Good posture is important when playing guitar for long periods of time, this will reduce back and muscle strain. Another important tip, is holding your guitar in the correct way. The back of the guitar should rest against your stomach and if you play right handed the neck of the guitar should be aiming towards the left. Gently rest the body of the guitar against your upper right thigh. Hold the guitar neck with your left hand and drape your right arm over the body of the guitar so that your hands can easily reach the strings. Your position should feel both comfortable and natural while you are playing guitar.
If you are right handed, you use your left hand to press the strings and construct chords while playing guitar. Your left hand fingers are bent and pressed down on the strings and fret board.
The guitar neck’s back is curved, so that your hand will naturally conform with the shape of its neck. Your thumb should arch over the top of the neck when you hold it properly. From there, your thumb is in position for constructing chords.When you are constructing chords it is ok to press your thumb into the back of the guitar neck, albeit this is more in common with playing guitar scales. You should try both thumb positions and then you will be able to use the one that is most comfortable for you.
Strum the strings with your right hand to make sounds. Position your right arm over the body of the guitar. Your right bicep should rest on the top of the guitar. Position your right hand in front of the guitar’s sound hole. When playing guitar, the sound comes out of the sound hole.
Many people make use of a pick when playing guitar. Simply hold the pick between the thumb and forefinger of your right hand. Draw the pick across the strings you want to play. Its similar to plucking the string but you use a little bit more pressure than you normally would when strumming with your fingers.
If you are left handed that’s not a problem. You have two ways for playing guitar. The first way is to get a right-handed guitar restrung so that the strings are in reverse order. You other option is purchasing a left-handed guitar.
Not only does proper positioning while playing guitar allow you to play for extended periods of time, but it also helps you produce the correct sounds. So take time to learn how to hold the guitar and position your body correctly.