How to Hold a Flying V Guitar
The way a guitar is held has a significant impact on how easy it is for a guitarist to play. Guitars with unusual body shapes, such as the Flying V, were designed with aesthetics rather than comfort in mind. These guitars require a slight modification to how the guitarist holds, one compared to more contoured models. Symmetrical V guitars, such as the Gibson Flying V, have both ends of the V equal in length, while asymmetrical V guitars, such as the Jackson Rhoads guitars, have a shorted bottom end. Both are held differently when sitting.
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Instructions
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Hold a Symmetrical V Guitar in a Sitting Position
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Sit on the stool. Keep your back straight.
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Cross the leg on the same side as your guitar pick hand over your other leg.
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3
Place the guitar strap of the Flying V guitar over your shoulder. This will always be the shoulder opposite the hand you hold the guitar pick with.
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4
Rest the bottom edge of the guitar against your thigh.
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Adjust the angle of the guitar until both your picking and fretting hands can comfortably reach the guitar. This part of holding a Flying V can vary a bit from player to player. You will usually have to try a few angles before you find the best one for you.
Hold an Asymmetrical V Guitar in a Sitting Position
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Sit on the stool with your back straight. Do not cross your legs.
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Place the guitar strap of the Rhoads V guitar over your shoulder.
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Place the shorter, bottom edge of the V guitar body between your legs. Your thigh on the same side as your picking hard will be located where the two ends of the V intersect.
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Adjust the angle of the guitar. Your picking and fretting hands should both be comfortable when playing. It will take some trial and error to find the right angle for you.
Standing Position
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10
Stand with your feet at about shoulder width apart. Keep your knees bent slightly.
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Place the guitar over your shoulder using the shoulder strap.
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Adjust the length of the strap until it is at a comfortable height. This height varies greatly from one guitarist to another. You will have to find the right strap length for yourself by trial and error. There is no ideal height that will universally work for every guitarist.
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Tips & Warnings
Flying V guitars are much easier to hold while standing up than sitting down. The odd body shape really has no impact on a standing player because he is making less contact with the edge of the guitar.
References
- “Rock Guitar for Dummies”; Jon Chappell; 2001
- “Metal Lead Guitar: Primer”; Troy Stetina; 1992, 1996
Resources
- Photo Credit Jo Hale/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images
