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A few years ago I started exclusively teaching in-home guitar lessons.
This means that I would go to a new student’s home.
I would ask the parents or student which room we should conduct our lesson.
Inevitably we’d end up in the living room with comfy armchairs or sofas.
Or maybe an office with a swivel office chair and a loveseat.
And sometimes we’d end up in my favorite: the dining room.
Yes. The dining room.
Why?
Dining room chairs.
What’s so great about dining room chairs?
Well… most of them have no arms.
When it comes to playing guitar, no arms = good chair.
It’s kind of a weird thing to think about: A specific guitar playing chair.
Well it’s a thing.
We guitar players are a finicky bunch.
Guitar teachers may be more so.
So here are the best things to sit on when playing guitar….
My guitar chair criteria
Here’s what I look for when I need to sit down and play guitar:
- No arms
- Proper height
- Swivel Ability
That’s it.
I mean – we’re talking about a guitar stool. It’s not rocket science.
Having said that, I’ll still break down each point…
No Arms
When you’re playing the guitar you need mobility to your left and right.
You need space on one side for the neck of the guitar, and space on the other side for your strumming arm.
Some really wide armchairs are ok. Sofas may work. Beds work nicely as well.
Dining room chairs withs arms are tough to play guitar in, as are office chairs.
Proper Height
This can vary depending on your purpose.
Generally, dining room chair height is pretty good. You could even go higher (counter stool or bar stool).
Anything lower to the ground can be uncomfortable.
This can rule out comfy armchairs, sofas, and beds. But again… it varies from person to person.
Swivel Ability
Well, this is pretty specific. The only chairs that do this are office chairs, but they all have arms.
Some counter stools or bar stools may do this, but not all.
Swivel ability isn’t a deal breaker, but if you’re going back and forth between an amp and a music stand or other band members, swivel ability is nice.
So, what’s the best guitar stool?
Most guitar seating furnishings are stools like this:
This is pretty much the best and most typical type of guitar stool.
It doesn’t have to be a fender guitar stool (other brands make them: Gibson, Taylor, etc).
These types of stools:
- Don’t have arms
- Are tall enough for most adults
- Swivel 360 degrees
Bam! Perfect! That is the best guitarist stool.
Also – some people have asked, but: There’s no such thing as an acoustic guitar stool or electric guitar stool (if you find one, please let me know).
What if you don’t want a specific guitar playing chair?
What if you want a chair or stool that will fit with your decor?
No problem.
Here’s what I’ve used…
My guitar stool
I just use normal kitchen counter or bar stools. Either height works for me.
In fact, for years I actually hauled a bar stool with a wicker seat with me for all of my gigs.
I now stand and play when I perform so I have no need for this, but it served me well for a number of years.
My guitar chair
I’m a fan of multifuction.
As much as I’d like a stool like the Fender picture above, I do a lot of work at a desk and the stool is too high.
I do a lot of guitar playing at my desk.
A dining room chair works, but isn’t exactly comfy.
I’d love one of those big and cushiony office chairs that swivel…. but they all have arms.
My solution?
This baby…
Yup.
Just a boring old armless office chair.
To be honest, I think I got mine off of craigslist for like $15.
Adjustable height.
Swivel ability.
No arms.
And… I still get some back support while working at my desk.
That’s it! And to be honest… that’s way more than I ever intended to write (or think) about guitar stools and chairs.
Jake Posko does Online Guitar Lessons and Coaching as well as in-home lessons in the Annapolis, Maryland area including: Annapolis, Edgewater, Severna Park, Pasadena, Crownsville, Arnold and Kent Island, inquire about lessons by e-mailing him at jake@jakeposko.com