When you begin, whether you are playing acoustic or electric, you should be sitting down. Make sure you sit on a chair that doesn’t have an arm rest. Arm rests will tend to get in the way and may cause you to create bad habits. Also make sure your feet are planted firmly on the floor.

Rest the guitar on your right thigh. The back of the guitar should rest against your chest and stomach. Do not get in the habit of leaning the guitar back. The guitar body should be parallel with your body. Tilt the neck slightly upward, around a 30° angle, which helps you reach all the frets comfortably.

With your fretting hand, place your thumb behind the neck, roughly in the middle. This will give you reach and flexibility. You don’t want to wrap your thumb around the neck, this is a bad habit. Curve your fingers so the fingertips press down on the strings, avoiding too much strain.

If you will be using a pick, hold the pick between your thumb and the side of your index finger. Rest the side of your forearm on the guitar body, just above the strings for control. If you are fingerpicking, rest your forearm lightly on the top edge of the guitar body. Let your hand float above the strings, with your fingers poised to pick. Make sure that your strumming arm feels relaxed.

Keep your back straight but relaxed. Avoid the guitar hunch. Bring the guitar up to you instead of leaning toward it. A good habit is to check your positioning each time you practice, as it will help build muscle memory.

Pay close attention to what your body is telling you. If anything feels painful or uncomfortable, you may need to recheck your positioning.