When you purchase a guitar, the instrument might come with a stock strap to help you maintain its stability when playing. This item lets you play while sitting or standing in almost any environment.
Once a guitar strap is appropriately installed, you won’t need to worry about the instrument slipping out of your hands.
That outcome provides you with the confidence needed to achieve your playing goals.
It is much easier to switch your fingering for the various chords knowing that the instrument won’t fall out of your lap.
It is almost impossible to play the guitar while standing if you don’t have a strap.
Which Way Does a Guitar Strap Go?
The end of your guitar strap that’s sewn directly to the main part of the product is the bottom. Although it doesn’t matter which side you ultimately use, it’s easier to adjust the fit for playing on acoustic and electric guitars.
If your guitar comes with a band that affixes near the tuners, the strap’s bottom is the end that contains the slip-on area for the post that comes out of the instrument.
When you play an electric instrument, run your cable from behind the strap to the jack.
This extra step ensures that when you accidentally step on it (and this happens to everyone at least once), it’ll take on the strap instead of unplugging the instrument.
■ How to Attach a Strap to a Guitar
Most electric guitars come with two strap pins. You’ll find these on the body, with one at the bottom of the guitar and the other at the highest point with the strings turned away from you.
Bass guitars often have this feature, although it is less common with acoustic models.
Although it doesn’t matter which end of the strap goes on these pins, most manufacturers make their products so that the adjustment is at the lower section.
This design creates a seamless look as it comes across your shoulder instead of putting the buckles in the listener’s line of sight.
Place the pinhole of one strap end over the bottom pin first. Keep the product taut as you bring the other part to the top of the guitar.
Once you’ve connected both, place the instrument and strap around your shoulders to see how it fits.
If it is too tight or loose, make adjustments at the buckle toward or away from you based on how it feels.
Continue to make adjustments until you feel comfortable wearing the instrument.
It helps to take a few strums, even if you’re not plugged into an amp, to see if you have the arm height correct.
Once you feel comfortable, you’re ready to use the guitar strap to play your instrument while sitting or standing.
■ What If My Guitar Only Has One Strap Attachment?
If your guitar only comes with a single pin on the bottom of the unit, don’t try to DIY install a second pin at the top of the instrument’s body.
This action could change how the strings sound when played, especially on an acoustic.
You can have a professional install the second pin if you want. An easier option would be to use a lace with your guitar strap to make the connection.
A small leather lace that goes through the upper pinhole can affix the strap to your guitar.
After placing the one end at the instrument’s bottom, loop the lace through the strap and tie it right above the next.
It should go beneath all of the tuner adjustments and above the first fret. This location gives you the most space underneath the strings to facilitate the strap’s placement.
Once it is secure, you can make the length adjustments to get a comfortable fit.
Since you must knot the lace to create a strap connection to your guitar, instead of using a standard overhand option, try the reverse bowline to prevent the material from unwinding while you play.
It’ll provide more security so that you don’t need to worry about the guitar falling out of your hands.
■ What If My Guitar Doesn’t Have Any Strap Pins?
If you own a classical guitar, you won’t find any pins on the instrument’s body to use for a strap.
This issue also occurs with the entry-level student guitars that you’ll find for sale today.
When you need to use a strap with this design, your first step is to loop the lace through both ends of the product.
This process creates a loop that you can place around your neck to keep the instrument in place.
You’ll need a hook at the end of the lace to attach the product to your guitar.
It works better if you lead the lace behind and underneath the guitar to create a stable placement point.
Keeping the strap at the waist generally offers the right balance, even when you play a dreadnought.
As it wraps around the back, bring the hook up to the front to the soundhole.
You’ll hook the strap into the bottom of the soundhole. This design allows the instrument to rest on it, which is why braided designs typically work better for this process.
Whenever you play with a closed-loop strap design, you should keep one hand on the guitar at all times.
The hook can fail or disengage from the instrument, which would cause it to fall. If you’re standing when that event happens, severe damage could occur.
Best Guitar Straps to Buy Today
When you start shopping for guitar straps, you’ll discover that most of them come in kits where you get an entry-level instrument, some stings, a tuner, a few picks, and the other essentials needed to learn how to play.
If you already have an instrument, consider investing in a high-grade guitar strap to have a comfortable and confident playing experience.
The following items are currently the best guitar straps offered for sale.
1. Anthology Gear Straight up Leather Guitar Strap
This guitar strap is made from the best full-grain leather you can find today.
It’s one of the strongest products of its type, using industrial-grade stitching and thread to ensure the instrument never slips.
