Playing with a strap anyone?

[Richard Reynoso]

I'm a classical guitar player/luthier who has a really hard time playing because of back pains. I have tried many different guitar supports and none of them help me! The only support I have not tried is a strap which i would have the option of standing! Does anyone use a strap and if so, how do you position the guitar. Is there a way to tie the strap to the guitar for better comfort and ease of playing? Any info would be great. Please help! I can't let back pains keep me from playing!

[Faya]

Hey Richard,

Have you tried holding it like a flamenco guitar(with the wide end of the giutar on top your right thigh with your feet shoulder with apart flat on the ground)? You can sit up nice and strait then. Or the right leg crossed over the left leg one?

If you have and you still want to use a strape...., I would suggest you screw one of those strap holders into the butt of the neck by the body on the side faceing away from you, and one at the end of bottom of the guitar were the two sides meet(I'm sure you know what I mean,I'm not a luthier). The strap seems to stay out of your way then.

Hope this helps, and sorry I hope i explained that OK.

N.dF.

[M. Stephenson]

I use a strap with my Aria Sinsonido, but it is a travel guitar.

I like the strap to connect where the neck joins the body as Faya described instead of tying it off around the tunners, but this will require modifications to your guitar . I found that it helps to keep the guitar in place as I play. When tied around the head, the guitar tended to start tilting down.

Standing up to play is interesting. I really noticed how much tension I had in my left shoulder when I played standing up and it sent me off on a long process of becoming more relaxed as I play. I am getting more relaxed, but I have much more work to do before I am as relaxed as I think that I can be.

I had to modify my strap so that it was short enough - seems most straps are for low slung electric guitar playing. You will probably want the guitar up pretty high, about the same position as when sitting. It may feel funny at first as I think that the neck angle is somehow different, but you will get used to it.

I also find that the body becomes more expressive when standing up as it is much easier to move around.

[Guillermo Rosado]

Richard:
For years I suffered the same back pains. Tried everything conceivable, visited doctors, took pills and injections, etc. etc., even had to stop playing for a while.
All this got fixed once I finally could get my Guitar Chair.
Yes, it was all matter of proper seating position and back support.
Give it a try.
Best regards
Guillermo

[keith]

i was at guitarcenter last night and on my way out i saw this stand which may solve a lot of problems for the folks who are having back pains. it is stand that cradles (rubber coated) a guitar and is adjustable to snug it in the cradles. it has height and tilt adjustments so one can raise the height and tilt the guitar (i.e., make the triangle between body and leg/floor). i stand 6'3" and the guitar they had in the stand was at a good playing position. the cost was, as i remember, $130, but given the co-pays for one's visits to the orthopod, it would pay for itself very quickly. and the footstand could return to that--if you stand a lot it is recommended to have a foot slightly elevated to reduce lumbar stress.

[NGiorgio]

Keith,

Have you had too much coffee this morning?

Richard,

I, too have the guitar chair. I also have back pain every day. I can sit on the guitar chair and play for hours without discomfort.

[keith]

nick, i kid you not--there was the described apparatus. it is stand that has brackets (rubber coated) that holds the guitar and it is adjustable. they had this wicked red ovation with flames on the top in this apparatus.

too much coffee? what is that?

[Libre]

Hey Richard Reynoso -
First off, if anyone wanted to screw anything into my guitar, I'd instruct him (or her) to restrain their equines. Do not, I repeat DO NOT screw anything into your guitar. Think of it like you were screwing something into your skull. There is nothing good that can come of it.
Fact is, I bought a strap years ago. Can't remember the name of it. Don't know where it is. This strap is designed for a nylon guitar with no strap pegs. It's roughly shaped like, well, a noose, with a plastic hook on the end. It's like a strap for a sax. You put your head in the noose. The length is adjustable. There's a bit of padding to protect your neck. The end with the hook is routed UNDER the body of the guitar. It comes around the front side and you hook it on to the bottom of the sound hole. It does no damage to the guitar. I don't know if you can picture it. But it supports the guitar as well as a conventional strap that attaches to pegs. But this gives you more freedom, and it goes on and off without any modifications to a standard nylon string guitar. I wish I could find mine. :(

[Libre]

Hey M. Stephenson

I am getting more relaxed, but I have much more work to do before I am as relaxed as I think that I can be.

That sounds a little funny to me. I think you are approaching this from the wrong direction. If you truly want to relax, then the only way to do so would be to STOP working at it. You cannot FORCE yourself to relax. You can only LET yourself relax.
But I know what you mean.

[rumbamaster]

Be carefull with those "classical guitar" straps. I use a strap everytime I play whether sitting or standing. Yes, I drilled a strap pin into the neck heel, but it's my gig guitar and I wanted to be comfortable.

A friend of mine did not want to drill into his guitar and bought a "classical guitar" strap that hooks into his soundhole. Well, after a few years of using it, the little hook completley took off all the varnish and chipped away the wood. He would of been much better off to put a strap pin in the neck heel.

Those classical guitar straps are good if you only use them once in a while, but for the gigging guitarist they will destroy your guitar. On top of that, they are not very well balanced. If you let go of your guitar, the guitar will fall to the floor. This won't happen with a normal strap.

[Libre]

...Those classical guitar straps are good if you only use them once in a while, but for the gigging guitarist they will destroy your guitar. On top of that, they are not very well balanced. If you let go of your guitar, the guitar will fall to the floor. This won't happen with a normal strap.
Well, of course there is that. So it has a few minor glitches.
Seriously, I had no idea it would damage the wood. As far as its not being well balanced and causing you to drop the guitar on the floor, there you go nit-picking again. But seriously, you're right. Maybe that's why I've never even used the stupid thing and can't even find it. But thanks, now I don't feel so bad I lost it. The only thing that it has going for it, I can't even start to imagine screwing into a guitar without my breath getting caught in my throat and having an anxiety attack. My way, I try the classical strap once, realize it's not for me so I loose it and just go back to sitting which I prefer anyway. I guess it would be different if I HAD to stand at a gig - I always bring my own folding stool on gigs. And with Richard's back pain, the classical strap won't help if it makes him bend over to pick up the pieces of his guitar after it has fallen to the floor.

[ilf]

I play quite a lot standing due to a very bad hip, it is a also must when you play with other instruments, you are heard better.

I use a soft neopren strap originally intended for a 5 string long necked banjo.Attached to the bottom and at the head.
Extra I use a counterstrap,like other instruments use, Attached also to the bottom, and then wrapped around tha back and attached to the belt or linning. This counterstrap makes the guitar stabble and is a must for playing standing , also you can sit with it or sit/stand on a high chair.
I learned this trick from Andrew Schulman from abaca stringband, he always play standing.
ilf

[Don Owens Jr]

Willie Nelson uses a classical style strap on Trigger...that's scary enough for me

[rumbamaster]

Wow. Use two straps? I've never thought of that. I too use a neoprene strap because it is the most comfortable and disperses the weight evenly. It may not be the coolest looking strap, but after a long gig or rehearsal you'll really appreciate it.