The power position

[Jim Soloway]

A few years ago I was at a Taylor clinic featuring Steven King, a wonderful acoustic guitarist. He made a point that has stayed with me ever since. He claimed that every guitarist has a “power position”. That is the one position in which he/she has the maximum control over the instrument.

He went on to say that once you find that position, it is critically important to play in that position at all times, whether sitting or standing. That means always using a strap, and it precludes a position that is too low to use when sitting.

This was a lesson that I took to heart and it has helped immeasurably.

My suggestion to someone who is looking for his or her power position is to first find a comfortable position while seated. Next, adjust your strap to hold the guitar very slightly above that position so that the strap is supporting the guitar rather than your body. Now stand up and play. The guitar should now be well supported by the strap, not your hands or body and it should be in exactly the same position as it was when you were sitting.

The power position only works if you’re consistent. Once you find it, be fanatical about it. The benefit is worth it.

[evan_02]

Could you share some of the benefits you've gotten from this? Is it a physical comfort zone, a musically productive position, or both?

[Jim Soloway]

Originally posted by evan_02
Could you share some of the benefits you've gotten from this? Is it a physical comfort zone, a musically productive position, or both?

It's both.

In terms of the position itself, I'm a great advocate of classical left hand position with the thumb around the back of the neck. So for me the power position is one that alows my hand to fall into that position most naturally. That means the body of the guitar is mid-absomen with the neck tilted slight up in a less exaggerated versionof classical postion. I realize that not everyone considers that the best position for the way they play. So it's really up to the individual to find their power position relative to their style.

Regarding the benefits:

My reach has improved because the neck is always in the optimum position for me.

My ability from move from one complicated chord to another has improved tremendously since the neck is always in the same position. That gives me the confidence to play much more difficult material.

I don't have to look at the fingerboard nearly as much which allows me to focus more deeply on what I'm playing instead of how I'm playing it which in turn has allowed my music to grow artisitcally instead being focussed on the mechanics of playing.

And finally, it's allowed me to become a much more consistent player by removing a lot of physical variables from my playing.

[evan_02]

thanks Jim! I'm off to find my power position (the one where my tendonitus can't get me:) )

[babybatter]

Sweet!

Again!

[thamiam]

Great post!

I've been focusing on this almost exclusively for about two weeks now, trying to move from 'almost perfect' to 'power position'.

Kenny Werner wrote an absolutely fabulous book called Effortless Mastery that is all about being as relaxed and confident as possible while playing. He goes through recommendations for achievng a "power position" at several different instruments, but not guitar. :(

So using his concepts, this is how I've adapted it to guitar.

1)Stand comfortably. Legs shoulder width. relax every muscle in your body from the top down. If you're into meditation, by all means do it. The point is to get a stance that you ae comfortable standing in without motion for a while, then adding the guitar.

2)Place your hands in the most comfortable position, without the guitar. Just put them wherever it is easiest for you to make guitar-like motions.

3)Strap the guitar on, but just let it hang. Keep your arms by your side. If you become less comfortable than you were just standing, adjust the guitar, not your body.

4)Close your eyes, take a few deep breaths. Now imagine that there is a steel rod that extends up your spine and connects all the way to the ceiling. Don't be stiff, but just imagine your body is being supported for you by the rod, so you exert no effort.

5)Keeping your eyes closed, imagine you are a marionette, and somebody else is lifting your hands and placing them on the guitar. Adjust the strap accordingly.

While this may seem a little too hincky for some of the more logical minded, the whole point is to change your focus from "What do I need to do to myself in order to play this guitar" to "What do I need to do to this guitar in order to play it".

Like I said, I haven't found my perfect power position yet, but I've come a lot closer. I think incorporating Jim's idea to start by sitting down with a strap may get me there. To me there is nothng more important than being physically and mentally at ease while playing.

[babybatter]

Id just like to say...

...I went home and tried this out, and it was an AWESOME guide to getting into my zone. I will be applying this concept consciously or sub-consciously from now on.

Id also like to add that a big abilty for me to get comfortable on the guitar is to co-ordinate my hands and have them do an equal amount of work.

This notion has grown from balancing hand energy to balancing my whole body energy.

