Which Leg Should Your Guitar Rest On? A Simple Guide

Getting comfortable with the guitar takes longer than most beginners expect. You have to learn to strum, hold the neck, and balance the body in your lap all at once. So which leg should the guitar actually rest on?

If you’re right-handed, rest the guitar on your right leg for most styles. If you’re left-handed, place it on your left leg. These are the most comfortable positions when you’re starting out.

It feels awkward at first. With practice it becomes second nature, but starting off in a good position matters. Below is when to use each leg and why.

Guitar Leg Summary

Right Leg

Pros

1. Natural sitting position: Resting the guitar on the right leg matches how most people sit. Both feet stay on the ground, so you get a stable base to play from.
2. Good for strumming and open chords: This position puts the guitar in an easy spot for strumming, and the left hand forms open chords in the first three frets more easily.

Cons

1. Neck angle and muscle tension: With the guitar on the right leg, the neck sits almost parallel to the floor. That angle can strain the left hand, especially over longer sessions.
2. Risk of long-term issues: Ignore that tension and you invite fatigue, and over time possible problems in the arms and hands. This matters most for players who practice for hours.

Left Leg

Pros

1. Better ergonomics: Putting the guitar on the left leg gives you a more ergonomic posture. Elevating that leg, or using a positioning device, angles the neck closer to 45 degrees to the floor, which eases tension in the arm and hand.
2. Easier access to higher frets: You reach the upper frets more easily, which helps with technically demanding pieces. Classical guitarists favor this setup for that reason.

Cons

1. Leg and back discomfort: Raising the left leg can tire out the leg and back, especially with a footstool over a long session.
2. Adjustment period: Coming from the right leg, this takes time to get used to. The body rests between the legs, closer to how a cello sits, and the neck points more to the left, so your left hand reaches differently.

Which Leg Should Your Guitar Rest On?

The guitar plays fine on either leg. Each position gives you a different angle for your fret hand and different accuracy for picking, especially fingerpicking. Which one you choose depends on what you’re playing and where you are as a player.

Watch enough guitarists and you’ll notice they don’t all rest the instrument on the same leg. Even players strumming with the same hand hold it differently. Each side offers its own strengths. Keep your technique simple and one leg is all you’ll need. Get more advanced and you’ll start using both for different jobs.

How To Hold a Guitar on Your Right Leg

For a right-handed guitarist, this comes naturally. Most players just set the instrument on their most comfortable leg.

A left-hand player does the same on the left leg without being told. We do it because it’s easy and gives us more control.

For a left-handed player, though, the right leg is new territory and it feels difficult. If you’re just getting started, keep the guitar on your most comfortable leg, the left.

If you’re more advanced and want to try the right, focus on keeping the guitar centered to your body. The goal isn’t to push it out to your right side, away from you. Center it and angle it slightly so you can still reach the whole fretboard. Notice that your right leg plays a small supporting part here too.

Learn to use your legs with good posture and the guitar ends up centered on your body. You’ll also find this feels a lot like playing standing up. The angles are roughly the same, so practicing on the right leg builds skills that carry over when you’re on your feet.

How Do You Hold a Guitar on Your Left Leg?

For a right-handed player, the left leg opens up more options. Set the guitar on your left and center it to your body, and you’ll feel less strain on your fret hand.

Again, angle the guitar slightly rather than sticking it out farther from you. Let your right leg lend some support.

This gives you a more fluid motion across the fretboard. Fingerpickers get more control and accuracy this way, and leads get easier once you’re comfortable in the position.

The more you play like this, the easier standing up becomes. For a right-handed player on the left leg, the angles are close to standing, so you get a double benefit as you start using more positions.

It took me a few years after learning the instrument to even realize that resting the guitar on my left leg was even beneficial at all. But the first time I tried, it felt quite comfortable. I was able to play leads a little easier, almost fluid like and it was a posture that I used more and more.

Classical Guitar Position

Switching to the opposite leg can feel nearly impossible at first. Remember what it was like when you first picked up the guitar. Even the natural side took time to learn. This is no different, so be patient with yourself. The position pays off:

• It’s easier to stretch your fingers apart
• Your strumming hand moves with more accuracy
• Your wrist takes less strain and less damage over time

Tools can help you settle into this position. Classical players learning the instrument are often taught to raise their opposite leg, and it’s worth doing the same when you start.

Classical Vs Casual Guitar Position

When you’re starting out, put the guitar on whichever leg is most comfortable. For right-handed players, that’s the right side. It’s the most natural, casual way to hold the instrument, which is why it’s so common.

Balancing the guitar is easier this way while you’re still getting used to it. Your body stays relaxed and comfortable, which is easier on your back and muscles. That’s a real help for beginners who just want to get accustomed to holding the thing.

None of this means you’re stuck there. You can branch out later and learn the other leg. The casual position is simply the best way to gain control and work on early tasks.

More advanced players should try the other leg or the classical position. The different angles for both hands can add strength to your technique. It feels difficult at first, but once your body adjusts, the benefits show up.

Guitar Foot Stools

Classical guitarists learn to use the opposite leg almost from day one because the music demands more technical playing. The benefits above are just a few reasons it matters to them.

A guitar foot stool lifts your left or right leg just enough for extra support and better angles. It changes how your body sits and how the instrument rests, so the whole thing feels more natural.

If you’re planning to build your skills by trying the other leg, start with a foot stool. It makes the position more comfortable, more natural, and puts the guitar at a better angle.

The foot stool I use is made by Tetra-Teknica. It’s a simple stool that elevates my leg just enough to get the right angle for hours of comfort. It has 6 positions and gets up to nearly 10 inches in height. I set it around 8 inches and find this to be the sweet spot for me.

This stool has really made a huge difference and I really can’t get the same comfort without it.

Conclusion

Like everything on guitar, this takes practice before you feel the payoff. Grab a foot stool and start getting comfortable in the new position.

You’ll feel it in your wrist almost right away, but real comfort takes time. So which leg should your guitar rest on? You should now be able to pick what’s right for you.

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