If your lower back aches from playing too long a footstool might be what you need.

[Oneofthe]

Hi:

A friend taught me this and I haven't seen any videos online about this so I'm sharing it here.

If I play longer than twenty minutes without rest I start to feel a little bit of lower back muscle pain on my lower left back. I play right handed. I play on a normal couch. I immediately stop playing when I get that consistent pain.

However, what I have found is with a footstool (something you can buy online from places like Sweetwater and Guitar Center) or even a thick book to rest my RIGHT foot on I no longer get the lower back pain and I can play for a long time.


My impression from videos online is that a footstool is really only appropriate for classical players on the LEFT foot while holding the guitar between the legs. However, I have found seated on the couch a footstool to raise my RIGHT foot and hold the guitar higher to me helps me maintain posture so that I do not get muscle back pain.

Before I would hunch over to play, now I sit up perfectly straight. No investment required just use a thick book and try it.

[sgosnell]

I don't play on a couch. It's uncomfortable for me. I sit in a chair, or stand. I do have a footstand in my practice room and use it most of the time. An alternative to a footstand is using a strap, which keeps the guitar in the more or less proper position. I tend to not use the stand when I use the strap, and vice versa.

[grahambop]

Some years ago I started using the strap even when sitting, for this very reason.

[amyFB]

If your discretionary spending budget allows - I can recommend a Sound Seat (with foot ring and casters) as the most comfortable guitar playing chair on the planet.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[christianm77]

Dynarette guitar cushion

[Jazzstdnt]

1. Play on a firm, supportive chair or piano stool.
2. Sit up straight.
3. Use a strap, and
4. Ensure that the neck tilts upward so that the head stock is higher than the guitar body.

If standing, points 3 & 4 still apply.

[matt.guitarteacher]

All things being equal, some things are more helpful than others. At this point in my life, that "classical twist" , sideways back torque , absolutely kills me. Really can't do the left footstool thing comfortably anymore. For classical I would do cushion on the left leg or A-frame. Elevation on the right is definitely better than nothing in all styles in my opinion.

[JakeAcci]

I have a 14 minute long video I share with my students on my sitting position spiel.

This is the short version, hah, plenty of details and considerations left out.

This is something I've worked with quite a lot both for myself and all my students. The video is dry, with bad lighting etc, but the info is good and I wish somebody got me off on the right 'foot' so to speak with this stuff a long time ago.

I basically explore pros and cons of several options:
- conventional sitting
- footstool for left foot
- footstool for right foot
- cross legged
- strap options
- supports like 'neck up'

My position (no pun intended, woof) is that there's no one good way but rather just pros and cons to each. Ideally, the solution is a different shaped guitar like a klein or tim miller's canton, in my opinion.

[vampyre]

I use a good quality swivel chair on wheels no arms and adjustable back an office foot rest for both feet, the strap kills my shoulder and neck so I don,t use one.
vampyre

[grahambop]

Dynarette guitar cushion

I now use one of these for classical guitar. I used to use a footstool but having one leg raised started causing back pain after a while, I think it twists the back a bit.

Having both legs 'level' with the cushion doing the 'raising' is a lot more comfortable.

[whiskey02]

Crossing your legs or even just your feet over one another is terrible for your spine. It can cause pain the entire length of your body, including head aches.

[JakeAcci]

Crossing your legs or even just your feet over one another is terrible for your spine. It can cause pain the entire length of your body, including head aches.

Whiskey, please point to a source that says that crossing your legs can lead to headaches. That sounds a little suspect as a medical fact.

Also, I think the problem with the guitar is that EVERY sitting position has pros and cons. From my view pretty much every position has some downsides or problems for the back and/or hands.

[sgosnell]

If the strap hurts your shoulder and/or back, it isn't adjusted properly, much too narrow, or both. IMO it's worth some time and effort to get the strap the exact right length, and it can take more than you expect.

The post about crossing your feet or legs causing pain sounds to me like chiropractor mumbo-jumbo. And chiropractors are all about mumbo-jumbo. It's all they have.

