Perfect Guitar Posture

This Quick Tip video brings up a super important topic. I wish I'd been told about it when I was young! As guitar players, it's easy for us to neglect our posture. It might seem boring or irrelevant, but the fact is that poor posture can cause terrible neck and spine issues. Much better to stop it early.

The way you sit is crucial. The best sitting posture is a straight back, your feet flat on the ground, looking forward. Also, remember to keep your shoulders relaxed. Let's look at common issues that take us away from this posture.

Bad Guitar Posture Habit #1: Twisting To See The Music

One terrible habit (my personal favorite) is twisting around to see the music. It might seem harmless, but it can cause severe neck and spine issues. The solution is to buy a music stand and put it in front of you with the music. That way, you can sit upright and face forward.

When I played guitar as a teen, I used to keep my sheet music to my left, behind the guitar. I had to twist my neck and spine AND bend over slightly to see it. After years of doing that, I now have permanent neck damage. :(

Bad Guitar Posture Habit #2: Bending Over To See The Frets

Another habit is bending and twisting your spine and neck to see the frets. As guitarists, our right hand is hidden from us as we play. And when we're practicing something new, we want to see what we're doing.

There is a way to see the frets without bending! The solution is to place a small mirror in front of you to see your right hand. That way, you can look forward and avoid the need to strain your neck. :)

And in general, I recommend you pay attention to your posture as you play. It needs attention and care, and it's easy to forget. Every so often, check your posture. If you're not sitting correctly, make changes.

Professional Posture Help

You'll need professional help if you have persistent pain. I see Jennie Morton at The British Academy Of Performing Arts Medicine. She's excellent, and many of my music friends see her too. And The Alexander Technique is an excellent method for posture.

So, look after your posture. It could save you thousands of dollars and lots of pain! :)

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