[Guitar Guide] Should You Use a Strap While Practicing?

Hello, this is Conservario.
Let me ask, do you use a strap while practicing?
For those unfamiliar, a strap is a tool that attaches to your guitar’s pins, allowing you to hang it around your shoulder.
While straps are essential for playing live while standing, should you also use them when practicing at home sitting down?
Here’s an explanation to help you decide.

The answer is “always use a strap.”
Whether practicing or performing live, you should always attach a strap while playing.
Let’s consider why straps are used in the first place.
If you think their purpose is solely to support the guitar while standing, you’re close, but not quite right.
Properly adjusted straps actually stabilize your playing.
Without understanding this, many players find straps cumbersome and remove them while sitting at home.
It’s time to shift your perspective on straps entirely!

First, let me explain how to determine the optimal strap length for stable playing. Attach the strap to your guitar before starting.

Sit on a chair.
Then, hold your guitar as usual.
Straighten your posture slightly by sitting up tall, avoiding the forward-leaning stance that often occurs while holding a guitar.
Aim to keep your body upright.
The correct strap length will allow the guitar to float slightly off your leg when your posture is upright.
To achieve this, shorten the strap significantly at first.
If the guitar is too high, sitting around chest level and not resting on your leg at all, it’s too short and can be uncomfortable, putting all the guitar’s weight on your shoulders.
Gradually adjust the strap until you find a balance where the guitar is supported both by your shoulder and leg.
Since pin placements on guitars and individual body types vary, there’s no specific measurement to aim for.
Use the feeling of the guitar slightly lifting off your leg when you improve your posture as a key guideline.

I believe you now understand the proper strap length.
But why does using a strap make playing more stable?
Have you ever checked how you look while practicing, either with a mirror or by recording yourself?
Not during live performances, but during at-home practice?
While those who post videos might be accustomed to this, most people rarely observe themselves.
What many don’t realize is that the guitar tends to move quite a bit during play.
Whether it’s strumming, power chords, vibratos, or bends, these motions can cause significant movement, often unnoticed by the player.

From a professional perspective, even a 1mm shift in the position of the instrument can have a significant impact on performance, altering both tone and playability.
This is especially evident with harmonics.
Even a 1mm misalignment can cause natural harmonics or pinch harmonics to fail to sound cleanly.
This slight positional misalignment can escalate over time, affecting various aspects of your performance during play.
Using a strap properly stabilizes the guitar’s position, minimizing unnecessary movement.
This also allows for better focus on playing.
This stability is crucial not only during live performances but also while practicing at home. In fact, practice sessions benefit greatly from always using a strap.

Ernie Ball / 4037 Polypro Straps Black

■ Summary

This article discussed why using a strap and setting its appropriate length improves stability during play.
In this article, I only focused on functional benefits.
I deliberately chose not to discuss the aesthetic aspect.
There are opinions like “short straps look uncool, but long straps seem more stylish!”
I agree lol!
A strap that is too long will have no impact when sitting and will just get in the way, so it’s okay to remove it.
For those prioritizing visuals or performance over function, any length is fine.
Play in the style you prefer!
I often prioritize clarity for ease of reading in my columns, but there is no definitive correct approach in music.
The length of the strap can vary greatly depending on play style and personal preference.
That’s perfectly fine.
There is no single correct approach, which is what makes music interesting.
If you find a strap length that works better for you than the one I suggested, feel free to share it.
Music evolves continuously, and it’s important to evolve your thinking along with it.
Thank you for reading to the end!

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