[docbop]

I find being in one position for a long time is what starts bothering my back, got that way from playing guitar and as a computer programmer and later SysAdmin. I think Howard Roberts and others advice to take a 10 minute break every hour has many benefits including stretching legs and flexing the spine.

Also since I ended up in the hospital a year ago with DVT and clusters of PE's I learned getting up every couple hours and taking a walk is good for you too. Any job programmer, trucker, seated musician, etc needs to walk around every few hours to avoid DVT's and PE's. Walking is cheap medicine and good for body in general.

[JakeAcci]

I find being in one position for a long time is what starts bothering my back, got that way from playing guitar and as a computer programmer and later SysAdmin. I think Howard Roberts and others advice to take a 10 minute break every hour has many benefits including stretching legs and flexing the spine.

Also since I ended up in the hospital a year ago with DVT and clusters of PE's I learned getting up every couple hours and taking a walk is good for you too. Any job programmer, trucker, seated musician, etc needs to walk around every few hours to avoid DVT's and PE's. Walking is cheap medicine and good for body in general.

Yes this - I believe the OSHA recommendation is 5 minutes every 25 minutes. What's what I recommend...5 minutes nothing with your hands, just relax, do some singing or mental stuff.

I also agree it's good to simply change up positions and not feel stuck/rigid in one.

[fep]

I find being in one position for a long time is what starts bothering my back, got that way from playing guitar and as a computer programmer and later SysAdmin. I think Howard Roberts and others advice to take a 10 minute break every hour has many benefits including stretching legs and flexing the spine.

Also since I ended up in the hospital a year ago with DVT and clusters of PE's I learned getting up every couple hours and taking a walk is good for you too. Any job programmer, trucker, seated musician, etc needs to walk around every few hours to avoid DVT's and PE's. Walking is cheap medicine and good for body in general.

Yikes re: the DVT and PE. I'm sorry to hear that.

I agree with taking a walking break. I walk a lot, a couple rounds a week on a golf course, two walks a day with the dogs. All added up it's around 25 miles a week. I recently was on vacation where I got sick, it rained, and it snowed (Austin TX). I didn't have my normal walking routine and now back home I'm really feeling stiff.

Speaking of feeling stiff... When I saw this post I immediately thought folks would be talking about a stretching and/or yoga routine. For me that's every morning and my back problems have largely gone away. At 40 to 50 I had back problems and now on the eve of turning 60 (actually 10 days)... now at 60 I don't have back problems. I credit that to daily stretching/yoga.

[Jazzstdnt]

Any twisting of the body, held over a period of time, will logically result in repetitive stress. Mumbo jumbo? AMA sources? Do you really need them? Whatever happened to common sense?

The thing is, most docs don't play an instrument, at least not professionally. But - there are specialists and some have written books based upon their research. The info isn't that difficult to find.

After being in a minor auto accident this fall I have become acquainted with a very highly respected therapist who works with athletes and musicians alike (NFL, NBA, MLB, MMA, and symphony violinists, etc.) Here's what he preaches, among other advice: (1) You need to stretch. (2) You need to eliminate stress and tension. (3) You need to sit up straight with your head up (chin up, that is).

Don't wanna do that? Wanna twist yourself into a pretzel with your head twisted to one side and chin on your chest, and then ask later why you're hurting?

OK, knock yourself out.

[Philco]

This is my favorite piece of gear in my studio and the best investment I've made.
I have the model with no arms.
I sit at the computer all day and play guitar up until 11.00 every night. I spend a lot of time in that chair.
I do take a lot of short walking breaks and once a day do about 20 mins of back and core exercises.
If you have ever suffered from sciatica then you will do ANYTHING to avoid it returning.

[docbop]

This is my favorite piece of gear in my studio and the best investment I've made.
I have the model with no arms.
I sit at the computer all day and play guitar up until 11.00 every night. I spend a lot of time in that chair.
I do take a lot of short walking breaks and once a day do about 20 mins of back and core exercises.
If you have ever suffered from sciatica then you will do ANYTHING to avoid it returning.

Yes, a chair that tilts make long hours coding or playing easier on the back. When tilted it take pressure off the base of your spine.

