| Visit Our Catalog at SteelGuitarShopper.com |

Post new topic Body position relative to fretboard
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  Body position relative to fretboard
Mark Herrick


From:
Bakersfield, CA
Post  Posted 22 Oct 2003 8:41 am    
Reply with quote

In another thread ("Changing pedal location") mention was made of positioning yourself behind the guitar between the 15th and 17th frets.

Just curious to get a reading on where others find themselves positioned.

I seem to be generally between 13 and 15...

[This message was edited by Mark Herrick on 22 October 2003 at 09:42 AM.]

View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Bill Sampler

 

Post  Posted 22 Oct 2003 8:51 am    
Reply with quote

I take instruction from Reece Anderson and on my very first day, he told me to center my body right at the 15th fret. He explained that this will allow you to develop a consistent sight line to the bar.

------------------
Bill Sampler
Carter S-10/DB 4x5
Nashville 1000
POD Pro

View user's profile Send private message
Larry Bell


From:
Englewood, Florida
Post  Posted 22 Oct 2003 9:35 am    
Reply with quote

For some reason the 13th fret is where I seem to naturally land. I even set my left knee cluster up to 'force' me to sit there. I can reach everything and parallax is kinda spread out across the fretboard. Anything between 12 and 15 works fine. I'd avoid sitting any further left than that because of what it does to your left hand position above the 15th fret.

------------------
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Jim Smith


From:
Midlothian, TX, USA
Post  Posted 22 Oct 2003 10:05 am    
Reply with quote

I also tend to line up with the 12th or 13th fret. Maybe it's because of doing it the same way for 30+ years, but I feel all scrunched up when I try to move any further to the right.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Sidney Malone

 

From:
Buna, TX
Post  Posted 22 Oct 2003 12:00 pm    
Reply with quote

The 15th fret works for me for the same reason Bill said. It seemed like a real small adjustment at first but it produced really big results.

I think consistency is very important in your body positioning. You need to be seeing the same thing from the same angle everytime you sit down, as well as being the same distance from the pedals. That way your brain won't have to make adjustments for different angles and distances everytime you play.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Ray Minich

 

From:
Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra
Post  Posted 22 Oct 2003 3:09 pm    
Reply with quote

13th to 14th fret, any closer to the right and my right foot locks up on the volume pedal and RKR has less control.

Emmons SD-10, Dekley S-10, Nashville 400
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Ken Williams


From:
Arkansas
Post  Posted 22 Oct 2003 3:54 pm    
Reply with quote

I've never really paid that much attention but I think I'm about at the 15th fret. It seems in recent years that I've moved moved more to the right than what I used to be, don't know why. It also seems like I'm sitting with right leg more under the guitar than the left. In other words, my chest doesn't seem to be square with the back of the guitar. It's probably a bad habit but it feels comfortable.

Ken
http://home.ipa.net/kenwill
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
slick

 

From:
Calhoun Georgia
Post  Posted 22 Oct 2003 5:46 pm    
Reply with quote

15th fret

Wayne
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Rainer Hackstaette


From:
Bohmte, Germany
Post  Posted 23 Oct 2003 1:52 am    
Reply with quote

My seating position depends on what guitar I'm playing.

On my keyless Sierras the A pedal rod is right under the roller nut: belly button at 15th fret.

On my keyed Remington and Emmons the B pedal is under the roller nut: belly button at 13th fret.

The distance between the seat and the steel also varies depending on the body width of the steel (single vs. double neck) and the position of the knee levers. The Sierras' levers are mounted to the back apron, the Remington's and Emmons' levers are under the guitar, some (RKL, RKR) close to the middle. I need to move closer then.

If I change guitars it usually takes me half a song to settle down comfortably. And then the real challenge begins: playing the right notes at the right time.

Rainer

------------------
Remington D-10 8+7, Sierra Crown D-10 gearless 8+8, Sierra Session S-14 gearless 8+5, '76 Emmons D-10 8+4, Peavey Session 400 LTD


[This message was edited by Rainer Hackstaette on 23 October 2003 at 02:53 AM.]

View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
C Dixon

 

From:
Duluth, GA USA
Post  Posted 23 Oct 2003 3:56 am    
Reply with quote

15th fret.

carl
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Terry Edwards


From:
Florida... livin' on spongecake...
Post  Posted 23 Oct 2003 6:05 am    
Reply with quote

Well, my body position used to be fairly close to the fret board but as the years go by...

... I need to lay off the biscuits and gravy!


Terry
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Roger Rettig


From:
Naples, FL
Post  Posted 23 Oct 2003 7:02 am    
Reply with quote

Fifteenth fret (I just sat behind a steel to check!) - no-one told me to do it this way, but it's always felt comfortable.

In connection with this, and given that we all sit to the right, I've been wondering if it would be practical to move my left-knee levers a fraction to the right of their standard position - it would mean that I could maybe reach pedals 5-8. Then I could have E9 AND C6 pulls on all four lateral-moving levers. That way, an '8 + 4' guitar could really have all the essential changes.

Any thoughts on this? I guess that pedal 8 might be a stretch, but.....

RR

[This message was edited by Roger Rettig on 23 October 2003 at 08:05 AM.]

View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Lawrence Lupkin


From:
Brooklyn, New York, USA
Post  Posted 23 Oct 2003 8:09 am    
Reply with quote

I find that my guitar sounds best when I position myself approximately 10 feet away from it.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Erv Niehaus


From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
Post  Posted 23 Oct 2003 9:29 am    
Reply with quote

I think it really depends on which neck you are playing and your knee lever setup. I have a separate set of left knee levers for the C6th neck that are located more to the center of the guitar. Also, your foot pedals for the C6th neck are to the right. I find myself shifting to the right a bit when playing C6th.
Erv
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Roger Rettig


From:
Naples, FL
Post  Posted 23 Oct 2003 9:49 am    
Reply with quote

Erv,

I, of course, have centrally-positioned levers exclusive to C6, as so many do - I was simply speculating about the possibility of saving on the number of levers, and getting all the vital pulls on both necks with just four KLs.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Larry Bell


From:
Englewood, Florida
Post  Posted 23 Oct 2003 10:05 am    
Reply with quote

Roger,
It can be done. I play a single neck guitar with 8 and 8, all available all the time (i.e., no center 6th tuning levers). I have no problem reaching P8 with access to all levers except one (or maybe both) of the LKLs. Vertical and LKRs are easily reached. I believe that Herby Wallace uses one or possibly two of his 'E9' levers for C6 as well -- with no center levers. I do have long legs (but Herby doesn't )

------------------
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  
Please review our Forum Rules and Policies
Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction, and steel guitar accessories
www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

The Steel Guitar Forum
148 S. Cloverdale Blvd.
Cloverdale, CA 95425 USA

Click Here to Send a Donation

Email SteelGuitarForum@gmail.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for Band-in-a-Box
by Jim Baron