Questions tagged [posture]

Questions about how the body should be positioned when playing.

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6 votes
2 answers
859 views

How widespread was the use of Aguado's "Tripodium", and are similar devices still used today?

Dionisio Aguado (1784-1849) developed his "Tripodium" (also referred to online as a "Tripodion" or simply tripod) to aid support, positioning and clear sound projection while playing classical guitar (...
2 votes
2 answers
162 views

Bass-Guitar - How much "Bent Wrist" is still ok?

I'm struggling with a good left hand position, and there are multiple things that I'm not sure about. I will concentrate on one particular element here in this question: What one usually reads (which ...
0 votes
0 answers
57 views

What metrics can be used to determine good technique/posture?

I am feeling a bit inspired by using physical laws to guide technique, like how Newton's laws are used here to give guidelines for bow hold: https://www.violinist.com/blog/fjt/20215/28767/. My idea is ...
21 votes
5 answers
5k views

As a soloist, should I face the audience or the conductor during long tutti sections?

I am playing a violin concerto with an orchestra and a fairly large audience in a few weeks. So my question is, in the long Tutti parts where I don't play, should I face towards the audience, and what ...
8 votes
9 answers
62k views

Right hand wrist & forearm soreness

I’m new to piano and experiencing soreness in the wrist and forearm of my right hand when I play. I can’t tell whether this is “building new muscles” pain or “doing something wrong” pain. I’m ...
2 votes
2 answers
227 views

How Firm to hold Bansuri

I understand that one must blow softly on Bansuri, as if cooling a food item. But what about how firm to hold Bansuri. I noticed my hands got tired after 6 minutes of playing because I held onto the ...
2 votes
4 answers
247 views

How to chose chin rest for a violin player?

There are different violin chin rest. My daughter’s violin teacher said the left hand which place on the strings should be like a butterfly not a crane. So I watch my daughter practice and found the ...
5 votes
1 answer
124 views

Piano posture - front shoulder delt tension

They say you have to play the piano without any static muscle tension. At the same time, to reach the freedom of movement your elbows should be a little bit in front of you. I have a sitting posture ...
10 votes
4 answers
1k views

What contributes to good piano posture?

I have to admit I can slouch when I'm not paying attention at the piano. So what makes for good piano posture? Extra: Are there any guides that are often used as standard? I've heard that the ...
3 votes
3 answers
475 views

How to achieve the correct posture if you're short, get a shorter stand or higher chair?

I bought a digital piano with a fixed height stand and the top of the key are 28.75 inches from the ground. I need to get my elbow to be parallel with the key height, is what I got from online videos. ...
11 votes
2 answers
1k views

What is proper pedal posture?

I'd like to learn a song that requires extensive use of the middle pedal, but I have no experience using it. I think I'll just practice until it comes naturally, but I'd like to make sure I'm not ...
3 votes
5 answers
1k views

Holding a violin against the hips?

I cannot seem to find a reference to this practice anywhere outside of this video (seen from the beginning (~0:32) of the video) Is there an official term for this ...
1 vote
0 answers
25 views

I got pain in my right shoulder for a long playing of piano [duplicate]

Usually for around over 20mins of playing piano my right shoulder starts to feel pain, especially when playing arpeggios. I felt my right shoulder got more and more tired until painful. I tried to ...
7 votes
2 answers
5k views

Is holding the violin without using your hand indicator of proper posture?

I have seen from some resources like books or videos, that if you hold your violin properly, then you should be able to hold it with your chin and arm, somewhat like this: Now I am new to violin, and ...
2 votes
1 answer
989 views

Forearm soreness while practicing the piano

Recently I have had a bit of fore arm soreness, and I don't know what to do about it. The soreness isn't lasting though, It's more like, I play a phrase and by the end it my forearm is sore, and if I ...
2 votes
1 answer
172 views

Expert Guidance on Body Posture when Playing Bansuri

So far when I play Bansuri, my torso is twisted to the left, while sitting cross-legged on my bed (and I attempt to sit straight). And my head is slightly bent at an angle. I see others playing ...
2 votes
2 answers
1k views

How to treat medial epicondilytis and how long does it take to heal?

