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Just curious: Why do punk rockers play their guitars down around their knees?

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Redstone Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Apr-14-07 09:25 PM
Original message
Just curious: Why do punk rockers play their guitars down around their knees?
I'm sure it's just a stylistic thing; I was just wondering why, and / or who started it and when.

Redstone
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GCP Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Apr-14-07 09:29 PM
Response to Original message
1. It's to hide their humongous schlongs!
In their minds :D
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Redstone Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Apr-14-07 09:30 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. Well, THERE's an aspect of punk culture that I hadn't known about. Hey, see how forgiving I am?
Edited on Sat Apr-14-07 09:33 PM by Redstone
I have not forgotten, but I have forgiven. I'm just that kind of guy.

Redstone
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fizzgig Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Apr-14-07 09:32 PM
Response to Original message
3. it's been that way for as long as i can remember
but i'm just a kid still
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Redstone Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Apr-14-07 09:35 PM
Response to Reply #3
5. Come to think of it, it might be a natural progression, so to speak. If you look at, say,
Buddy Holly, he's got that guitar right up at his chest, then look at the early Beatles or Stones, and it's dropping to about belt level, then you got the Ramones working the axe down by their ankles.

Redstone
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opiate69 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Apr-14-07 09:33 PM
Response to Original message
4. Because they're terrible players?
Actually, as a guitarist, I can tell you that the higher you hold the neck (to a point of course), the easier it is to play complicated fingerings and such.. of course, I don't think any punk guitarist has ever been accused of being a technically proficient player...
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Kajsa Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Apr-14-07 09:37 PM
Response to Reply #4
6. It makes sense.

The closer you are to the neck, the easier it is to
play, right?

I love good music but I've never played guitar.
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Redstone Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Apr-14-07 09:41 PM
Response to Reply #4
8. And as a former classical guitarsit, I know that. But I've seen some of them tear off some
pretty decent soloes, despite their shitty playing postition.

Then there's this guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjA5faZF1A8

What guitar teacher wouldn't beat him up over the way he holds his pinky so far off the fretboard? But God Damn, that boy can play!

Redstone
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opiate69 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Apr-14-07 09:54 PM
Response to Reply #8
14. No doubt! Awesome vid!
Here's one of my new jaw-droppers... Takayoshi Ohmura. 20 year olf kid from Japan.. damn..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcsxpVI3EZM
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Redstone Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Apr-14-07 10:14 PM
Response to Reply #14
18. Holy fuck, can that kid do some sweeping, the overblown production aside. My arthritic old fingers
are jealous.

Now, if he can learn sme more about melodic composition, people will be listening to him 100 years from now.

Segovia was never about finger speed. But this kid has the chance to be the electric Segovia as he matures, and dammit, I hope he does.

Redstone
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opiate69 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Apr-14-07 10:21 PM
Response to Reply #18
19. I hope he does too.. I can only imagine what he's going to be like in say, 5 years..
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WCGreen Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Apr-14-07 09:39 PM
Response to Original message
7. To twirl about, snarl with confidence and make it well known
that they have long arms...
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TheFriendlyAnarchist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Apr-14-07 09:42 PM
Response to Original message
9. It's easier to play that way I think.
But I'm part of that generation, so it's what I've pretty much been introduced to?
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Redstone Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Apr-14-07 09:46 PM
Response to Reply #9
10. I was wondering about the mechanics of it; how can you play well with your wrist cranked like
that? One of the things you learn when you play classical guitar is to hold the neck up so you can keep your wrist as straight as possible, and you NEVER let your thumb get above the middle of the neck...this is supposed to lessen the stress on you hand, so your fingers can be as flexible as possible.

Again, I'm just curious.

Redstone
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TheFriendlyAnarchist Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Apr-14-07 09:53 PM
Response to Reply #10
12. Well, to me it's more comfortable when you're doing power chords or riffs high on the neck
However, when you start doing things on the e and A string (especially closer to the head), it does get awkward and it does strain the wrist. Just takes different strokes to move the world I guess. (I really prefer to play sitting down anyway though more than anything else)
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dysfunctional press Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Apr-14-07 09:47 PM
Response to Original message
11. because they can't figure out how to shorten their guitar straps...?
my guess would be that it's at least part of the answer.
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Left Is Write Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Apr-14-07 09:54 PM
Response to Original message
13. They have REALLY REALLY long arms.
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Oeditpus Rex Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Apr-14-07 10:11 PM
Response to Original message
15. It may be a throwback to Old West gunfighters
who wore their holsters low on their hips. They were usually the black-hatted ones, and since punk is about rebellion — or originally was, anyway — maybe it's a way of expressing that, consciously or not.
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SPKrazy Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Apr-14-07 10:13 PM
Response to Original message
16. they've had their elbows fused
so they don't bend :P


it's a stylistic thing

may have started before punk, I'm thinking the "cool" look with rock musicians in general may have been the predecessor of this stylistic pose.

:shrug:

(sounds good whether it's right or not I have no earthly idea)
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johnnie Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Apr-14-07 10:14 PM
Response to Original message
17. They all want to be Jimmy Page?
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swag Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Apr-14-07 11:05 PM
Response to Original message
20. The punk meets the godfather
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ghostsofgiants Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Apr-14-07 11:13 PM
Response to Original message
21. A friend of mine actually plays his really high on his chest.
Edited on Sat Apr-14-07 11:18 PM by primate1
I like my bass around waist level, maybe a few centimeters higher. I find it uncomfortable to play lower, even if I don't look as cool, haha.
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JVS Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Sat Apr-14-07 11:40 PM
Response to Original message
22. it doesn't let them do stuff like this guy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_tMjYxYTwA&mode=related&search=
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