First rule of this garage, and I fought Olli to make it the first rule, is get comfortable. A tense body plays tense guitar; I learned that white-knuckling my way through my first campfire set. Let's set you up right.
Sitting, the comfortable way:
- 1Sit toward the front of a firm, armless chair, feet flat, back tall but relaxed.
- 2Rest the guitar's waist (the curve) on your strumming-side thigh.
- 3Keep the neck angled slightly up — never drooping toward the floor.
- 4Let your strumming arm drape over the body so the guitar stays put on its own.
◆ KEY IDEA
Your fretting hand isn't a shelf
★ PRO TIP
Bring the guitar to you
Relax your shoulders — beginners tense up and it creeps straight into the hands. Drop them, breathe, and keep your fretting wrist fairly straight, not cranked into a sharp angle.
Comfort isn't a luxury, it's the whole game. The folks who quit usually just ached their way out the door. Get cozy now and you'll still be playing when it finally clicks, and it will.
Your turn ⭐
Posture check
Question 1 of 3
Your fretting hand is helping hold the guitar up. What should you do?
The cheat sheet
- Sit tall and bring the guitar up to you. Don't hunch down.
- Rest the guitar's waist on your strumming-side thigh, neck angled slightly up.
- Balance the guitar so your fretting hand is free to move.
- Relax your shoulders and keep your wrist fairly straight.
Common questions
Which leg should the guitar rest on?
For casual playing, your strumming-side leg (right leg for right-handers). Classical players use the opposite leg with a footstool for a steeper angle, but the standard rest is perfect for beginners.
My back hurts after playing — what am I doing wrong?
Almost always slouching down toward the guitar. Sit tall and bring the guitar up to you instead. Keep early sessions short and take breaks.
Should my fretting wrist be bent?
Keep it fairly straight — a slight forward bend is fine, but a sharp crank strains the wrist and makes chords harder. If it hurts, drop your thumb behind the neck and relax.