What Is the Correct Way to Put on a Guitar Strap?

Wearing a guitar strap correctly helps you play the instrument properly.

There's no way you'll be able to pull off a squealing guitar solo or hammer out a bunch of jazz chords with your guitar slung down by your knees or up to your neck. You need to know the correct way to put on a guitar strap to properly play your instrument and not have it get all tangled up.

Instructions

1. Locate the guitar strap buttons on your guitar. One should be near the bottom of the guitar and the other near the start of the neck of the guitar.

2. Push the bottom strap button through the hole at the end of the strap with the strap adjuster on it.

3. Push the top strap button through the hole at the other end of the strap.

4. Lift the guitar over your head and place it down so the guitar is hanging in front of you, with the strap hanging over your left shoulder if you are right-handed and your right shoulder if you are left-handed.

5. Hold the strap adjuster and pull the strap to adjust its length. Leave enough slack on the strap so you can easily form chords and strum the guitar. Your personal playing style will mitigate how close or far away from your body you wish to adjust it.

Tips & Warnings

• Invest in strap locks so your guitar strap won't ever come off the buttons while you are playing.

• Be sure to place the strap adjuster end of the strap over the bottom strap button. You don't want the adjuster to be digging into your shoulder. If you prefer the adjuster to be toward the top, make sure the flat end is facing your shoulder.

References

• Guitar Friendly: Guitar Straps: How Low Can You Go?

Resources

• Guitar Edge: Lock, Stock and Roll: Strap Lock Roundup