Practicing standing up

[Will]

Damn you! I was hoping to have a play on that guitar on Saturday, as I am heading down to Croydon.

I don't understand why you are so keen to keep the thumb on the back of the neck
http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=13204.0

[Catalyst77]

Its mainly a problem playing across 5 frets fro legato work; i'll post some pics later to try and show what i mean.

[Philly Q]

I've always found that playing with my wrist bent at an extreme angle like that creates an uncomfortably "tight" feeling across the back of my hand.  I'm no doctor, but it can't be good for you - it must put extra strain on the tendons, or restrict the blood supply, or.... something.  Maybe it just limits muscle movement a bit.  But surely it must be a good thing to have your wrist as straight as possible?

Playing with your thumb over the neck helps, but it's no good for barre chords unless you're one of those people who can fret the low strings with your thumb (I can't).  And playing with the neck at an angle is OK for the lower frets, but it doesn't help when you try to play at the top of the neck.

I think a shorter strap is the only answer, even if it doesn't look very rock'n'roll.

 

[AndyR]

I think I'm with Philly Q on this one - you've got to hang it where it's comfortable to play everything you want to play.

The other day I tried wearing my guitar where I used to have it years ago - not exactly round the knees, but heading that way - and I could hardly play at all! And also, for some reason it doesn't look as rock & roll on me as it used to :roll:

EDIT: I also meant to say "great looking guitar" - I lusted after it when Jonathan posted it a while back, but I didn't dare hop on the bus to see him, and get some "bridge stuff", just in case I enquired about it, ended up trying it and liking it! Really hope you get comfortable playing it. :D

[Philly Q]

And also, for some reason it doesn't look as rock & roll on me as it used to :roll:

Overhanging beergut?  :?


 :lol:

[gwEm]

congratulations - that amber lion is a really great guitar! it hit a spot with me also, lucky you brought it!

[AndyR]

And also, for some reason it doesn't look as rock & roll on me as it used to :roll:

Overhanging beergut?  :?


 :lol:

No, curry-and-sunday-roast-gut!!
:lol:

[JDC]

I used to want to play with the guitar lower, playing well is more important to me now, and because of the way I hold the pick, the tone suffers if I have it lower because of the picking angle, I'm also a thumb around the middle of the neck ish kind of guy

I have the strap set on my V to pretty much the exact same height as when I'm sat down

whatever height you decide to go with, I find most people have the pointy end in line with the top of the shoulder

if I can play something sitting down, without looking over the guitar, then I have a pretty good chance of playing it just as well standing up

[38thBeatle]

Beautiful guitar-great purchase. I think that you have the guitar too low.You referred to the upper horn being level with your belly button. I just put my Strat on and the upper horn is level with my sternum.I lowered it to my belly button and I couldn't play like that for long.Most of my playing is standing up gigging. I'd sacrifice the cool looks for functionality personally.

[Matt77]

If mine wasn't the 4th one down in the link I'd be extremely jealous.

My Feline has a very different neck to my other guitars and over the last 5 and a half weeks since picking her up I've been through a similar situation but have ended up with a stronger playing hand.

Give it a few more weeks and see how you feel then; it may just be a different neck means you place pressure on different areas of muscles and tendons. In a few weeks these areas may get stronger and the problem might go away. Just be careful to warm up in the meantime.

PS

hmmm..... having thought about. I'm still extremely jealous.  I'm greedy and want your guitar as well as mine :)

[Catalyst77]

If mine wasn't the 4th one down in the link I'd be extremely jealous.

My Feline has a very different neck to my other guitars and over the last 5 and a half weeks since picking her up I've been through a similar situation but have ended up with a stronger playing hand.

Give it a few more weeks and see how you feel then; it may just be a different neck means you place pressure on different areas of muscles and tendons. In a few weeks these areas may get stronger and the problem might go away. Just be careful to warm up in the meantime.

PS

hmmm..... having thought about. I'm still extremely jealous.  I'm greedy and want your guitar as well as mine :)

Ha Ha

I know what you mean - i quite like the look of that Gothic SG seven String!

I try and tell myself I can only play one at a time and too many is just a waste (like more than a handful) but seriously i'm not convincing myself one bit !

[FELINEGUITARS]

It's the amber lion with a Riff Raff in the Bridge and Mule in the neck, sounds sweet, its really resonant and articulate.

Ben - both pickups are Riff Raffs on that guitar

[Catalyst77]

It's the amber lion with a Riff Raff in the Bridge and Mule in the neck, sounds sweet, its really resonant and articulate.

Ben - both pickups are Riff Raffs on that guitar

Hmm well thats kind of a relief, i wondered why it sounded so different from my other mule - must be hearing things again.

[TomW]

It's the amber lion with a Riff Raff in the Bridge and Mule in the neck, sounds sweet, its really resonant and articulate.

Ben - both pickups are Riff Raffs on that guitar

Hmm well thats kind of a relief, i wondered why it sounded so different from my other mule - must be hearing things again.

Seriously that has got to be the nicest les paul I have ever seen!  :o I'd love to hear what the riff raffs sound like in it.

[MDV]

Its mainly a problem playing across 5 frets fro legato work; i'll post some pics later to try and show what i mean.

If its a reach thing then its highly likely that, as has been said, increasing the angle of the neck is the way to go.

As TO says, though: do NOTHING that is uncomfortable (edit, well, actually, painfull, but well say 'very uncomfortable' too). Looking ever so marginally less cool pales next to damaging yourself and reducing or even ending your ability to play.