Video Question: Proper Posture

Return to Video Question and Answer Listings
Date: November 9th, 2007 | Length: 3.12 | Instructor: David Anthony

Wasp asks: "i asked this also in the forum. just starting out (never even touched a guitar before). i bought an electric (jackson dk2m). was wondering how i should be learning as far as sitting posture. chair? stool? also i should be using a strap always? how to adjust strap placement for learning? should guitar rest on my knee or hang just above it? i know these are stupid questions but want to get started the right and most comfortable way. ps: i read somewhere to adjust strap to where its in the same position sitting or standing? my prob is the only way i can do that is if it is way up there it seems like. (thats what i mean by sitting position, get a tall stool where my legs are kinda hangin down or a chair where legs are parallel to ground? lol srry for the long post but i really nit pick things alot and just want to get stated right. ty and i think this site is awesome and look forward to learning." Another benefit of being a member of JamPlay is the video response section. Our expert staff fields questions from our members and provides video responses each week.

Other Video Responses:

Guitar Theory - May 13th, 2008 (2 minutes, 57 seconds)

Brentald asked "Hi Steve, I am greatly enjoying your lessons...have always wanted to learn, and am making progress. I have tried in the past on my own, but I found that all I was doing was learning by rote. Someone would show me exactly what to do, and I could do it... but that was the extent of it...I couldn't improvise or put anything together on my own. I was also a bit impatient and wanted to sound like Eric Clapton after about two weeks!! Well, I know that's not going to happen sooo...I am on lesson five with you and have made great progress, just strumming chords and enjoying moving them around to produce the simple songs we've strummed so far. However, I can't read music, and in the past when chord theory has been explained to me, or I have tried to read about it, I become utterly lost and confused. I really want to do this....I am 50 years old and don't want to get discouraged again by my inability to understand chord theory....I don't consider myself an idiot...(though some may disagree!!)....I make my living flying Captain on a corporate jet....My question is this....does your experience show that things will eventually begin to make sense as I progress? I am doing fine with the physical aspect of learning, however the theory right now is like trying to drink water from a fire hose. Any advice would really be appreciated. I just don't want to get discouraged as I have in the past. I am really enjoying your lessons, and you make learning the playing part of it easy. Thanks a bunch, Brent." View Response

change easy song tabs into alternating bass fingerpicking song - April 21st, 2008 (3 minutes, 60 seconds)

Tommeken says, "Hello there in the far west Playing for a few months all kinds of chords for now and i learned a few lessons from Jim and Steve about finger picking. Now i wanna learn some songs my daughter recognizes so she can sing along. Is there an easy way tot change those simple melody tabs from a songbook into a nice sounding finger picking tune with alternating bass. I mean songs like Alouette, country roads, and so on... Where to begin? what should i keep in mind ? scales? chords ? greetings and thanks for all those nice lessons... Tom" View Response

Super light strings - May 23rd, 2008 (1 minutes, 80 seconds)

Avalvira asks, "I restrung my guitar for the very first time and used Martin "super light" gauge strings. I noticed that the 6th (E) string resonates so much that if I pluck it too hard, it hits the fret board. Does this have to do with the gauge? The action on my guitar is low (the way I like it), should I be using thicker gauge string? This only happens with the 6th string. Thanks. Aileen A.V. ALVIRA" View Response

Changing Strings on a Floyd Rose equipped guitar - December 15th, 2008 (6 minutes, 70 seconds)

Chingolingo wrote: "Hi i know you probably heard this question a million times but i recently purchased a new schecter with a floyd system, and since i never had one i was hoping if you could explain in a video how to change strings and tune the guitar thanks. Keep Rocking!!!!! \('o')/" View Response

- September 24th, 2008 (3 minutes, 45 seconds)

Gfl23 asks, "As I was learning lessons in Phase 1, which usually included simple chords, I basically had no problem with my left hand. However, when I started to progress into larger and more complicated chords, I found that the wrist of my left hand would stick out away from behind the fingerboard. My thumb would tighten up completely and basically my left hand would be completely twisted up just so that I can accomodate or reach all the frets in the chord. If i stuck out my hand in that position, the hand would be bending inwards towards my body at a 90 degree angle and my thumb would be bending a little the opposite way. After holding that position for maybe 5 minutes, my hand and wrist would feel horrible, discouraging me from playing. I would really appreciate any suggestions as to how I can improve this dilemma. P.S. I reviewed the lessons on posture already but I didn't really see what I needed. Thanks, I really want to get back to learning guitar. This site is great! Oh, and please send the response to this email instead of the one listed above; I can't change it for some reason: masterx23@hotmail.com Thanks again." View Response