb behind the neck playing - quite the opposite. So for surf and rockabilly playing I want my guitar up higher - with the saddle of the guitar at about belly-button level.
For thumb behind the neck stuff with the low slung guitar you have to sling the guitar at an angle - you'll see Page doing this all the time.
This is not to say that when age finally brings wisdom I won't see the error of my ways.
inflames
For me I can go low on a fixed bridge guitar.
The minute I pick up a floating bridge I need to bring the guitar up ?
makepeace
It seems to me that how high you sling your guitar depends largely on the type of music you play..
There's a popular SA indie outfit where they all have their guitars very high up (even the bassist). Maybe not as high as the Beatles or Johnny C, but still quite high up the chest. I would assume its easier for dancing around while you play.
On the other hand, the aesthetic of a low slung guitar (and the crabcore type of appearance while you're at it) resonates well with heavier music. At the moment I play sitting down as I mostly play at home for my own enjoyment.
Fingerpicker
I play very high, it gives me somewhere to rest my lower jaw and I get a good view of the frets. And is easier to play my type of music as well.
Seventhson
I play low. Find it more comfortable for me. But I am pretty tall and lanky?
Bob-Dubery
Alan Ratcliffe wrote:
Pretty high up, so the stomach contour becomes a chest contour. I've seen necklaces which were lower slung. ? Lower increases the cool factor, higher is better for control and left hand comfort.
My theory: Low is better if your right elbow is taking strain from all those years of abuse. I think this is why guys like Keith Richards are slowly lengthening the strap.
Most of the guys who sling it really low seem to need to get their foot on a monitor, thus raising the guitar, when they take a solo - though I don't recall Jimmy Page doing that. With Page (or Keef) there's quite an angle on the guitar so although the bridge is low, the nut isn't.
Keira-WitherKay
definitely depends on the music.......... different styles have different requirements....... and lets be honest a rocker with a guitar in classical position high up looks way uncool......... and say what you will cool factor is part of the X factor of any band............. so the muso's must look the part and where the guitar hangs is a big part of it ............ just like dress/stage clothes are ......
me personally i sit and play and still raise it way high ...... think my profile pic gives it away ......... for acoustic world music it's the best , as alan says having the guitar high up allows access to every fret easily and thats why it's the preffered classical position...
but would i use it if i was back playing electric in a rock band ..... NO WAY it's just not cool 8)
nicovlogg
Who says high guitars can't rock? :?
Keira-WitherKay
nicovlogg wrote:
Who says high guitars can't rock? :?
? i never said high guitars can't rock........ damn it's a way better position technically......... but it just don't look cool........... well to me anyway ................. give me slash with his low slung les paul way way cool .......... 8)
Gareth
Personally I wear a strap whilst sitting and practicing, then when I stand to play the strap keeps things in pretty much the same position, but then I play bass so I don't know if it counts. ?
FruitarGeek
I play bass as well, and as kinda a joke, I tried making my bass ridiculously high, like what the jazz cats do. It looked very indie to me too ?
Although, I had to lower it a tad, as I find the higher it was the more pressure/pain it put on my shoulder blades
