I think the size of the guitar is part of the issue.
I constantly find the palm of my hand semi muting the lower e string too and so I think a smaller instrument would help a lot.
I also get cramp in my palm a fair bit.
Once I’ve got xmas out of the way I’d really like to buy something smaller but for now it is what it is.
If you’re playing in hotel bedrokms (I assume it’s there not the bar) you will have little control over the furniture you sit in.
Beds are terrible mostly. Chairs with arms too.
What is your general experience?
It’s OK, hurts my back sometimes because I find myself perched on the end of a chair.
When I’m at home I have a beanie bag I put behind my back for support.
Sometimes they have a sofa, and if I book in advance I do get decent hotel rooms but often I end up booking rooms with little notice.
It gets particularly spicy when my room neighbours start banging on the wall for me to stop!
I’ve not learned to use a pic and play quietly yet. I’m trying but I get carried away and it comes out rather loud.
Here is tonight’s delightful Premier Inn chair…
Aw man. We were in a hotel for about 2 weeks. We had a death happen in our home this last summer and my wife could not handle staying there so we just decided to leave town amd go on a vacation for 2 weeks. It was motels just like that. Try for the suites that have the additional desks and have an office chair. A lot of them the arms go up or dont even have arms. I also dont know what the climate is there but we are In arizona and we went to SanDiego so It was warm enough I would just play down at the pool in the evenings and I also took my guitar to the beach with me. No one cared that I was not amazing ripper.
Edit. I think you need to wear the strap. 
Yeah, it’s not fantastic. I’m not a fan of staying away and this was supposed to be three nights a week for a month… Which turned into 6.
Weather in the UK isn’t great right now but I don’t mind. Only have to do it until Xmas.
I can put the strap on but it doesn’t seem to help unless I’m stood up.
I only bought it because the dream is to play a gig in a pub one day in the distant distant distant future…
Kind of symbolic to say I did it.
And also to be able to play Comfortably Numb’s two guitar solos. (I don’t even own an electric yet!).
So I bought the strap to get used to stood up playing and not looking at the strings.
But, I doesn’t really help with the slipping.
I was going to say cinch that strap up tighter but then i dont think youncan its as high as you arm pit will allow. So you are maybe like me. Amd It just looks big. Thats how I feel too witl a larger guitar. I have a short torso. And it has always affected my decisions on climbing packs. And it causes my armpit to pelivic crest or waist length to be shorter. Its hard to play guitars that are wide top to bottom. Christmas is coming.
Hi James,
I can’t help with the guitar slipping, I just notice yours looks really big and I’m happy with my smaller and lighter guitars and not really having slipping issues. But I’m not aware if this is really the reason.
For the motivation thing, I tend to quit the normal path for a day++, a few days, even a few weeks and do a journey into other guitar or music related things I consider fun. I looked for lessons on flamenco guitar, or bossa-nova, or travis-picking - or try chacarera - for example. That was fun for ME, I don’t know if you can think of other things that would be fun for you?
This is like making a holiday from the usual, which still improves your guitar playing in some way or brings your musicianship further… also singing, theory, going to a concert…
Also, I find the Ukulele makes sense. Easier than the guitar, there’s less possibilities to make mistakes, so you have success quicker and can always pick it up on a “bad guitar day”. Still it improves your abilities.
Ok, long text, I hope there was at least something helpful inside,
I’m sure you’ll find something that improves your motivation in these times!
All the best,
Dominique
++ holiday means, coming back to Justin’s class afterwards 
When I compare the second photo you posted of you sitting with the guitar and me playing my Taylor AD11 (it’s marginally bigger than the GS-Mini) there are a few differences I notice, all to do with the size and maybe shape of the guitar.
Even though I do play seated with a strap, without a strap my guitar doesn’t move much. I think because it’s smaller I can get my upper arm fully over the body, which wedges the guitar in place, but also I think my guitar has a slightly more pronounced curve under the sound hole which supports the guitar against my leg nicely. It seems more perched with the flatter sides of the big dreadnought. None of this really helps you right now but maybe it’s further confirmation that a smaller guitar would be easier
I use a strap when sitting down. It’s adjusted so that the strap takes the weight and the guitar barely touches my legs.
If I stand up, the strap stays in the same adjustment.
you should also put it around your shoulders 
Always difficult a chair with armrests and a guitar…hopefully you have a better chair at home …
Have fun there 
Greetings
As others have already noted - that guitar looks too big for you. You’ve said you can’t buy a new smaller one till after Xmas. But is renting one for a couple months an option where you are? Any music shops nearby?
WRT to straps… material and width makes a big difference In slipping. A wide cloth or leather strap will generally stabilize the guitar much better than a narrow nylon strap.
Leather tends to be expensive, but cloth straps are only a little bit more than nylon straps, and well worth the extra cost.
Thanks for all your comments, support and advice. Genuinely appreciate people taking the time out to reply.
I want a Taylor which is smaller, and has the cutout which creates a different shape.
As someon else said, the shape stops it from moving around so much as it would sit better on my knee.
Its not totally out of my price range but I’m just reluctant to press the button right on top of xmas. I’d also like a nice electric and amp which makes me think that I might be better buying something slightly cheaper so that I can buy both.
