[Witchblade]

Hey all....
First let me say I think I am going to LOVE this site....
I Read "Davidwigston" Post and I am sooooooo glad I am not the only newbie who feels
like maybe I am just some freak for whom it was never meant to be..... That my fingers will never do what they need to...

I have a "UNIQUE" problem though I am hoping some of the ladies here might be able to comment on...

My hubby bought me my fabulous Guitar for christmas its is dark and beautiful and I LOVE it - cant play it - but I LOVE it...

I am however... only 5'4" tall and rather.... ummmm .... wellll ------Chesty.....
ok there I said it - no LAUGHING....
Anyway.... I am having a hard time getting comfortable holding my guitar as I always feel as though I am wrestling to keep it from popping off my lap and cant concentrate on fingering or strumming...

Well I do not want to have to trade it in for a smaller one - I LOVE THIS ONE and I dont think they make them with hollows in the back.....

AM I doing something wrong.... will I always have to play standing UP with a strap - can I sit with a strap or is that just weird or nerdy??

The strap I have is too short and I wll have to get a longer one - It sits up really high and looks hilarious....

Please let me know....

I listened to "cshude" Greensleeves Posted three weeks ago and I am in awe and now very sad.... I am sure I can NEVER do that. IS that played on a 12 string?? and How do you make it sound as though two notes are played at the same time?? IS is fingered or using a pick... I listed over and over and over... I am humbled.....

Hello to all and please anyone answer who can
Thanks
Sheila - aka Witchblade
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[allthumbs]

I hope your hubby didn't get you a jumbo or a dread. They are a fair size and set up for strumming more than finger picking.
You can lessen the problem a bit by playing your guitar more to the side rather than directly across your body. Think of the neck of the guitar as pointing to the wall in front of you at a 45 degree angle. The tip of the head of the guitar being in a straight line out from the center of your chest. You will also find it easier to get your right hand further around the neck with less strain. The disadvantage is that you cant drape your head over neck to stare at your fingers as clearly. See if that helps.

[Witchblade]

Thanks - allthumbs - I'll try that
I had a friend look my guitar over at christmas and he said it was a normal size and very nice for a starter - as I wondered the same thing at fisrt - if it might be big.

That was my other thought too - is playing like typing where you have to learn to do it by TOUCH only - so its not cheating to look at my fingers??

I have a little music background - played clarinet 20 years ago in Highschool - so I know how to read music mostly - I need a refresher but its coming back,,, slowly... I dont remeber the fingering for the clarinet any more so - I have to learn the notes all anew on the fret board.... but at least it makes sense to me.... TAB.....well I am trying.......

[allthumbs]

It is much better to learn by touch if you can. Better for your posture and your much less likely to lose the guitar. You can still see the top edge of the fretboard so you will still know your on the left fret. Give it a try. Good luck.

[coldethyl]

Welcme aboard Sheila!

So you played Clarinet. I learned Clarinet when I was a youngster. My dad was dixieland jazz crazy and wanted me to be another Benny Goodman. Needless to say, my dad was just dreamin', but my heart was really with the guitar and so eventually after learning the Clarinet, I was able to take up guitar.

Hope you enjoy the forum!

[Rockerbob]

Well, first we need to see pictures...

[Rockerbob]

BTW, I always wear a strap, even when seated. I think it helps a lot.

[Witchblade]

thanks Rockerbob - though trust me your imagination would be better than the real thing... just never the same since my twins were born....they are just large.... not at all pretty.... sorry...

[Matty22]

Originally Posted by Witchblade

I am however... only 5'4" tall and rather.... ummmm .... wellll ------Chesty.....
ok there I said it - no LAUGHING....

Ill contribute my two bobs worth to the further degradation of this thread and say that *I* (wouldnt want to speak for anybody else here) have no problems with that

and to make up for it, ill say G'day and welcome to the forum,

and dont worry, you'll be surprised how quickly you'll be going from "damn this stupid hunk of wood" to "hey, i CAN play that", all you needs a little patience, hey, sounds like nice hookline for a song there

[Witchblade]

Thanks Matty22

I hope you are right....
Are you sure I am not an alien with high hopes??

Thanks for the welcome - I think I am going to LOVE it here...
I feel like part of the family already!!

Sheila - aka Witchblade
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[Matty22]

Im sure you will.. I remember my mate saying, you'll get the hang of playing barre chords, just takes a bit of time and some practise. While i said "nuh uh, aint gunna happen, ill stick to songs with E A D G and C in it" now every time i play a barre chord he says "oh, was that a Gmaj barre chord, but that aint gunna happen, whinge whinge sook sook" trust me it'll happen.

We are one big happen family here. I am kinda like the mean and nasty alcoholic uncle that everybody hopes isnt going to show up at the family get together

[737blues]

Hi Witchblade. Don't worry too much about not being able to see the fretboard. It will seem hard at first but learning to play without depending on that constant visual check is probably an advantage, in the a long term. You might like to experiment with the classical position usually recommended for men. (Speaking as a mere male, I don't see anything wrong with women using this position in this day and age but obviously it's a personal choice) One big advantage of this position is that it provides a more natural relationship between your wrist and the neck of the guitar when playing barre chords. Basically, assuming you are right handed, you rest the guitar on your left leg, which is elevated a little with the aid of a small footstool so that the head of the neck is about level with your shoulders. You should be able to find some pictures and more detailed information on the web. Have a Google.