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Post subject: wearing your guitar strap low?
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 7:47 am
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since i started learning to play guitar about 11 years ago when i was a teenager, i've always seen my guitar heroes, especially Jimmy Page play their guitar EXTREMELY low. Playing low guitar got even more popular during the crazy Nu-metal phase too.

regardless of how difficult it was to play a guitar below my waist, i would force myself to play my guitar below my waist because it looked "cool"...heh heh. after the gig was done, i'd bring the strap high again...hah hah.

1. but really i would wonder, how do our famous guitar heroes play so well with guitars so low like that?!?!?

2. how low do you play your guitar? (ideally, i like to play a little above my waist, but if i want to look cool i obviously put lower like 3 inches below my belly button)

3. can you get carpal tunnel syndrome by playing a guitar low and awkward like that?

4. do you play better with a guitar strapped higher or lower? (i thought everyone played better when it was higher?)

5. what kind of straps do you suggest?






thanks for answering my blabbering!!!

-marbles71



:wink: :lol: :D :) :o 8) :P


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Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 7:59 am
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I always thought the low straps were pure showmanship. The guitar looks more phallic that way.


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Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 8:01 am
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Oh Gee Thanks, something else to think about :D :D::D

I've never thought about this before, I've always preferred the most comfortable position I could find, which is pretty high up for me.
I guess once you have your chops down and the hands run on their own from muscle memory you can get away with any position, even behind you back and over your head :P But it sure would not be comfortable for any extended period of time.

My strap preference is really wide, 3+ inches, and made of a leather of some sort.

Interesting to see what others will have to say :!:

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Post subject: Re: wearing your guitar strap low?
Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 8:04 am
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[quote="marbles71"]since i started learning to play guitar about 11 years ago when i was a teenager, i've always seen my guitar heroes, especially Jimmy Page play their guitar EXTREMELY low.

High, low, where every you wanna go. Every generation has its stage 'shtick'. In the '60's some of the English guys had them up under their arm pits.

Then there's headbanging, and running all over the stage like you have ants in your pants, for effect.

Waist high is what the off-set body contours of the Stratocaster and its successors the Jazzmaster and Jaguar were built for. From ergonomics , you are most functional and efficient with your forearm at ninety degrees to your upper arm (radius and ulna to humerus). You can maintain a relaxed wrist position from there as well.

If whacking the floor with you fist is your thing, by all mean, knock yourself out. To me, its all circus and performance and nothing to do with virtuosity and technique.

Doc

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Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 8:17 am
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Playing really low seems to be showmanship - but not much more.

Playing where it's comfortable to make music seems to be more natural.

I play at my waist or a little higher.

Different strokes for different folks. :idea:

Gil 8)

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Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 9:05 am
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Don't you need a spandex suit, platform boots and maybe a cape to wear your guitar that low? :roll: :shock: :?

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Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 9:36 am
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Miami Mike wrote:
Don't you need a spandex suit, platform boots and maybe a cape to wear your guitar that low? :roll: :shock: :?


It's been known to happen.....but we're out of that "I'm too skinny for my body" set now.

Time for "Kiss" to pack up the clown suits and go bare back.

Doc :wink:


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Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 9:37 am
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giljanus wrote:
Playing really low seems to be showmanship - but not much more.Playing where it's comfortable to make music seems to be more natural.I play at my waist or a little higher.Different strokes for different folks. :idea:
Gil 8)


+1 :wink:

Doc

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Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 11:11 am
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I think Johnny Ramone(RIP) had the lowest guitar, but he mainly played just power chords

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Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 11:35 am
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Paulie G wrote:
I think Johnny Ramone(RIP) had the lowest guitar, but he mainly played just power chords


Those characters morphed out of my old high school stomping grounds in Forest Hills years after I graduated and had already left the music scene, as did Leslie Weinstein (aka West ) and company late of the Vagrants and eventually Mountain.

West, and Felix Papillardi are a given......but the Ramones!!....there's a success story I'll never begin to understand.

Doc :?

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Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 12:45 pm
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I wear my basses with the neck plate matching up with where a belt buckle would be. I am 6'5" with long arms and I find that is the most comfortable for me to play with. I'll move the neck anywhere from a 20 to 60 degree angle while I'm playing. Everyone is different and all I worry about is myself.


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Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2008 2:12 pm
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I wouldn't know how people play with their straps so low. I'd say it has something to do with the adaptation, and the years upon years of experience. I personally like wearing my strap rather high, but still just a bit lower than my chest, then it just puts a lot of pressure on my chest.

As far as I know, Carpal Tunnel is just something you get from repetitive motion of the wrist, when a lot of pressure is put on the wrist and and you don't rest it, something like that. Its been a while since I've last looked up anything having to do with carpal tunnel... :?


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Posted: Tue Oct 14, 2008 8:02 pm
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Well for me it depends on if I'm playing acoustic, electric or bass, I wear all three at dfferent levals. I wear my acoustic the highest just because it's more comfortable to play with it being worn a little high. It's not chin strap high, but I guess the strings are around the same leval as my belly button. Now with an electric I use the nylon Ernie Ball strap which go to about 68" for the most part. I use a little bit shorter strap with my ES335 copy but for the most part I play with the strings at around my belt. I can go as low as the strap being at full length, which is different depending on the guitar I'm using. I find that if I'm playing power chords it doesn't bother me but playing normal chords is another thing. Also if I have my strap at full length it's also easier to play if you have a little bit of a crouch going kinda like James Hetfield. And as for bass as long as it around belt leval I'm fine.


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Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 10:36 am
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zod wrote:
I am 6'5" with long arms and I find that is the most comfortable for me to play with. I'll move the neck anywhere from a 20 to 60 degree angle while I'm playing.
+1 here too :D
I'm also 6'5" and I find that to be a "natural" position for me. Anything higher than the waist seems awkward.


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Post subject: wearing your guitar strap low
Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 11:20 am
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yeah i've also seen some of my favorite players of this generation play low. i don't play it low, i think its kinda hard


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