Hey y'all!

It's been a while since I was a regular on here but I've recently gotten back into playing and I have a question. I've never played much standing up and now that I want to start jamming more and playing with my friends it's something I've been working on. The problem is that while I can sit and play for hours standing puts my fret hand in such an awkward feeling position that I feel pain on top of my hand in the bones after about 5 mins. Is this something that will subside in time? I just don"t want to push it and end up inuring my hand.

Sounds like you have your guitar hanging too low. Try taking some slack out of your strap.

_________________

try strapping your guitar at the same angle you use while sitting down.

_________________
Blues with a feeling.

GUILD GUITARS: MADE TO BE PLAYED!

I agree. Bring your neck into a more comfortable position. Once you get used to playing standing, then you can drop the guitar into a more cool position.

Practice as much as you can standing. It will help build a different muscle groups in your arms and hands.

_________________
RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

+1

_________________
you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

You know, a point to ponder may be that Jimmy Page may have longer than average arms.

IMHO, I bet if, while seatd you were to measure the distance from the top edge of the guitar (left edge if guitar body as it were in a guitar stand) and your chin, that "Might" be the starting point to adjust your strap. I'm thinkin' this way, your arms will be in a more familiar position.
Also, angle the guitar neck, relative to floor until it's comfortable for the hand.

I haven't tried this theory at all but the idea gives me food for thought.


Compare with Steve Howe high slung stance





Again, me thinks its all in the anatomy.
Believe it or not pro bicyclists bikes are "fitted" not randomly chosen and equipped. Due to anatomical and physiological attributes of the rider.
I believe the medical science behind this also applies to guitar players.

i cant play sitting down now cause i've got abnormally long arms

_________________
riley

I tell the girls in the audience that I play high slung due to the abnormally large pe.... and it is getting in the way when I play.

LOL!!! You guys are awesome. Easy enough to fix from the sounds of it just stop the power stance with the guitar between my knees at the same time remove the top hat and aviator shades. Thanks everyone!

I always thought that it had more to do with the length of your fingers that enabled people to play with less angle on their wrists. Not being gifted with long digits I just put up with the discomfort and I guess training the muscles as well. The interesting point now is whether or not the guitar sits lower than when I started with it.
Time to dig out some old pics.

One of the best suggestions by BlackCatBone; try adjusting to the height you use when sitting as you play. I have mine set that way and didn't realize it until reading this topic. I've never been a fan of the angle when set when in the lower positions.