I have been playing blues/jazz and shred guitar on mostly electric guitars for many years. Four months ago, I bought a new classical guitar and in my excitement played continuously through a weekend. ...
3 votes
5 answers
1k views

Relaxing muscles when playing piano

I have a problem with relaxing my shoulders when playing the piano. My shoulders become stiff and come up when I play. After practicing my shoulders ache. What could be wrong with my posture or ...
1 vote
4 answers
473 views

Guitar playing standing up

I have an electric guitar and I really would like to practice playing standing for two reasons: I live in a small apartment and do not want to buy a stool, which would take up space. I would like to ...
4 votes
1 answer
89 views

Vertical control of the ukulele's neck during chord changes

I'm making my first steps with the ukulele and I have trouble with controlling the vertical movement of the neck during some chord changes. I'm holding the ukulele by using my right forearm to press ...
3 votes
5 answers
14k views

Difficulty in playing Guitar in Standing posture

Usually I am able play my electric guitar all right at amateur level while in sitting position. The advantage of this position I find is that you can slightly tilt the guitar towards you so that the ...
19 votes
7 answers
82k views

Is it normal for frequent guitar playing to be accompanied by wrist pain?

Is it normal for frequent guitar playing to be accompanied by wrist pain or is it something that is caused by poor posture/position and technique? I have been playing for several years now, and mostly ...
4 votes
1 answer
259 views

Trouble playing the tuba on the edge of the seat

I'm currently learning how to play the tuba in school, and I'm finding it extremely difficult to sit at the edge of the seat like I'm supposed to due to the weight of it. If I sit on the edge, I have ...
2 votes
4 answers
447 views

Raising bench height

I have piano lessons in a room on my university campus and the bench provided is a little low for me. My teacher has helpfully suggested books or foam jigsaw mats. Before I buy the mats or carry ...
2 votes
3 answers
2k views

Is this posture correct for classical guitar?

I bought a 2 foot stool to play classical guitar. I'm 6 feet. I've been trying to play using the stool and a foot stand and I feel very comfortable playing the guitar, but something just doesn't look ...
3 votes
1 answer
1k views

Difference between a flat and a "ball-like" hand on piano

I'm not sure if the hand posture is called "ball-like" in English, but is there a difference in playing, technique and/or something else between a balled-hand and a flat one?; (most rock and synth) ...
4 votes
2 answers
209 views

How to keep my scroll out of my stand partner's face

I'm playing on the outside of my desk, and my scroll is constantly in my stand partner's face. To have my violin off to the side seems kind of necessary for me to keep good posture, but this clearly ...
3 votes
1 answer
112 views

Teaching proper piano posture

I'm teaching a nine-year-old how to play piano. He's very quick at learning, but he can't seem to pick up how to sit at the piano properly. No matter how much I prod him, he keeps slouching and ...
4 votes
5 answers
5k views

My wrists hurt after playing bass for a long time

I've been playing bass for about 3 years, but only as a hobby. I've never had a teacher either. Usually I play for around 1 hour a day, sometimes up to 3 hours, but now I've got a gig coming up, so I ...
1 vote
2 answers
2k views

Bad back... is it better for me to play with lumbar support?

I have always hated using benches when I play the piano. In my tiny dorm room I play my digital piano on my bed, with a pillow to support my back. It's so much better than the bench I would use while ...
3 votes
3 answers
3k views

Please help - am I holding the guitar correctly?

I'm a beginner, tried many positions and this turns out to be pretty comfortable. Just wondering if it's "okay". In other words will this be a bad habit for any reason? Got my right foot resting on a ...
4 votes
4 answers
1k views

Non-playing fingers on piano– where should they rest?

When practising, I constantly reshape my non-playing fingers in the key/scale of the song I am learning. Is this okay, or should I position them in the place which is most comfortable? The latter ...
0 votes
2 answers
897 views

Sitting position for 61 key piano

I was wondering if there is any specific guidance for sitting position for piano in terms of positioning your hands, left on bass keys and right on trible keys. I guess on a grand piano it will be ...
2 votes
2 answers
2k views

Electric guitar is too low without a strap

I have been playing only acoustic guitar, until very recently I bought an electric (Ibanez RG350). I am finding it too low too play while practicing. With an acoustic I used to sit around and keep the ...
7 votes
1 answer
6k views

Why does playing the piano give me a pain in the neck?

I have a keyboard set up with a proper stool so my arms are held straight out, with music at eye level - almost identical to how I set up my PC for good posture. But while I can use the PC all day ...
5 votes
3 answers
1k views

How to avoid slouching?

I have a lifelong habit of slouching. In recent years, my posture has improved greatly, mostly because I’ve finally learned to keep my feet flat on the floor (to prevent plantar fasciitis). That alone ...
9 votes
4 answers
32k views

Is there a "correct" position for the right hand when playing guitar?

Normally when I am playing I support my right hand by putting my pinky finger below the E string, but when I try to play past a certain speed I have difficulty keeping up. I have found a couple sites ...