I’m a big fan of the classical position.
…Especially when using a strap to help secure the guitar.
I call it ‘CWAS’ (Classical With A Strap).
This way of sitting can take the strain off your wrist, improve your tone, and allow you to play notes up and down the fretboard with more freedom.
Some people try it once and say it doesn’t work for them.
Those are guitarists who have usually played for a little while.
Yep, adjusting your playing position can be tough, but it is well worth it.
DTAA member Art said this recently:
“I’ve been trying the classical with a strap for about a month now. It felt really awkward for a while but now I use it all the time and can’t see myself ever going back. It really makes that much difference!”
That’s great, and it goes to show that switching into this position CAN be done.
The awkwardness wears off and the benefits become clear.
Once you get into this way of playing, it can be like your playing going from a constant fog to things clearing, leaving a beautiful vista on the horizon.
…And Art isn’t the only one who mentioned this lately.
There were a few interesting comments from others in the Fingerstyle 101 Facebook group.
This is what Colin said:
“I just purchased Dans book and after reading about this I tried it for the first time yesterday. Although I found it a little strange and kept reverting back to my old style, I must admit I found playing cleanly much less effort. All my chords and transitions were very crisp and clean.” – Colin
Boom, great stuff from Colin.
And this is what Anne said:
“For me, it took, as I say, several months of going back and forth because it just felt strange and awkward for a while. I kept bringing down to “the comfy” position, playing for a while, and then coming back to the classical position until one day, it just stayed there. Now it feels like the natural, organic position. In other words, it takes time to fully adjust to the new position”– Anne
So there you go, three students who have all switched to this way of playing.
All three took a different amount of time to “get it”.
…But they all got there and are now enjoying the benefits of it.
If you’ve tried it once but found it tricky, take inspiration from them.
I’m not saying you have to play this way, but I do urge you to give it a real try.
The long-term benefits far outweigh the time and effort in adjusting to this position in my experience.
A good way to begin with this position is to take one short piece of music you are fairly comfortable playing.
…And play it in the classical position.
Try to get comfortable with it in this position.
Practise it like this for 5 minutes a day until you get used to it.
That’s a great way to begin.
Anyway, I hope you found that useful.
For much more help with your playing posture, including the key subtleties behind getting this position right…
…And for everything else that will make your songs sparkle, check out this below:
The Dan Thorpe Acoustic Academy
It covers everything you need to know about playing guitar and is suitable for any student who has played for more than a month or two.
Remember, those who never give up on the guitar always succeed in the end.
Dan Thorpe
Guitar Domination
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