The way of holding the guitar

[Lars Hedelius-Strikkertsen]

I'm starting this new discussion called The way of holding the guitar.

In the dicussion "the left hand tnumb" things are turning in that direction so I thought why not just add a new discussion with this subject in mind.

 

Rob mentioned someplace in the left hand discussion that the vienese way of holding the guitar is such so the head of the guitar is pointed allmost straight up.

I recall reading that this actually was one way of holding it and not only in vienna.

So I've found some paintings/drawings of ways of different ways holding the guitar.

 

 

[Lars Hedelius-Strikkertsen]

Here's some more

[Rob MacKillop]

Lars, I didn't say holding the guitar that way was a Viennese way - I was talking about jazz guitarists with archtops and V-shaped necks. Then I said I didn't know any Viennese guitars had vee necks. Well, I thought that's what I said, but often I don't know what the heck I am talking about, so I can't expect others to understand me either ;-)

But what you are doing here, a pictorial record, will be useful if it is extensive.

[Lars Hedelius-Strikkertsen]

Hi Rob. So sorry for misreading you. I'm the one to blame this misunderstandings.

My understanding of the english language could be a lot better and allso my writting. Thats why I need You to further explain what You mean by saying

"But what you are doing here, a pictorial record, will be useful if it is extensive"

As I take it You mean it positively

Cheers

[Rob MacKillop]

Oh, definitely positive. The more pictures we have, the better for forming any theories.

[Lars Hedelius-Strikkertsen]

exactly :-)

[Chris Despopoulos]

Not that it has any historical significance, but for ergonomic significance...  Paul Galbraith plays the guitar in the posture of a cellist -- all the way to having a spike in the bottom of the guitar (that he places on a resonating box).  He talks about how as a youngster he found himself habitually practicing cross-legged, holding the guitar vertically.  And he claims that the ergonomics are much better that way.  I don't know whether he cites any historical sources. 

 

BTW, I love these pictures.  They could also be used for a different thread...  The guitar in society. 

[Jelma van Amersfoort]

Dear Lars, the second picture is the composer Pauline Duchambge (1778-1858). She wrote hundreds of songs, for voice and piano, and many were published with guitar accompaniment. Some of her songs were arranged for guitar by Carcassi. They are quite good. I am in the middle of writing a paper on her compositions. I have not found any evidence yet of her writing for the guitar directly.

In the picture by Lefevre she holds what I think is a 5-course to 6-string converted Lambert-style guitar. The position she holds the guitar in seems more for "posing" than for "playing".

[Rob MacKillop]

Good news. We look forward to reading your paper - and hopefully some recordings...

[Lars Hedelius-Strikkertsen]

From where have You got those informations. Its very interesting

[Jelma van Amersfoort]

@Hans, that occurred to me too, the lyre thing. I'll keep you guys posted about the paper :-)

[Scot Tremblay]

Excellent! Good on you,  Jelma. I think it`s about time someone researched some or all of the ladies that played and composed for the guitar (and other instruments as well) in the 19th century. On another guitar site they got together a long list of female composers for the guitar. A surprising number (since they don`t often get their due) were from the 19th century.

 

Sorry, I don`t want to disrupt this interesting thread, I just wanted to add my voice of encouragement to your project.

 

Ok, back to discussing ways of holding the guitar.

[Lars Hedelius-Strikkertsen]

I've seen that before. Sitting like that one must have a very wide chair... or small hips:-)