Tip for Guitar Players

[PilotC150]

I was going to post this in another thread, but I thought it might be something to point out to everbody.

Everybody, when they start playing guitar, want to look cool when playing. And whenever you watch Greenday, or for that matter almost any electric guitar band, the rhythm guitar player has his guitar near his knees.

If you want to be able to make chord stretch like Dave does, hike up that guitar. Just look at how high his is. It's not super high (I have seen higher) but it's not low. It's up and comfertable. This allows him to get his elow down and his hand more arched to get more of the chords.

Raising it up with almost always help with getting some of the nasty stretch. If nothing else has worked, try this. Give it a shot. Once you learn all the chords and can play the songs, you will be impressing people with your playing, you won't need the guitar to looks cool, the sounds will be the cool part.

[jkanter]

I was going to post this in another thread, but I thought it might be something to point out to everbody.

Everybody, when they start playing guitar, want to look cool when playing. And whenever you watch Greenday, or for that matter almost any electric guitar band, the rhythm guitar player has his guitar near his knees.

If you want to be able to make chord stretch like Dave does, hike up that guitar. Just look at how high his is. It's not super high (I have seen higher) but it's not low. It's up and comfertable. This allows him to get his elow down and his hand more arched to get more of the chords.

Raising it up with almost always help with getting some of the nasty stretch. If nothing else has worked, try this. Give it a shot. Once you learn all the chords and can play the songs, you will be impressing people with your playing, you won't need the guitar to looks cool, the sounds will be the cool part.

True that.....I have read many-a-interviews where Dave said he learned to play guitar by playing his acoustic sitting down. Sitting down basically gives you that arch that you are talking about. your elbow can almost be in FRONT of your fretboard and allow you to maneuver you fingers in ways that....well....basically Dave has made a name for himself. Give that a try, I promise it's a lot easier that way and I think a lot of poeple can attest to....as PilotC already does. enjoy...peace

[gravedigger]

I read an Interview with Dave once when they were talking about this and he said "I guess I like the guitar to be vibrating against my nipples"
something like that anyway. I assume he was at least half joking but he also said that he always played sitting down and having the guitar up high mimics that. I think it looks pretty cool like that.

peace,
Ken

[whereismypick]

I've been playing for a couple years now, pretty much all dave songs with all their nasty stretches. Well i mainly kept the guitar down lower, not to look cool, but because i didn't know any better. Then about two months ago i developed carple tunnel syndrome, which was painful all the time and i couldn't switch a chord without a surge of pain like needles in my arm. This led to depression to say the least, so i set out to find the answers which led me to an excellent wrist brace called futuro which can be purchased just about at any drug store. In addition, i bought a guitar strap for the guitar - a major neccesity for preventing injury, and put the guitar over my left knee when sitting and upright -the neck next to my ear almost when playing while standing. My wrist isn't fully better, but i'm now able to play the guitar again, and better than i could when i wasn't injured. I'm posting this so anyone injured can refer to it and not lose hope. Also i remember listening to a dave/tim cd i have from a long time ago and hearing dave mention he had carple tunnel syndrome and that his hand felt like it was somebody elses. I know this is unrelated but if anyone could tell me how to get the storytellers videos or dave/tim videos i would be a happy man. Hope this message helps someone.

-mike

[gravedigger]

Glad to hear you're back in action I hope your wrist fully recovers - man, that must've been awful. You can download Storytellers from KaZaa.

peace,
Ken

[cave_cricket]

This is only my opinion but I think it's fun as hell to jam with the guitar up that high. Dance around and go all out.

Brad

[cquick]

True Cave_cricket i know whatcha mean. I can't play unless it's up around my neck.

cquick

[Easy E]

I usually sit when I play

[littlefriend]

KaZaa.

[macro_grp02]

On my end, I love the way James Hetfield holds the guitar. But I tried it and didn't like it. I love Dave Mathews but I don't think I can emulate his stance as well. My point: just go with what is most comfortable for you so that you don't end up having awkward moments while playing.