Started working a bit on strumming on metronome during my learning journey and i’ve quite a few questions and doubts that i’m feel a bit worried about.
First thing first, when i’m training while sitting with my guitar i find really hard to relax my strumming arm, especially i feel a lot of tension in my right shoulder.
Instead when i’m training standing with a guitar strap i feel i can relax way more and not feeling tensions in my shoulder anymore.
I’m a really tiny guy (160cm) playing with a Fender FA-125 dreadnought body, should be the guitar size compared to my body size the origin of my problems or just a bad posture habit?
Second one, when i’m trying to stay at tempo, i find really hard do it with tapping foot instead i find it way more natural by wobbling my head and moving a bit my hips.
Is it a kind of bad habit i’m developing and should start focusing on my tapping foot or is it still fine?
For your first question: it is very plausible that the size of your guitar isn’t helping you. You say you find it easier to relax your arm when playing standing up. Does your guitar sit at the same height relative to your body when sitting or standing? Chances are your guitar hangs lower when standing, leaving your arm more room to move and find a relaxed position. If so, a smaller guitar could help with relaxing when playing seated. I am just a couple of cms shorter than you are. I play a parlor sized acoustic. I don’t even want to think trying to play a dread with my size😊
As for your second question, the key is to ‘drum the beat’ in some way, to help you keep your rhythm when strumming. Foot tapping is most common, but head bobbing is also ok. Just make sure the movements of your body don’t interfere with your playing.
I am not a small guy, but still dreadnoughts hurt my right shoulder. No dreadnoughts for me.
If you want to achieve the same guitar position sitting down as you have standing up, you could try the classical guitar positioning.
I wouldn’t worry about the foot tapping thing. But do keep in time
I would agree with @Alexeyd and consider a different position when sitting.
Although a big guitar may be more difficult, there is no intrinsic reason you shouldn’t be able to play a dreadnaught. That said, I am 10cm taller (very roughly) and prefer smaller guitars, 00 size is my current.
I have shoulder issues, especially my right, which hurts on a good day and is not because of guitar playing. My left also is an issue, more due to my neck, which also makes using a strap uncomfortable.
I worked very hard trying and researching all sorts of different ways to hold the guitar so that my shoulders could handle it and I landed on the seated classical position regardless of what type of guitar (even my electric, however rarely it is played). This general “classical” idea is very customizable, so just work with it until you feel right.
My recommendation would be to start seated with the shoulder strap, move the lower portion of the lower bout between your legs, angle to neck up so the head is about jaw to ear level. Then adjust from there until you feel comfortable. You can then either continue to use the strap to hold it there or use any number of guitar supports.
Do keep in mind that this changes both hand positions relative to the strings, and will take a little time to adjust to. The other issue to consider is the 14 fret long scale neck can be harder on the left and with a big guitar and small person, it is harder to drop it lower between the legs, so you would need to muck with it until you find what works (possibly one reason classical guitars are smaller and 12 frets to body). It will unload your shoulders though.
Good luck and be persistent. It took me quite a while and even a couple of years of small adjustments after that.
Hello …uhm…the Father, the Son or the Holy Spirit? Whatever it is…as it has been suggested the Classical Guitar position is a very convenient one…you’ll need a foot stooler and later on, if you develop tension on your leg , an Ergo Play.
Like you I’m small and have a big bodied acoustic guitar which would give me tension and pain in the right shoulder while standing in the standard position. I do experiment a lot, I’m not using my Ergoplay on it (and keep it for my Classical only).
What I find is working really well for me (I found out by accident) is sitting in a very low chair (a children one) and just position the guitar on the left leg. Wishing you good luck in finding your own original solution!
I’m not actually able to give good advice on this as we all are different. At the beginning I found tapping my foot really challenging, but I persisted and I’m now very happy I did. It sometimes still feels unnatural, especially when I learn new things, but I keep on persisting until it smooths out. I’ m a bit obsessed with this. But there are players who don’t tap at all as well.
Also small in stature, I spent the first year of my guitar experience trying to play a Fender dreadnought, with much difficulty. Then I bought a smaller (concert size or OM) and it made a world of difference in my comfort and playing. I don’t know if they still offer this, but Sweetwater.com offered zero interest financing, which allowed me to buy a good guitar on a small monthly payment. Until you find the right guitar, I suggest using a strap and as others have suggested, keep adjusting your position to let go of that shoulder tension. Good luck!
Whatever it is…as it has been suggested the Classical Guitar position is a very convenient one…you’ll need a foot stooler and later on, if you develop tension on your leg , an Ergo Play.