standing up with guitar + sliding with power chords

[metalicat]

I just got my electric and im finding it next to impossible to play power chords (i play them as you probably all know with the index and ring fingers flat across) low on the neck unless the guitar is very high up. The strain is just too much. Do you all find this or is it just me? If so do you play with the guitar high up on your chest or how have you gotten around this?

Also i can't slide up the neck with power chords eg

7/5
7/5
5/3

Without lots of tension and my fingers going all over the place. Do you guys have any suggestions?

[zappatude]

First I would clarify the term up and down the neck. When you describe going up the neck that is moving toward the 22nd fret. When you say going down the neck that means moving toward the 1st fret. Hopefully this will help you avoid some confusion when posting or reading replies.

I'll let better teachers address your technique.

[DFX]

Practice standing up and it will get easier and easier until you don't even remember what the problem was, trust me it's the same for everybody at first

[fingerpickingood]

Cant really tell if your doing anything "wrong" without seeing you play - but a lot of young players tend to wear the guitar to low as a result of trying to look good.

good guitar hieght:




bad guitar hieght:





Can you still play like this? Yes. Does it help to play like this? No. Does it make it harder to play like this? Yep.

Its different for eveyone. I used to play like this when I started playing guitar in the 7th grade - I now realize how dumb it is.

Function over Fashion.



[This message has been edited by fingerpickingood (edited April 01, 2002).]

[StoneDragon]

Whoo hooo... that guitar at arms length pose just cracks me up. If anything will make you look like a dork... that's it.... but then looking like a dork is pretty popular these days.

[Soggie Muffin]

My strap doesn't go thast low.

It will get easier over time don't worry.

My guitar is at about my waist.

[metalicat]

thanks, oh yeah, i was playing with the strap over both sides of my neck, rather than just slung over my shoulder like in pic 4. Is the way in pic 4 right?

[metalicat]

isnt that bono in pic 2? and is that blink 182 in pic 4? thanks for digging up the pics fpg.

[fingerpickingood]

Is the way in pic 4 right?

What do you mean?

I think its way too low if thats what your asking.

[metalicat]

doesn't matter, i was just putting the strap on wrong, i've fixed it now and the power chords are much easier.