Tip of the day (4)

Larry Behm · From: Mt Angel, Or 97362

If your seat is to low you are at a mechanical disadvantage.

You look like a Praying Manits, your wrists are bent-not straight, your elbows look like wings--not down at your side. All of this puts both of your hands out of alignment. You might not become the player you want to be, just because you are sitting "to low".

With almost every person (40) that has come to me for lessons this is the number 1 major issue I address and it makes a world of difference the minute they sit on a taller seat, every single time.

Larry Behm

Bent Romnes · From: London,Ontario, Canada

Thanks Larry. Straight arms and wrists.

Let me take it one step farther because it relates to the steel height.
Some people have shorter legs.

When seated, should the leg from hip to knee be horizontal?
Where should the lower edge of the steel be in relation to the top of your leg?

Would it be possible to get suggestions on leg/seat, steel height in relation to each other?
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Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Larry,

Can I make a suggestion. Try to keep these all in one thread. Reasons:

1. We are going to end up with numerous "Tip of the Day" Threads that will clutter the listing (just wait until it gets to 25 or more listings. Some may fall onto the second, third, fourth page (well, you get the picture).

2. They will all be in one thread for easy access. You can edit the title each time you update to say something like "New Tip, 7/4"

I want to commend you for doing this. It will be a great help to many. Keep it up.
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting.

Larry Behm · From: Mt Angel, Or 97362

Richard I can see your point. Many "long" post do not get entirely read. Many points I am making are the corner stones to becoming a better player. There are many teachers on here and it is good to get the "tips" out there for those new players.

I could stop. I could just advertise my instructional videos. Let me think about it over the 4th.

So many new players, so much info to share, so little time. Oh what to do.

How about "Tip of the month"? That way it does not clog the air ways, the newbies gets info, I am sharing, everybody is winning. Very Happy

Larry Behm
call anytime
503-722-7562

David Doggett · Posted 3 Jul 2009 10:21 am

Larry is right on. Ergonomically, the forearms should be parallel to the floor and wrists straight. The thighs should also be parallel to the floor. Generally when the height of the steel and seat are right for all that, the bottom of the instrument will be where is should be, very close to the top of the thighs or knees.

Bent Romnes · From: London,Ontario, Canada

Larry, please don't stop!
Just call it Tip of the Day(new thread every tip) and we'll see that it's a new tip by the date of your entry.
This does not clog up the airways as opposed to nonsensical posts that run totally astray and inevitably off-topic.

This is pure steel guitar talk and valuable for each and every one of us.
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Georg Sørtun · From: Mandal, Agder, Norway

I like checking up on the basics now and then, so just keep the tips coming - no matter how.

I added 1 inch to the height of my pack-a-seat to make it ideal, and it sure helped getting arms and legs in position.

Jim Bates · From: Alvin, Texas, USA

O.K. Steel Seat makers - why don't you offer adjustable inserts in the legs so that stool can be raised / lowered 2". (Piano benches have done this for years with a worm / screw mechanism, but a simpler version with bolts and locking nuts can be done.) Inventors where are you?

Thanx,
Jim

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Larry, Don't stop. Good point about long threads. I would rather see you continue as you are than stop. A lot of new players hang out here and can benefit from your knowledge of the instrument. Some of us old timers can benefit also. Maybe add a hint of what the tip is in the title, so it is easier to locate a specific tip. Any player is blessed when someone like you gives of himself to help others.

I also sent this as a PM to Larry in case he doesn't see this, so we can discuss this off the forum if he chooses and not dilute this thread any further.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting.

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

good point Jim B

i have a tendency to sit a bit high & have had to modify the height on my pac a seat

Sonny Jenkins · From: Texas Masonic Retirement Center,,,Arlington Tx

Hey Larry,,,speaking of "elbows stuck out like wings" reminds me of my time at Jeff Newmans school early 80s. He said we all looked like we were going to fly,,,,broke out the tennis balls and tucked under our right elbows,,,pretty soon tennis balls were all over the floor,,,tennis balls under our elbows,,,ping pong balls in our hand,,,whatever it takes,,,LOL. At least I learned to keep my elbow in and my knuckle peaked!

Some of the avatars remind me of those times,,,look like baby birds getting ready to fly,,,LOL

Pete Burak · From: Portland, OR USA

Yeah, I would agree... Maybe cut and paste the existing Tips into the first post of a new thread... Call it Larry's Tip O' The Day, or whatever... and keep it going as one thread.
Lar, maybe you have a tip on how to tune these darn things?

Rich Peterson · From: Moorhead, MN

I raised my Pak-a-Seat as soon as I got it back in 1980, by adding a 1" board between the box and the legs. I didn't like having my stomach crunched so I couldn't breath to sing. (I'm 6' 1".)

Gary Arnold · From: Panhandle of Florida, USA

Larry keep up the good Tips, you do a great job Very Happy

Gary

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

I've hesitated many times on giving players advice on physical positioning of the body and hands. All players are not alike, nor are their physiologies. What's comfortable and works well for one may not always be the best for another. Neutral

Dean Parks · From: Sherman Oaks, California, USA

I think pasting all the tips into a single thread would be a mess.

It is interesting to read other experienced players' comments on each topic separately, even if it's weeks later. Who cares about long threads? They're there if one is interested.

If you want more organization, you could add a summary to the title; "tip 4: seat height"

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

Adjustable legs on a pack-a-seat is a good idea but it would require a complete redesign of the legs that are used now on most seats.

I would like to see a lighter weight seat, but that too would require rethinking on the materials that are mostly used for seats. I like the Steeler's Choice sidekick seat design and folding back design (and have one)but it could be made a lot lighter and still maintain stability and integrety of the seat.

Jim Palenscar · From: Oceanside, Calif, USA

Joe Naylor purchased Thom Beaman's Steel Seats business and has come up with a very nice Steel Seat Lite that is quite light and still quite functional.

Larry Behm · From: Mt Angel, Or 97362

DH I am a very concerned that folks get the basics, they can be themselves once they understand those basics.

I taught PE K-12, we never just rolled the ball out and said go for it. NEVER!!

Larry Behm

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

Jim, a smaller seat is not what I was referring to about a "lighter weight" seat. Rather one that is "full size" but constructed of (rugged) light weight material.

Dennis Lee · From: Forest Grove, Oregon, USA

I just took it for granted that my steel seat was the proper heigth, and that my steel was correct for me. Now I have to pay attention to see how it all fits me physically. I like these tips! I think I'll get a couple of tennis balls and try that Jeff Newman trick just to see that I'm close to correct.

Tommy Shown · From: Denham Springs, La.

Larry, I often heard about raising the rear legs. Would that help any?
Tommy Shown

Paul Sutherland · From: Placerville, California

Tommy:

If you raise the rear legs on the steel the body of the guitar moves away from you and the steel tips outward. That could be desirable if you have longer than normal arms. But if you are like me, with relatively short arms, i.e., 32 inch in-sleeve length, that is exactly the wrong thing to do.

I lower the rear legs the body of the steel so that the steel moves closer to my body to accommodate my short arms. I recently made this adjustment when I noticed that before the adjustment I seemed to be avoiding playing the chromatic strings on the E9th neck because I had to make an exaggerated movement of my arm to get my hand into position to play the first two strings. Now my steel tips slightly back towards me and I don't have to reach out excessively to keep my hand in a comfortable playing position for all strings on the E9 neck. I am more relaxed at the steel and, as a result, I think I play better.

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