[Philco]

Yes, a chair that tilts make long hours coding or playing easier on the back. When tilted it take pressure off the base of your spine.

Yes I do find myself leaning back a lot!

I wear a strap and lean back with the guitar neck tilting up slightly.
Incredibly comfortable.....especially with both feet on the floor and with the lumber support these chairs provide.

[whiskey02]

Jake,
Ask any neurologist who specialize in neuro muscular issues. Or, just take friendly advice from someone who has heard it from multiple MD’s over the years and shares it hoping to help anyone who reads it to avoid pain. No good can ever come from twisting your spine and maintaining that position for any substantial amount of time( like say watching a movie on the couch). Obviously some people are more prone to issues than others, I have pretty low body fat so little to no “padding”. I can press just about anywhere on my upper body and send pain shooting. Take care of yourself every chance you get man.

[m_d]

Hi:

A friend taught me this and I haven't seen any videos online about this so I'm sharing it here.

If I play longer than twenty minutes without rest I start to feel a little bit of lower back muscle pain on my lower left back. I play right handed. I play on a normal couch. I immediately stop playing when I get that consistent pain.

However, what I have found is with a footstool (something you can buy online from places like Sweetwater and Guitar Center) or even a thick book to rest my RIGHT foot on I no longer get the lower back pain and I can play for a long time.


My impression from videos online is that a footstool is really only appropriate for classical players on the LEFT foot while holding the guitar between the legs. However, I have found seated on the couch a footstool to raise my RIGHT foot and hold the guitar higher to me helps me maintain posture so that I do not get muscle back pain.

Before I would hunch over to play, now I sit up perfectly straight. No investment required just use a thick book and try it.

I looked into the posture issue about three years ago and came to the same conclusions about the footstool under the right foot and that's what I've been doing ever since. Footstool u/left foot doesn't work, at least for me, with a steel-string guitar, because of the longer neck in proportion to the body compared to a classical guitar.
Around that time I came across a video from one of our forum members, I think it was Mr. Beaumont, about using that system, which was very useful. Thank you Mr. Beaumont. When I had a 14.5" semi-hollow though, the footstool had to be raised 1 notch higher which could cause pain after some time playing. I now have a 16", with the footstool on the lowest notch and the posture works fine most of the time. Experiment and see if you still like it over time. It worked great for me. Finding a posture that worked for me was a huge progress in my guitar life.

[JakeAcci]

I looked into the posture issue about three years ago and came to the same conclusions about the footstool under the right foot and that's what I've been doing ever since. Footstool u/left foot doesn't work, at least for me, with a steel-string guitar, because of the longer neck in proportion to the body compared to a classical guitar.
Around that time I came across a video from one of our forum members, I think it was Mr. Beaumont, about using that system, which was very useful. Thank you Mr. Beaumont. When I had a 14.5" semi-hollow though, the footstool had to be raised 1 notch higher which could cause pain after some time playing. I now have a 16", with the footstool on the lowest notch and the posture works fine most of the time. Experiment and see if you still like it over time. It worked great for me. Finding a posture that worked for me was a huge progress in my guitar life.

although it's unconventional, footstool for right foot is the default position I have almost all my beginner students take. I find it's just the lesser of all evils when they're starting out.

[sgcim]

I find being in one position for a long time is what starts bothering my back, got that way from playing guitar and as a computer programmer and later SysAdmin. I think Howard Roberts and others advice to take a 10 minute break every hour has many benefits including stretching legs and flexing the spine.

Also since I ended up in the hospital a year ago with DVT and clusters of PE's I learned getting up every couple hours and taking a walk is good for you too. Any job programmer, trucker, seated musician, etc needs to walk around every few hours to avoid DVT's and PE's. Walking is cheap medicine and good for body in general.

I also had DVT 23 years ago when I was working with Al Martino (the guy that sang The Godfather Theme in the movie).
I don't know if it was the long car ride a total of eight hours a day for a week, or practicing while kneeling on the couch, but I try to avoid both now.
Keep wearing those Jobst stockings and taking blood thinners. I still take an 81mg aspirin every night!