I’d also like to sit and play it, see how it feels before I spend on the Taylor.
With that in mind, I’m thinking I’ll just sit with mine until then. It just really annoys me when it slips. Maybe I’ll buy one of the grippy mats that someone else posted on here for the time being.
That’s what this Community is all about James.
That’s a grand ambition … but a narrowing of your options when there are so many wonderful acoustic guitars to select from.
Instead of starting with the perspective of a manufacturer, start with the perspective of a smaller-bodied guitar that feels comfortable. You will need a budget range to limit that further. Your post initially stated Taylor 414ce circa £2000. That is high-end professional guitarist pricing right there. You can get something great for a far more modest price. Sub £1000 will get you there easily. And with money over for an electric plus amp plus essential accessories for those.
You definitely do. That dreadnought seems way too awkward for you. Your forearm is having to reach a long way over the lower bout and is no doubt causing the slipping - it will be pulling the top half into your body and the bottom half will be sliding away.
See this.
It is not the cutout (cutaway) that is the important factor here. It is the overall size and curve of the body between the lower and upper bouts. The lower bout is the bigger of the two, at the back of the guitar, the upper bout is the one connected to the neck. Whether you choose to buy a guitar with or without a cutaway is a related question we can discuss if you want.
Yes. If you travel for waor, try to manage time to visit a range of guitar shops in different locations who will stock different guitars to try.
Excuse my quick image-edit butchery here …
In addition to the advice given, try shifting the entire guitar further to your left. Maybe even place it on your left leg. And tilt the angle of the neck up. Then your strumming arm can come into the strings more from behind instead of reaching over.
With Taylors the model number includes a digit that includes size (the 3rd digit) - so any of the xx4 models are Grand Auditorium size which potentially isn’t a lot smaller than dreadnought (although it might make the difference) - the link below is to the Taylor size/shape chart
Once you’re into their 300 & 400+ series guitars you’re definitely paying for fancy inlays and materials. My nice guitar is from their American Dream series which is the entry point into their American made, solid wood guitars. You get an extremely nice guitar without paying for fancy binding and inlays. All that said you can clearly get an excellent acoustic guitar for less money than this (including some of Taylor’s own).
I’ve seen others suggest placing the guitar on the left knee, but hadn’t tried it, so I just did. I need to work with it some more but it obviously does three things:
For @James_Liv , you have to do some digging on the manufacturer websites, but you can find the exact measurements of the bouts and waist to get in the right ballpark. Also, the body depth makes a difference in how it fits and feels. I did a lot of research and trying on guitars (no Taylors in my budget), and last Christmas bought an Alvarez AF60 acoustic electric. It is an orchestra model size in the chart, less deep than a dreadnought, and with a cutout. Good luck with your shopping!
Yeah, that looks lovely.
I do have another slightly smaller Tanglewood guitar but I just don’t like the sound from it. It’s very echoy.
I guess I just need to go into some shops. I’m a little self conscious tbh and also, I don’t know what makes for a nice guitar either.
I therefore kind of entered the mindset of ‘buy cheap, buy twice’ which was one of the reasons I came up with this particular instrument.
Right now I just feel I need to keep practicing before I settle on anything of real value.
The Dreadnought I just bought blind off Amazon as I didn’t know what to look for.
I’d go and play Taylor guitars before buying one. People either Love them or hate them there is no liking them.
If you’re one of the people who doesn’t like Taylor guitars you’ll be “Buy Expensive buy Twice”
Hi James, if you haven’t yet, you might try treating your Tanglewood to a new set of strings. I was truly shocked by the sound difference the first time I did this!
I’ve been through the too-big guitar challenge. I completely understand what you mean about feeling shy in the store. When I started shopping, I went into the store with about three songs (all three-chords each as I recall!) I felt I could play “well enough”. Honestly, no one ever gave me any attitude. After all, they want to sell guitars!
I second Michael’s observation. When I was shopping, I found depth very important. Also, having in mind some upper limits on measurements helps limit the selection process. You don’t have to stick to them completely, but use them at guidelines. Of course, you’ll have to play some guitars to get an idea of what’s comfortable…
James,
I had the same issue that you are having with my dreadnaught guitar. After playing one in a guitar store, I solved my problem with a Taylor GS Mini. It is much more comfortable to play, the shorter scale length did not bother me at all, and I was AMAZED at how loud and full-sounding the GS Mini was. It was significantly louder and full-toned than any parlor guitar I tried.
If you have a chance, I highly suggest you try one.
YMMV
Good posture is important, regardless of your slippage issue. I got this foot rest about four years ago. I got this banquet chair at or about the same time. The foot rest is adjustable and is shown at it’s lowest height. The seat of the chair is 18" from the floor. I’m 5’ 8" and both work great for me. I recall spending about $60 for the chair and $12 for the footrest. You might be able to pick up an old wooden dining chair for less. It should have about the same seat height.
I wear a strap on my dreadnoughts, but only tight enough to make sure I don’t drop them. I think just knowing they won’t fall helps with concentrating on playing. I don’t use a strap with smaller guitars, (auditorium / 00).
