Here's kind of a silly question: Do you prefer to stand up (with a guitar strap) or sit down to play? Since I only sit to play and practice I've found that I have a real hard time playing standing up. Guess it doesn't matter since I'm not in a band and I don't perform anyway, but the other day I thought I would change it up and try and stand up to play. The results weren't good.
How about you?
I bought a Fender 24 inch stool but still sit on the couch or kitchen table. The stool looks cool but I rarely ever sit on it.
There are some specialized guitar chairs I've seen I thought about getting, but then figured my office chair and the sofa work just fine.
I usually sit but sometimes youn need to just walk around while your playing. Like you are on a stage in your house
I used to play on my guitar stool but now I prefer a barstool. It‘s more comfortable, because it has a backrest. Sometimes I try to play while standing or walking but I find it very hard. I guess it‘s just a matter of practice.
A couple of years ago, I needed to play standing up, because my husband and I formed a bluegrass band (we play mostly in nursing homes). It took a while until I was comfortable, but now it I'm able to do it OK. I still prefer sitting!
@alicelarhotmail-com That's interesting! My husband and I were talking about maybe doing that (playing in nursing homes) when he retires. Do you find it rewarding? Do the people there really appreciate your music? Just curious about this if you don't mind telling me about it.
My sister works in a long-term care facility and she tells me about some of the people who come in to entertain the patients. They used to have a cowboy on a horse come in and play his guitar, but I think they quit doing that, LOL. This is the west here after all, but his cowboy hat kept knocking the ceiling panels down. She said they have people come in with dogs and visit the patients, too.
"I guess it‘s just a matter of practice."
I kind of thought that, too. The more you do it the more natural it feels, but I don't need to do it so I don't. 🙂
@shysue „I don‘t need to do it so I don‘t.“
Same with me. And if I should ever play in a band we will be the first „sitting bluegrass combo“.
To get better at playing the guitar, you should do both. You never know, you might get that call. (:
Susan, I'm sure we're not nearly as entertaining; we don't own a horse or cowboy hats!
It's very rewarding to play at the retirement centers. We have played several times for a dementia ward where the audience doesn't always seem as if they're attentive, but you can notice a smile, or a toe tapping, so we know they are engaged. Some people enjoy trying to sing along. We're always happy for whatever makes them happy! The assisted living buildings' audiences are more overtly engaged, and thank us a lot for coming. Frankly, these forgiving audiences are great places for a band to get experience.
I'm the one band member who is shy about singing solos, but I've overcome that now for some audiences. In February, my husband and I started playing duets at a rehab facility for older people. It was great! They requested songs that we went home and learned for the next time. Unfortunately, around here in the D.C. area, because of the virus, I don't have any idea when facilities will again want us to come perform. But I'm already looking forward to it!
Don't wait until you retire! My husband and I went to a class to learn how to "jam" which is where we met our band's dobro player. The other three were friends who love playing and singing. The rest is history! Although we're retired now, we started the group when we were working full time. Three of the other four are in their thirties and work full time. The other one is in his 50s. Our members with kids bring them to our concerts. As busy as life is, we all made it a priority to get together as often as possible (sometimes 1x a month up to 4x a month). Can't wait until we can do this again.
Hope you go for it! Playing for others is awesome! Let me know how it goes for you.
Alice
Juzzy Smith: one man band
I have seen plenty of bluegrass players sitting while giving a concert
Hello Alice, Thanks so much for the detailed reply. I was hoping that was the case (being rewarding) but having never seen this kind of playing I wasn't sure how it would be. I would be shy to sing solo, too, because I've only really sang in front of my husband and sister.
We would love to do this in the future. I'm retired but my husband is not and he's just not that confident in his playing ability yet. He keeps saying he's going to practice every day when he retires, but for now he just plays once a week. We don't know anyone else around here who plays either. I've reached out in our local community's Facebook pages but there's just not that much going on, especially now with the virus situation. There were groups who got together but they aren't anywhere close to us, like a 100 mile round trip distance for us. But even they aren't doing anything right now.
It's sad that these facilities can't have people coming in to entertain the residents right now, hopefully in the near future but who knows what is going to happen.
@jerseychicadee This is my husband's second cousin, Greg Youmans:
