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Help Your Practice By Changing Your Sheet Music Stand
The process of learning the guitar takes much longer than people realize. Most of the time we work on making small incremental changes over a long period of time. It’s like looking at a picture from your past and noticing how much you have changed since the picture was taken. But, on a daily basis, the change isn’t necessarily that noticeable. Even small changes in how we physically practice can have lasting benefits. This includes your music stand.
Overlooking How We Sit
The most often overlooked area of practice is how we sit when practicing. This applies to every type of guitar player. From electric to steel string, to classical, how we sit has an immediate effect on our playing. Sitting in an uncomfortable or tension-causing position will directly change your ability to play the instrument easily. Sitting uncomfortably for extended periods of time for many years will have a direct effect on many other parts of your body than just your hands and arms.
Our seating position can have a significant impact on our guitar playing, affecting our comfort, technique, and overall performance. These key aspects are influenced by our seating position.
Comfort
Proper seating ensures that you can play the guitar for extended periods without discomfort or strain. If you are uncomfortable, it can distract you from focusing on your playing and limit your practice sessions.
Posture
The seating position influences your posture while playing the guitar. Maintaining good posture is essential to prevent long-term health issues like back pain or strain on your neck, shoulders, and wrists. This is just as important for the classical guitarist as it is for the acoustic or electric guitarist.
Hand Position
The angle and height of the guitar relative to your body affect the position of your hands while fretting and picking. The correct seating position allows for a more natural hand alignment, making it easier to reach chords and notes accurately.
Finger Mobility
A good seating position allows your fingers to move freely across the fretboard. This can improve your speed and dexterity, making it easier to play complex passages.
Strumming and Picking
Your seating position impacts how comfortably and effectively you can strum or pick the strings. Finding the right angle can help avoid accidentally hitting adjacent strings and improve your overall control.
Resonance and Sound Projection
The way you hold the guitar affects how it vibrates against your body. A proper seating position can enhance the guitar’s resonance and projection, resulting in a richer and more vibrant tone.
Balance and Stability
Being properly seated provides better balance and stability, which is especially important for acoustic guitar players who may need to support the guitar with their bodies.
To achieve an optimal seating position:
- Use a stable and supportive chair or stool without armrests.
- Sit with a straight back and use a footstool or strap to keep the guitar higher relative to your body.
- Position the guitar on your dominant leg if you’re an acoustic or electric player. A classical player and some electric players will place it on their non-dominant leg.
- Adjust the guitar’s angle and height to suit your body, ensuring that it’s comfortable to reach both the fretboard and strings.
- Experiment with using a footstool or other accessories to find the most comfortable and ergonomic position.
Remember that finding the right seating position may require some experimentation. Take the time to adjust and observe how it affects your playing. Making small adjustments can lead to significant improvements in your guitar-playing comfort and technique over time.
Did You Think About Your Music Stand?
Though I could spend quite a few hours talking about seating position, I’d like to focus on the music stand position instead. I know you’re probably thinking, “It’s a stand, it holds my music.” Yes, but where you place the music in front of you decides how effectively you can see your instrument and the music at the same time.
If the stand is directly in front of you, then you need to turn your head to see the fretboard. If the stand is too low, then your neck will begin to feel the tension after about 30 minutes of playing. However, if you place the stand slightly to the left and raise it to eye level, then these problems will be mitigated. By keeping your eyes toward your left, it will take a quick glance down at the fretboard to observe your movement. By placing it at eye height, the undue stress on your neck will be eliminated.
A Good Stand Is A Good Purchase
Since we are speaking of stands, you might as well purchase one that will hold a heavy music book. The usual kind recommended at a music store is silver, folds up, and falls over at the slightest bump. If that’s the case, then it isn’t going to hold a book or collection of pieces very well. It also won’t hold a stand-alone tuner and metronome (which I highly recommend).
You need to look for one that would work in a symphony orchestra. You can still have a foldable base, but the top needs to be one piece to hold all of your practice material and paraphernalia. It also needs to be able to elevate to eye height while seated. If you are standing while practicing, then you’ll need to look extra hard at the height specified when buying. Get as close as possible to eye height.
My Choices for Stands
Proline GMS80A Conductor Sheet Music Stand
A sturdy and reliable choice with its adjustable height and angle, perfect for musicians and conductors alike.
Manhasset Ac48S Music Stand
A durable and compact design makes it an excellent choice for musicians seeking a reliable stand for their sheet music.
On-Stage Sm7211B Conductor Music Stand
A practical and versatile solution with its sturdy build and adjustable features, catering to the needs of conductors and musicians alike.
Don’t Wait To Adjust Your Stand
I cannot believe I spent so many years using a flimsy stand and placing it directly in front of me. I did not realize how just changing the location and height could benefit my overall productivity during practice. Even if you are just starting out, invest in a good stand. It will last for years and your body and playing will thank you.
Check out some of our other articles:
- Techniques For Memorizing Music On The Guitar
- 3 Things I Am Learning From Beginner Guitar Scales in Open Position
- The Basics of Music Theory – Part 1 (The Chromatic Scale)
- Learning To Connect Two Guitar Scale Forms – Part 1
- Segovia Scales And Their Hinderances
- Three TED Talks About Music You Should Watch
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Featured Photo by Alf Williamsen on Unsplash
I have two degrees in guitar performance and was privileged to study under Aaron Shearer, Tom Kikta, David Skantar, Ken Karsh, Tim Bedner, and currently Christopher Berg. Outside my editorial work on this blog, I teach full-time across many genres including classical, jazz, blues, rock, funk, and metal.
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