[How to control the guitar like you want to] Things guitarists should know about their body

Hello!
My name is Takuto Fujioka, guitarist in an acoustic unit called BABY BABY and an occupational therapist.
Thank you for always reading!

This time, I wanted to exaggerate in the title, "How to control the guitar like you want to".
It's not that difficult, so please read it.

In the column "Body Map" which I posted earlier, I wrote something similar to this.
To review,
A body map is "the size, structure, and function of the body as imagined in the head".
I introduced the idea that you can lean in a comfortable, stable posture and move by linking the image in your head with your actual movement.

This time, I would like to consider what is called "guitar mapping" as an extension of that.
This is about the guitar, not the body.

In order to "manipulate the guitar at will", I think it is necessary to link the image of the guitar in my head with the actual guitar.
The word "guitar mapping" has been coined by someone, but I think it is an important point of view when playing the guitar, so I would be happy if you could share it with others.

There is no definition of guitar mapping.
Therefore, I will apply it here using the concept of "body map".

First of all, about "size".

The size of the guitar itself varies depending on the manufacturer and model.

It can be said that the reason why you feel uncomfortable when you play a guitar that is different from the usual image you have of the size of the guitar created in your head.
By the way, the balance of the weight on the head end and the body end causes the head to fall, and the position of the center of gravity of the guitar itself changes depending on the guitar itself.

An electric guitar weighs about 3 kg, so when you put it on your shoulder using a strap, the weight will change the position of your own center of gravity.
If you are not aware of this, you may take a biased posture without realizing it.

Even those who have been playing the guitar for many years may not be aware that they are in a biased position.
It's common to have a strap on your left shoulder when you stand and play the guitar, which causes your left shoulder to go down and your right shoulder to go up. If you always put a strain on the same shoulder, your body will gradually become unbalanced.
Especially if you concentrate on playing, many people may not be aware of your posture. (I was the same.)

I don't mean that you should use a small guitar because you are small and a big guitar because you are big.
What I mean is that the player must take a comfortable and stable posture according to the size & weight of the guitar.

The other is "structure / function".
From here, let's change the viewpoint a little.
Have you ever thought about the structure and function of your guitar?
Also, can you play your guitar according to the structure?

Let me give you an example of "structure / function".

The other day, I went to a bar where I could enjoy country music. I played live in my acoustic unit "BABY BABY", and the string height of the acoustic guitar I borrowed there was so high that it was hard to play and it didn't sound right, so I sounded extremely rough. (laughs).

However, when the master of the shop played the guitar, it was completely different from the sound I played earlier, and it sounded insanely good with a deep sound.... I played John Denver's "Take Me Home, Country Roads" with a single-note country lick with that string height but also with a lot of work.

Here I experienced that I couldn't play as usual except on my own guitar.
Speaking of course, it is natural, but the force and playing method required to produce a sound will vary depending on the gauge and height of the strings and the condition of the guitar.

The acoustic guitar that I usually play has a relatively low string height, and I set it so that it can be played with little strength.
As my body got used to it, I could no longer get the original sound with an acoustic guitar with a high string height.
(By the way, for those who are in the country genre, it seems that the standard style is to raise the string height and use thicker strings.)

I learned that the force required to play a guitar changes, even if it is the same guitar, as the string height and settings change. So the "structure and function" also changes, and naturally the playing style will also change.
That’s easy to say, but when it came to actually doing it, it wasn't possible.

This is the same as when the human body changes its movements by knowing its structure and mechanism.
It may be more correct to say that "the body and the instrument interact and influence each other" rather than "manipulate the instrument according to one's own body".

As the saying goes, "A poor workman blames his tools", but professionals understand that the difference between
"the size, structure, and function of the guitar that you imagine in your head" and the actual one is probably close to zero.
By deepening your understanding of musical instruments, you will understand that if you play this way, you will get this kind of sound.
I think this should be considered separately from mere playing techniques.

It would be nice if the player could understand the relationship between the guitar and the guitar, but it's quite difficult!
If you get to such a place, I think that the fun of the guitar, not just the method, will come out.
You’ll also get along well with any guitar so that it will sound good!

See you next time!