SpudHuskerMando - Posted - 12/07/2014:  20:30:42

At the moment, I only have an office type leather chair (with arms) available for sitting down to practice with. Any thoughts/suggestions on what to look for or go to for an actual practice / pickin' chair or stool?? I have looked around a bit online and have come across these from On Stage, Quick Lok, and Pick n Glider (both in a fabric and a leather).

Thoughts??

SpudHuskerMando - Posted - 12/08/2014:  23:00:56

I posted this same question on both the Banjo and Flatpicker Hangouts, and it would appear most of us are members of one or both!

Rob Beck - Posted - 12/09/2014:  01:03:56

Hello SpudHuskerMando

Hopefully I am not going too fare off topic here, and I apologise if I am,  but I notice from your profile that you describe yourself as "just starting".  That being the case, and if you are considering playing in front of an audience, then I would personally forget the idea of a chair.  The reason I say this is because I used to practice sitting down, and I Then found myself at a disadvantage when playing gigs, because would would inevitably be standing up, and I found it quite difficult to make the change.  There was already enough to worry about playing in front of an audience, without the added problems of finding that the instrument was balanced differently etc. Obviously I am making a few assumptions here.  You may not want to play out, and if you do you could be seated when you play, or perhaps standing is a problem for you anyway.  Just my thoughts! Good luck in your quest! :)

Rob

TeachinMandolin444 - Posted - 12/19/2014:  09:40:24

I would modify Rob's suggestion of "no stool or chair". He's certainly right about preparing for a performance- if you're going to perform standing,then practice while standing as you will get thrown off if you practice when sitting only. That being said,I do prefer to sit sometimes especially if I'm learning a new tune & reading music or TAB while using a music stand. Pick a comfy armless chair or a nice sturdy stool,whichever you prefer. Experiment. Lots of stools and armless chairs to be had at garage sales & thrift stores. But do use a music stand if working with a book or magazine. 

Ben Venuti - Posted - 12/19/2014:  10:30:58

I use a piano stool -a nice padded one and you can keep the paper work inside the seat. I store mine by the piano. Who says you can't perform when sitting? I guess if your rock and roll or bluegrass oriented it's customary to stand but not required--- until you get old--- then it's customary to sit and it's not that hard to be able to do both anyway. My Mom performed with a symphony orchestra for years. She always sat! Blues players sitting,folk singers sitting,jazz guitarists sitting,piano players, with the exception of Jerry Lee Lewis,sitting. Classical performers almost always sitting. I often performed and had a tall stool or I stood or I used any chair that showed up.