Guitar Supports For Posture and Skill

A healthy posture pays musical and physical dividends, so you can upgrade your playing experience by use of a guitar support. Initially, most players come to use of a guitar support to remediate back, neck, or shoulder discomfort or even pain. But more recently, players are realizing the advantage guitar supports bring to playing skills.

For both these reasons, in the last 30 years the use of guitar supports has become extremely common. The selection of available designs has exploded, with the newest models, the Barnett support and short Barnett eliminating use of suction cups and clamps.

Initially, it was classical guitarists who took advantage of supports. But now acoustic artists, such as Alex de Grassi, are gravitating to their use. As Alex demonstrates in this video, they allow for a more natural positioning of the legs, a reduction in rotation of the spine, and an optimal position of the instrument for efficient use of the arms and hands.

And in addition to that, they also enhance the ability of a player to activate the core muscles of the body – which leads to better hand skills due to a more natural and relaxed position of the shoulders and neck. While there are many factors that contribute to possessing virtuosic skill on an instrument, there is no doubt that facility of the hands is critical.

Proper posturing of the neck and shoulders allows for optimal triggering of the signals in our nervous system, which activate our hands and fingers. Having both feet evenly planted on the floor positions the body to allow maximum ease of activating the core, which naturally provides for improved alignment of the shoulders, neck, and head.

In addition to those who use them to the exclusion of a traditional foot stool, many players use one in combination with a very low footstool. This allows them to reduce distortion of posture, while retaining enough of what they are used to be comfortable.

With many models on the market, there is a good option for any player. And the addition of the Kris Barnett and Kris Barnett short provide an option for those who prefer to not use suction cups or clamps on their instruments.