Best Guitar Supports for Classical Guitar
A review of the best guitar supports I use and why for classical guitar.
➔ Full article and info on all the supports mentioned: https://www.thisisclassicalguitar.com/best-guitar-supports/
Three of the best guitar supports I use on a regular basis and the reasons why. I’ve done so many reviews of supports over the years that people are regularly asking which ones are my favourite. Truth is, they are all good but depending on your preferences one will be more useful than another.
I mainly use three supports: GuitarLift for performance, Ergoplay for general use, Gitano for on-the-go. I’d put the HB Lite support close in there too.
GuitarLift – I use this for performance. It’s secure and solid and never falls off, I trust it completely. Maybe because of the angle or less stress on the suction cups, they never seem to come off. It has no maneuverability once attached but that is kind of perfect for high level performance (for me anyway). This is the only support besides the HB that I fully trust in performance. But this rigid support is not for everyone and isn’t small either. I highly recommend this one for professional players.
Ergoplay – The Tappert model is simple, affordable, and readily available. It’s a good first support and easy to use. I use it for practice and teaching as it’s easy to switch legs and use at various angles. I don’t always trust the suctions but they are pretty good. It’s the most logic choice for the average person so choose this one if you don’t know which support you should get.
Gitano – Small and compact, simple design. I love this little support for on-the-run rehearsals and for the low profile and ease of use. I just love this little thing so much. But the suctions have come off on rare occasions. If you like this but want something more secure, try the HB Lite support below. I recommend this as an option to have around but not as your primary support.
The honourable mentions are:
HB Supports (Review) – The clamps work well. The HB Lite has all the benefits of the Gitano but the security of a clamp-on device. That said, suction cups are convenient and are easy on your finish but clamps are more trustworthy.
Tenuto (Tenuto.ca) – These are great but I just haven’t found one that is perfect for my smaller guitar. Lots of my friends and students have these and are very happy with them. More adjustable than the Gitano.
Sageworks Magnetic Support (Review) – So cool, looks the best, best design! But I can’t be bothered with the magnets, I don’t even know why because they work great.
Mundo (Review) – If you want maneuverability this might be good for you.
★ Special Thanks to these amazing Patreon Producers: Kamel Abouda, Joseph Adamson, Mark Bellesiles, Mark Cohen, Daniel O’Connor, Des Dog, Ford Doherty, David Elliott, Neil Fox, Don Francis, Marc Garnick, Philippe Gonzalez, Richard Groomer, Madeleine Mead, and Jason Soderquist. You are amazing!
Also these select patrons: Bruno Bertucci, Marie Carr, Fengjun Chen, Steve Daniels, Larry Earles, Hayes Hatfield, John McGlaughlin, Derrick Mickle, Yves Pasquier, Art Peterson, George Rowan, Dorothy Scheel, John Schneider, Donald Turbeville, Bob Zickler.
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➔ WEBSITE: https://www.thisisclassicalguitar.com
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➔ SHEET MUSIC & TAB: https://www.thisisclassicalguitar.com/sheet-music-for-classical-guitar/
➔ GEAR, STRINGS: https://www.thisisclassicalguitar.com/classical-guitar-store-reviews/
Thanks for watching!
#guitar #classicalguitar #guitarsupports
#Guitar #Supports #Classical #Guitar
Originally posted by UCzBE550674K82Qfz7GQ_djA at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJQm4iYUTww
When I try to use the Cling Vynal with a GuitarLift the vynal just slips off the back of the guitar. Am I doing something wrong?
Amazing review. The introduction to all the supports in the beggining of the video was a great touch
thank you! This was very helpful!
Sadly I struggle with all aspects of how to hold a guitar. Posture compromised nothing works. Standing up is better so I use a strap. It's easy use two straps. One goes around the sides of the body… with strap buttons in the proper places. the second strap allows you to sit and play as you would with any other contrived contraption… or stand and play and truly express the music you are comfortably playing .
Ive tried several of these supports and am still to find a better solution than just using a guitar stool! Suckers dont suck well on French-polished guitars and guitar lift is also pretty darn bulky. I had no success with Sagework as (a) the internal magnets are very difficult indeed to put in place and (b) they have twice simply just fallen off and rattled around alarmingly inside my guitar. Shame as -as you say – it is a beautifully packaged piece of kit!! ( and not cheap!) There is also of course the thigh cushion type support – which may help a bit positionally but offers just about zero security!
Please does anyone know a good support for a satin guitar (if any?) because all these suction cup ones are said to not work with a satin finish
A warning regarding the ErgoPlay support. It works well but the suction cups would not adhere to my satin finish Taylor Academy guitar. They work well on a gloss finish but not on a satin finish.
Can i use any of those on unpolished classical guitar? Im searching for too long time.
Muy interesante.. El día menos pensado comprenderemos la verdad absoluta..
i wonder about the ones WITHOUT maneuverability when i'm still learning and pull it back so i can see over the neck. so many look like an EDGE would be cutting into my thigh?
Wonderful ! Forgive my ignorance , when did guitar players stop using the footstool ? Thanks !
I use the NeckUp guitar support. Very comfortable, flexible, easy to use. Light weight. Recommend you give it a try!
Bradley, wonder if you could advise? I am about to buy one of the Ergoplay's and can't make my mind up between the Tappert and Troster. I am 6ft tall, 15 stone, with standard body dimensions. The Foot Stool had been aggravating my Sciatica.