The manufacturer uses the same materials found in airbags and parachutes to provide a high-quality experience.
Several color options are available with the Anthology Gear Straight Up Leather Guitar Strap, although the Tobacco option makes the boldest statement.
With padding between the leather layers, width choices of two or three inches, and nearly global compatibility, you’ll be pleased with the results it achieves.
Length adjustments range from 39 to 54 inches.
2. Levy’s Leathers Signature Series Guitar Strap
If you prefer a two-inch guitar strap when playing, this leather option provides an excellent combination of value and quality.
It comes with suede backing to reduce the rubbing injuries that other products offer while giving it the same adjustability levels found in competitive items.
It reaches up to 54 inches in length, with the tri-glide design making it a fast and straightforward process.
You can also shorten it to approximately 33 inches to keep it stable.
The cost is lower on this strap than other leather models because of its single-layer design.
If you only need a straightforward product for the occasional gig, the Levy’s Leathers Signature Series Guitar Strap delivers an excellent experience. If you play every day, a dual-layer design is a better option.
3. Gibson Premium Saddle Guitar Strap
If you don’t like how the adjustment buckles sit against your body when playing, you’re in good company.
The saddle guitar strap solves that problem by creating “extension buckles” that hit the pins on your instrument’s body.
That means your shoulders get the strap only when playing instead of rubbing against the adjuster.
The Gibson Premium Saddle Guitar Strap is a handmade product using black leather and premium hardware to deliver an outstanding experience.
The best way to describe the product is that it is “robust.” The buckles look and feel like solid brass, refusing to slip as you play.
4. Anthology Gear Everett Guitar Strap
When you prefer the patterned look for your guitar strap, most leather options fall flat.
The extra stitching and craftsmanship required for a substantial product often fail even when you buy items from brands that sell for over $100.
Instead of settling for rip-stop polyester or nylon, consider this high-quality option that’s handmade from full-grain leather.
Although the Anthology Gear Everett Guitar Strap feels tight at first, it will work its way into a comfortable user experience after a few playing sessions.
Premium padding is between the leather layers for an extra comfort level, while the three-inch width delivers outstanding support.
It adjusts from 45 to 54 inches, but you can purchase an optional jumbo tongue for extra length.
5. HellsBelts Regulator Guitar Strap
When you want a heavy metal vibe for your guitar, this strap delivers the perfect first impression.
It incorporates authentic bullet materials to give you a machine gun-like appearance that looks fantastic from the stage.
The bullets are empty on this product, which means they are inert and safe.
They’re permanently attached to the strap with leather looping.
The HellsBelts Regulator Guitar Strap features a double-thick stitched design to ensure you receive the comfort and support needed for all-day play.
It’s 2.5 inches wide to support the .223 caliber bullets with its design.
You can extend it to 52 inches as-is or purchase an extension to take it to 63 inches.
Since it weighs over two pounds, it does get a bit prohibitive on long gigs, but it absolutely gets the job done.
What Are the Benefits of Owning a Leather Guitar Strap?
Leather guitar straps might cost more than vinyl or nylon designs, but it is an investment worth making.
The natural materials move and adapt to your playing style more readily, creating more comfort when practicing or performing.
If you plan to keep your guitar for a long time, a leather strap will become its lifetime companion. The material is more resistant to dry abrasion, ensuring that the quality remains consistent.
It’s also partly waterproof, and you can treat the item to be fire-resistant.
Leather is naturally resistant to fungal growth, dust mites, and other common household hazards.
Even if something happens to it, repairs are relatively simple to complete with this material.
When you decide to move on from your new leather guitar strap, the material is 100% recyclable.
It maintains its value well, which means you might be able to recoup some of your investment by selling it.
Although you can find cheap leather guitar straps for under $20, it is essential to purchase a full-grain product.
You’ll get more strength and durability with that material, especially when an industrial-grade thread is used to complete the design.
You should expect to pay at least $40 for a two-inch, single-ply leather guitar strap and $100 for a two-layer model.
A Final Thought on Attaching a Guitar Strap
If you want to play the guitar today, you almost always need to have a strap available to maximize your comfort levels.
Although you can sit and play a classical guitar without a strap, you don’t have the option to stand and play safely.
When your guitar comes with two pins, it doesn’t matter which end of the strap goes where. You can place it in whatever way feels the most comfortable.
If you have one pin or none to use, this short guide can help you accomplish a successful installation.
Find a strap you like, test it out if you can, and affix it securely to your instrument.
You’ll find that playing the guitar is much more fun when you know what to expect from the experience!