Right leg to put the guitar on

Hi

I'm playing already almost a year, and there is some argue between my friends, about what is the right leg to put the guitar on it. and i'm asking: is there a right or wrong leg for the guitar at all? and if there is, what is the right leg?

thanks
daniel

Whichever you're more comfortable with.

Normally, a right handed guitarist would sit most guitars on their right leg when sitting. That makes it easier to reach the end of the neck, and is probably closer to the position the guitar would be in when playing standing up with a strap.

Thanks

That was excatly what i was thinking. to me it is more comfortable on the right leg. that solves the problem.

"The orthodox classical posture for playing a nylon-string guitar is for the waist of the instrument to rest on the left leg." Chapman, The Complete Guitarist.

Steel string guitars are played in a normal sitting position with the guitar on the right leg (if you're right-handed, that is).

I've never seen anybody but classical guitarists and left-handers rest the guitar on their left leg.

DC

I switch :D.

That's really weird - I started playing electric more than acoustic for the past year or so, and at times I dabbled in classcial, so I realized that I've forgotten completely which leg to put the acoustic on. I think I put it on the left leg now, and it seems more comfortable that way, too.

I guess for a strumming type guitarist, the right leg is better, since you won't really be playing anything higher than, say, the 9th fret. But if you're going to be playing things all over, the left leg would allow easier access to the higher frets, in my opinion.

And, I remember reading in a classical guitar textbook that the goal of positioning the guitar is to center the twelfth fret with the center of the torso. Some people even would rest the headstock on a table located to their left, but that is an entirely different matter.

Originally posted by dot-dot-dot
Whichever you're more comfortable with.

Normally, a right handed guitarist would sit most guitars on their right leg when sitting. That makes it easier to reach the end of the neck, and is probably closer to the position the guitar would be in when playing standing up with a strap.

its true that most sit on their right leg, but as others said, it does not help you reach the end of the neck. thats what the left leg is for.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Incidents Happen


thats what the left leg is for. [/B][/QUOTE

of course it has no other purpose... i mean what else would you use your left leg for.

iiholly enjoys engaging in a battle of wit with an unarmed opponent! :D

David is correct about the left legged classical player. I play classical and use seat the guitar on my left leg. As a result, I set my electric guitar, steel stringed acoustic and mandolin on my left leg. In the early 19th century, Dionisio Aguardo played from his right leg. Fernando Sor played on his right leg but propped the left portion of the guitar on a table in order to create the desired angle. Francisco Tarrega developed the left legged style in the later portion of the 19th century. Most players are taught this way. (Even with this style, you can still reach the end of the neck... I play my srat this way and don't have a problem....)

If you really want an in-depth explanation, Mel Bay publishes a book entitled classical [u]Guitar Pedagogy: A Handbook for Teachers[/u]. Let me assure you, it tells you more information that most humans would ever want.

But, I would think that there is no "right" leg to play on as long as it is conducive to your excelling at the guitar. If you feel you are fast enough and precise enough playing from your right leg, knock yourself out.

Welcome to Guitar Tricks. Thanks for your informed insight.

Whilst we're on that subject of left and right, which foot for the wah-wah peddle?

I'm a righty, so my right foot is probably more accurate although I would usually kick a ball with my left. However my right being the stronger one it gives better support, my left leg starts to ache after a long session of wah-wah practice and I find myself having to switch to give it a brake.

get an envelope filter

i recommend the Q Tron + .

That was deep, but I didn't read it all.

left leg all the way for me pretty much for ease of playing, the right leg is more unnatural. I also like to prop the guit up especially a classical - I put my leg up on a stool or something so the guitar won't slide down towards your knee.

just by the way the guitar sits on the left leg you get to play the higher frets very easily, and the right leg lets you play the lower frets much more easily - think about where your left hand naturally rests, and it will be obvious that the left leg helps you out a lot for mid-to-high frets. The wah wah is always right foot, but a prop stool (the tiny 3-inch one for classical) is always left foot. I like a real stool with a cusion on top, about 1 foot or a bit more high, rest your foot at 45 degree angle against the edge of it (cusion gives grip and is best with good solid comfortable shoes on), and you are locked in place with your guitar, you can get really good control...but it sucks having to have a stool like that all the time...

(without a stool) crossing your left leg so your knee points outward is a trick of the guitar trio, it also helps to lock the guitar in place because the base of the guitar will rest against the inner bottom of your left calf when you put it on your left leg...but this is uncomfortable for me - my legs have an uneven build and always get sore from that kind of thing (it's good to switch I guess...if only to experiment with what feels stable for you). If you cross your right leg, put the guitar on your right leg, otherwise it has nowhere to sit if you have your right leg crossed and try to keep it on your left leg - it just tries to slide down your leg.

For electric, neither leg is that essential. I guess the right leg would be the standard for that - I don't really pay much attention with the electric, especially my Ibanez with such a slim profile...but I like how heavy the Ibanez is, that helps it rest in place also...

...and last but not least, a chair or stool with cross-members (the wooden or metal sides that you can rest your heel on) can help too...so try all of these things out and see what you like...

Originally posted by Incidents Happen
its true that most sit on their right leg, but as others said, it does not help you reach the end of the neck. thats what the left leg is for.

Depends which end of the neck you're talking about. By "end of the neck", I meant the lower frets. I'd call the heel the start of the neck. But that's just semantics; as you and others have said, if you want to play the higher frets, sitting the guitar on your left leg may help.

Sitting it on your right leg is certainly going to get it nearer the position it'll hang in on a strap. That makes the move to playing standing up a lot easier, in my opinion.

I agree standing up is a lot better. Plus, I think it more fun.

right leg is the way i do it, but I found it is best to pratice standing up. its a pain in the butt, but it makes the transition from the couch to the stage 10X's easier. I had trouble with that when I first went on stage, it just felt weird and uncomfortable.