How to Hold a Guitar While Sitting

Holding your guitar correctly and keeping your body in proper posture will make your guitar playing experience easier and more comfortable. The following steps will show you how to hold an acoustic guitar while sitting if you are right handed.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Sit on the edge of your seat with your feet just slightly apart and flat on the floor. Keep your back straight.

2. Hold the guitar in your left hand with the neck pointing left.

3. Place the indented part of the guitar body (called the "waist") onto your right leg.

4. Rest your right forearm on the top of the guitar body so that your hand hangs comfortably over the strings. You should be able to take your left hand off the neck without the guitar tipping.

5. Bring the guitar body close to your body. Hold the guitar so that the neck is at a slight upward angle.

6. Put pressure onto the back of the neck with the thumb of your left hand and put the other four fingers on the strings on the fret board according to the notes and chords you are playing.

Tips & Warnings

• You can purchase a left-handed guitar if you are left-handed and reverse the position of the guitar in Steps 1 through 6.
• Cross your legs or place your right foot onto a foot stool if you need to elevate your right leg a bit to make playing the instrument more comfortable while sitting.
• You are more likely to slouch when playing an electric guitar while sitting. You need to make sure your back is straight when playing.