In this guitar lesson quick tip video we’re going to look at strap height and how you should set it… the important bit is to set it the same for practice as it it will be when you perform!
Taught by Justin Sandercoe.
Full support at the justinguitar web site where you will find hundreds of lessons on a wide range of subjects, and all the scales and chords that you will ever need! There is a great forum too to get help, no matter what the problem.
And it is all totally free, no bull. No sample lessons, no memberships, no free ebook. Just tons of great lessons 🙂
To get help with this lesson (and for further info and tabs), find the Lesson ID in the video title (like ST-667 or whatever) and then look it up on the Lesson Index page of justinguitar.com
http://www.justinguitar.com
Have fun 🙂
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You can play with the guitar down your knees if you want, just needs more
practice. I’m a James Hetfield fan myself so my guitar is an Explorer.
Playing an explorer up high looks weird, those guitars are made to be
strapped low so I’m practicing and over the last year I lowered it from
belly button to below the crotch level (where James holds it), I’ll admit
it’s not easy to play like that but everything comes to practice. Those
players you see playing so low, they’ve mastered the songs they’re playing
so they come to a point where the care about looking cool since this won’t
decrease the clarity in their playing. Question is can you do that? If yes
strap it low, if not don’t, if you really want it then practice. Cheers!
Even though I have it set to the same height as when I’m sitting down, I
end up hurting my wrist somehow. Mostly because the neck is too far away
for some reason, but I haven’t quite figured it out yet
Paul Gilbert shreds with a pretty low strap. I always thought it might be
easier for him because he is super tall with long arms and fingers…
One important lesson you forgot to mention, is that when you are playing
with your guitar down at your groin area… If you’re on stage… How the
hell are the ladies going to get a chance to admire your package! And that
is the most important “tip” for any gentleman and lady. 😉
But seriously though, look at Steve Stevens, phenomenal guitarist in his
own right. But! Watch him, he plays with his guitar so low that his
performance live suffers from it. Not much, but it is evident.
Good video! Cheers!
i play guitar low and u have to play very relaxed. u right arm falls al way
down to the strings ur left holds the neck. i mean look for the pros
posture mos of them does the same. and a tip u can use a mirror to see what
u re doing while u re playing this whay so ur posture is manly as fuck. the
key is remove all tension from your muscles, play relaxed so it is a
pleasure to do
Something so simple, you would think that common sense would tell you that
Justin is right on. Like he stated in another video, practice makes
PERMANENT not PERFECT. So if you’re playing the guitar at the Slash level,
you had better be practicing that way. Try it sometime. Play with it high
or lower that you practice and your body will revolt against you.
Thanks SSOOOO much helped me out a lot
Thanks that helped alot because i allways practise sitting down and i was
struggling while playing standing up and now i found the perfect spot for
the strap (little bit lower than while sitting down)
Thank you Justin..
I have a Les Paul that I have to wear a strap with when I sit down or it
will fall of my leg do to the weight. I think its a more natural playing
position with a strap sitting down.
Stevie ray plays low and shreds I can’t even pick right how??!!
Bloody brilliantly obvious. Thanks!
I play with the guitar behind my back like Stevie Ray Vaughn. Is that a
good way to start for a beginner?
the problem is that i have a v guitar(rhoads) it’s hard to sit and practice
;(
you have an Indian truck on your tee …..and that makes you cooler !!
G’day. That’s all well and good, but I learned to play the guitar to get
women. Women are more attracted to men who wear their guitar lower so that
the guitar neck looks like it’s coming out from between the legs. This is a
well known fact. I appreciate what you’re saying, and it almost seems to
make some sense, but I’m just not going to be able to use with my kit mate.
Tom Morello has his guitar really high up
I like to play low, It feels more fluent and relaxed, I can play high but I
don’t like it as much
thanks I never really cared and now I been getting more in to metal and
then I heard that somewhere that if you want to look cool you should play
withy the guitar low but I don’t sound as cool I sound way cooler if I play
were I always have kind of the same as you so I agree you are better off
playing where you sound best and can do your best chops and work and just
for the record Slash plays most of the time low but when he really wants to
do his fast playing and solo’s he pulls the guitar up almost straight up
and down to bring it closer to him
his tongue! 02:15 XD
My dad taught me to have my guitar low because I was young and it balanced
the weight on my shoulder better and I always play really low haha. It’s
like a different instrument when standing and sitting so I usually price
standing or lying down.
I hang my guitar so low like Jimmy page. It just feels right and very
relaxed for me. When I play my guitar up high I just don’t get the right
attitude to play. I know it’s a mental thing but I’m always a little bit
strange. Haha. When I go for a shred I take my axe on my right leg and put
it up a little bit.
Cherrs Max
INFORMATIVE..Thank you very much S’Sir!!
Man this is probably the funniest video among all others yet educative. I
have been thinking about this since I first start playing (10+ years). I
blamed Slash too.
wonderful information!
Justin probably got it in honor of his favorite Oklahoma town.
Glad you agree!
Thanks for this. Although I eventually came to the same conclusion as you I
think its nice that you took the time to explain this so that people who
are starting out get a better idea of how to play standing up comfortably.
Bert Weedon never played low!
yeah that’s very helpful! thanx!!
That’s true! I wouldn’t call it cheating though, I suppose it’s more of a
compromise…This is really good advice that Justin is giving…practice
the way you’ll play at a performance…there are people that pays awesome
low and play awesome with it a bit higher up 🙂
I like my guitar low because it’s actually more comfortable like that for
me. But I finger chords differently than most it seems. I finger my
E-shaped barre chords with my thumb over the neck playing the route note
and for A-shaped barre chords I use my little finger for the barre. My
thumb can sit comfortably over the neck and my wrist isn’t being strained.
Watch some videos of Jimmy Page playing, you’ll see what I mean (:
Justin is GREAT!
Rhandy Rhoads used to play with his guitar set really high, and he looked
cool too!!! 😀 And his technique was awesome…
A MIA ( i think ) fender tele using vintage style tuners and bridge.
Haha. You are the 1st Ive ever heard mention this, but I went through a
similar problem back in the band days. I finally raised the guitar height
until it was more comfortable because I was getting hand cramps so bad I
couldnt make chord changes, Live and learn. :>
The wide stereo on your voice is irritating. just saying.
i completely agree with you
when i play my epiphone casino i have my it set to about belt buckle height
but thats only because it has a bigger body. but when i use my Vintage les
paul its around sitting down height.
Not only a bit harsh – it’s a stupid answer without sense. Maybe he’s a
troll – or just plain stupid. The first guy asked a completely valid,
normal answer, which actually made a lot of sense.
Too right, and Slash had trouble playing Sweet Child O’ Mine “live” for
many years. I believed he nailed it in rehearsals, but stuffed up live. I
always thought it was because of his low slung axe, but I guess only he
knows the true answer to that one.
So at least I look cool xD
Justin, please do a video about your telecaster, it’s gorgeous.