When you learn to play the guitar, you'll commonly do so in a seated position; over time, however, you may want to stand up to play. As soon as you change positions, you'll immediately notice that playing your guitar is more difficult when you stand. If you ever aspire to perform in front of others, you'll definitely need to master playing the instrument standing up. Your guitar teacher can be an asset in this area, giving you tips on how to improve your playing while in a standing position. As you practice at home, here are three adjustments that you can make:

Change Your Strap Length

It's a common error for novices to set the length of their guitar strap so that the instrument hangs too low. Among guitar players, there's a "cool factor" in having the instrument lower on your body, but this definitely makes it more difficult to play. You'll notice immediate changes if you shorten your strap length. While getting the instrument too high on your torso can also make it difficult to play, there's a sweet spot around the midsection that works for most players. Experiment with different strap lengths to notice where the guitar is easiest for you to play.

Slide The Guitar Toward Center

It's a good exercise to play your guitar in front of a mirror while you stand, checking your posture every few minutes. Some players tend to shift the instrument, perhaps without even knowing it, toward their hip. If you're a right-handed player who strums with his or her right hand, this means that you may shift the body of the guitar toward your right hip. As a result, you'll be reaching across your body with your fretting hand, which can make it more difficult to fret the notes. By keeping your guitar's body in the center of your body, you may notice more control with your fretting hand.

Relax Your Grip

Some novice players have a habit of gripping the neck of the instrument too tightly — perhaps because they have a subtle fear of the guitar falling while they're standing up. As you practice, try to notice how your fretting hand feels. If it's getting tired prematurely, that's probably because you're squeezing it too tight. Doing so not only tires you out, but also makes it difficult to move quickly from note to note. Consciously relax your grip and you'll notice that you can still form the fretting shapes you need, but that chord switches will come easier.

For more information and helpful tips, contact companies like the MF Music School.

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