I notice that when showing how the ergoplay suction cups don't come off by shaking the guitar, you still held firmly to the neck.. just in case! lol
thanks!
Bradley, you mentioned that you would not leave the suction cup products on the guitar all the time. I will just be playing at home, practicing daily, so do I have to remove the support after each session or is it ok to leave the support on all the time? I am looking at the Ergoplay Johannes. Thanks for the review, by the way. Very helpful to a relative newbie.
Very thoughtfully presented
i have seen a youtube video of a young man playing classical guitar, in what looked to be a 3rd world country, just before the video ended, i notice the young man had what appeared to be a router table mat draped over his lap. i was shocked , and thinking why did not i think of that ? i plan to try it and experiment, to see if it does the job.
Thank you for the reviews & information ????????????????
Would the guitar lift work for an electric guitar with a les Paul body shape? Trying to work around back and shoulder pain and I currently use a strap to keep the guitar in a classical position.
Hi thanks for the video. Where can you get static cling wrap from? Thanks!
Interested in guitarlift but I cant find the sale site….
Really appreciate your informative vids
What size of GuitarLift do you recommend for someone who is 6ft tall?
Tried several but mainly still using footrest set fairly high. Although I can absolutely see the posture issue with footrest I do wonder if it is the best way to be "close to" the guitar in feeling and more and more I notice that performances by many of the good / great guitarists are with footrests rather than any support on the guitar itself. Just an observation really.
Hi…thanks for the great videos talking about guitar supports (and everything else). I have the Ergo Play and am completely frustrated. I am 5'3" and I can't seem to get the guitar in the correct position. The guitar sits too far away from me or sits too high. I guess I also have short arms which don't help. The ErgoPlay just doesn't feel natural. It's also too cumbersome. I think I will try the Tenuto Lite. I like the idea of the pivot because I can angle the guitar closer to the body. Would you recommend any other support for shorter people? Thank You!
Does the sound not get affected/hindered by the plate of the first support because it goes over the backside (and thus the backplate/wood)?
Good Video, Thanks For Your Support
Where Can I Find The Guitar Arm Rest?
Thanks
Hello, what guitar do you have??
Do you find the 3 suction Gitano more secure than the 2 suction or not much difference? Thanks!
I bought ergoplay and it just doesn't work with my guitar. It doesn't stick to it. My Dowina has matt finish and even with the stickers included with ergoplay it doesn't stay at all.
Why not use a guitar strap? I know it's not traditionally used but is there any other reason it's not better than these options? You won't need to prop up your legs too with a strap.
Say this guy dont look fretboard and guitar is wrong position ha ha: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT43ugFSJSQ
Do you have another yt channel? I saw your videos on another yt channel called primo guitar.
Very interesting to see the different supports thanks for that!! The Guitar lift looks the most adjustable for any angle and in my case needing to get the lower bout close to my left leg but it is well over priced around £70 over here when the parts cost £8 to buy. If you are a performing artist that maybe OK as you need something that works but not for most people that's a lot of money I understand that they need to make a profit but a more realistic price would be around £30 maybe they are limiting their sales by over pricing and don't realize it
I had bought the Gitano I don’t like it at all. It always pops off of the guitar. It also has electrical tape holding the strap to the metal.
The fact that there are so many guitar support out there in the market suggests that there is something fundamentally wrong with the sitting position for classical guitar, at least in terms of ergonomics. But folks don't break away from it so as not to upset the applecart of handed-down tradition, which in the classical world is very important. However, there are a few very good players that have given up on the traditional position and sit with the guitar resting on their right leg (either with legs crossed or using a footstool for the right leg), even in public performances. Do I need to mention names? Classical guitar should not be defined by the position you sit in, but by the repertoire you play and the techniques you need to play it.
Thank you! Great video! Very useful information! I use an ergoplay! I often check out your videos on guitar pieces! I have recently set up a YouTube channel on some of the guitar repertoire! Please check it out if you have the time! It would be great if you can subscribe and provide suggestions on improvement! I am 13 years old from Perth, Western Australia! Thank you very much!????
I have tried the Gitano, Ergoplay, Sageworks, and the GuitarLift. I have only been using the GuitarLift for well over a year now. It definitely feels the most secure for me. The suction cups never let go and I have been able to find the perfect angle for me. Like you said, they all pretty good products and it just boils down to your personal preference.
based on your previous recommendation i bought the Mundo guitar support. I found it to be very unstable and does not feel secure at all and it has too much play on your leg and arm. I do not recommend it specially for performances as the guitar feels like is sliding away from you and and off of your leg. I whish the Mundo design folks would have gone an step further and included some kind of a locking mechanism that if you wanted to you could stop the free movement and lock it in place.
hello thanks for the very informative video! how tall are you? 🙂 I am very tall and I struggle to find an ideal support! thanks 🙂
I have matte finish (french polish?)Yamaha guitar and Ergoplay always come off.
Suction cups slip away.
I've used the Gitano for a couple years but I just play around the house. Maybe I'll get around to using some of these other ones. Thanks for the vid.
how about dynarette GD 20 cushion guitar support ?
Fun video Bradford. I'm using the Troster and I find that if your chair height isn't right (too tall) it slides down your leg. Well, it slides down mine anyway. But, I'm also a 3D printing enthusiast, so I designed a seat-strap thingie that also allowed me to incorporate a rig for placing a lavalier-type microphone at the proper distance from the instrument. It works really well, and it's made a big difference in ease of recording and in how well things sound for my lessons, which are all still virtual and will be for quite some time, I'm afraid..