Ive now realized that when im properly relaxed, breathing smoothly and playing nice and fast...heee... I have a somewhat unusual body state.

My mental note to myself is for me to adjust my 'field'. The energy in and around my whole body.

Sounds cheesy, but its made a world of difference in my ability to move from technical guitar playing to expressive guitar playing.

[bob-ingram]

Great post Jim.

Years ago I found this power position without even realizing that I was doing just that. Comfort is not as much of a factor as is the ability to play without straining your fingers wrists and sholders. Look at these 2 dissimilar positions.

Les Paul in the 50's. Note that his position is dictated by the fact that he has no right elbow., but his left hand position is still relaxed.

http://users.rcn.com/bob-ingram/LesPaul.jpg

And mine, notice that I sometimes wrap my thumb around the neck but still have my wrists straight and relaxed.

http://users.rcn.com/bob-ingram/Bob2.JPG

[thamiam]

Here is one of the things that really has me thinking about power positions.

In the mornings, I get to work and practice for half an hour or so on a very light, Hohner Strat copy with a very thin neck and .10 roundwound strings.

In the evening I go home and practice for an hour or so on a 3" deep hollowbody DeArmond archtop with a piano leg for a neck strung with .12 flatwound strings.

Achieving a power position that accomadates both guitars is an ongoing and occasionally painful challenge.

[ralphster007]

Originally posted by thamiam
Achieving a power position that accomadates both guitars is an ongoing and occasionally painful challenge.

Then use a different one for each guitar... I don't think his point referred to switching from electric to acoustic to classical, etc.

[rosskoss]

Great post

Thanks!

[335clone]

Originally posted by thamiam
Here is one of the things that really has me thinking about power positions.

In the mornings, I get to work and practice for half an hour or so on a very light, Hohner Strat copy with a very thin neck and .10 roundwound strings.

In the evening I go home and practice for an hour or so on a 3" deep hollowbody DeArmond archtop with a piano leg for a neck strung with .12 flatwound strings.

Achieving a power position that accomadates both guitars is an ongoing and occasionally painful challenge.

It seems pretty easy with my Strat, due to the deep body curves. I can now stabilize the guitar, and release some of the thumb pressure that has been causing hand problems. My 335 is a whole 'nother story. When it's rounded back meets my rounded belly, that thing just wants to move around like crazy, which in turn keeps my thumb constantly trying to maintain the neck position. I might have to look into one of those harness straps (big X in the middle of the back) that they advertise in the back of the guitar mags.

Jim, you are definitely onto something here. Do you find a problem with larger, rounder guitars?

[thamiam]

Originally posted by 335clone


It seems pretty easy with my Strat, due to the deep body curves. I can now stabilize the guitar, and release some of the thumb pressure that has been causing hand problems. My 335 is a whole 'nother story. When it's rounded back meets my rounded belly, that thing just wants to move around like crazy, which in turn keeps my thumb constantly trying to maintain the neck position. I might have to look into one of those harness straps (big X in the middle of the back) that they advertise in the back of the guitar mags.

Jim, you are definitely onto something here. Do you find a problem with larger, rounder guitars?

Huh. For me it is much easier with the big hollowbody. The strat is so close that my shoulder pops some as I am moving my hand around the neck, and I can't get any extension in the elbow in my picking hand, which means I tire out and drop my arm sooner.

[babybatter]

Im find myself more comfortable with my .13 guage dreadnaught acoustic.

I need to sort of 'subtle-itize' things I guess for my .10 guage small bodied PRS. I have to find a way to play as aggressively on my electric without the 'pound the snot out of every note' factor I can allow myself on my acoustic.

[Negative K3 fan]

ull look like a moron if u wear it that high, i also think it makes strumming and fretting harder than when u wear it a bit lower.

[r0g3r]

But man, I won't look cool if my guitar isn't down around my ankles. Who cares about being able to actually play the thing anyway? :D

[r0g3r]

But, seriously, I coulndn't agree more. I think it's important to have your guitar at the same height both sitting and standing. Wearing your guitar down around your knees (as seem to be the trendy thing to do) completely limits your ability to play the instrument.

[Russ T Nail]

Jim,

to quote UV.........Excellent post :D

Good to see something on ergnomics to balance all the theory

Russ T