Comments on: So You Want My Job: Guitarist

By: Dan Skidmore

Dan Skidmore — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 12:57:45 +0000

Christatos –

There’s a couple ways to answer this question. First, there are guitars that are meant to played in a flat position. Certain types of slide and steel guitars are played flat. The playing position for your pedal steel guitar is closer to a piano then it is to a guitar. Check out Robert Randolph. He totally rocks:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5CALmf7ziQ&feature=related

Second, there are also people who play a “regular” (non-slide) guitar with it lying flat, due to disability or other conditions. Here’s a guy playing with his feet, for example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSnUwA6c67k

In general, though, you are going to have better luck if you hold the guitar in an upright position simply because this allows you to finger the guitar with your thumb behind the neck. Notice that most of the guys who are playing with it on their laps are using a slide. This is because they can’t get their thumb behind the neck with the instrument lying in their lap.

Bottom line is, how you hold your guitar makes a lot of difference. You need to determine what styles of music you want to play, and adjust your playing accordingly.

Good Luck!

-Dan S.

By: Christatos Aristad

Christatos Aristad — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 19:53:03 +0000

Growing up when I did, I to had a guitar and dreamed of mastering the instrument and I must confess I am greatly impressed to “meet” a man who did so. I wonder if perhaps you could answer a question for me. I have over the years seen a few guitarists play both acoustic and electric in a sitting position with the guitar flat across their knees. Is there a proper name for this style of play or is it merely a matter of preference?

By: Sean Conway

Sean Conway — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 20:18:26 +0000

Great comments and words of wisdom, Dan. Glad to call you a buddy of mine!

By: Dan Skidmore

Dan Skidmore — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:44:41 +0000

Hey You All –

I’m glad that you enjoyed this piece! Feel free to contact me directly at
dan_s99@hotmail.com if you have any additional questions or thoughts. You’re also welcome to stop by my website. We’re having a little difficulty (ahem… $$$ cough.cough.) getting studio-quality recordings up there, but there are 10-12 rough excerpts of guitar music for you to check out. Thanks, and if you see me at a show be sure to stop up and say “hey.”

- Dan S.

By: Gareth Bird

Gareth Bird — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:34:15 +0000

A really insightful interview. I work with a lot of part-time musicians who I’m sure will be interested to read this.

Thanks for the post

By: Gareth Bird

Gareth Bird — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:33:54 +0000

A reallt insightful interview. I work with a lot of part-time musicians who I’m sure will be interested to read this.

Thanks for the post

By: Justin

Justin — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 18:02:40 +0000

Awesome, very inspiring. Thank YOu

By: Manly Occupation | From the Woodshed

Manly Occupation | From the Woodshed — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:59:55 +0000

[...] being a guitarist is a "desirable man job." The Art of Manliness just published this interview with Dan Skidmore, a weekend warrior, part-time professional guitarist in upstate New York. He's a [...]

By: Link Love for June 26th | Just A Guy Thing

Link Love for June 26th | Just A Guy Thing — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:01:45 +0000

[...] So You Want My Job: Guitarist [Art of Manliness] [...]

By: So You Want My Job: Guitarist

So You Want My Job: Guitarist — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:42:05 +0000

[...] Random Feed wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptOnce again we return to our So You Want My Job series, in which we interview men who are employed in desirable man jobs and ask them about the reality of their work and for advice on how men can live their dream. For this installment we interviewed, Dan Skidmore. Like Joe Cope before him, Dan proves that you can have both a regular day job and doing something you love on the side. Dan is a Ph.D statistician by day and a professional guitarist every chance he gets. He really rocked out t [...]

By: Jason Y

Jason Y — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:06:45 +0000

Thanks for insight! I find this information quite helpful.

From my experience playing with bands at my church and a band where I work, you become more “in demand” if you play bass or drums, and more still if you provide a great PA system.

By: Trailer » Blog Archive » So You Want My Job: Guitarist

Trailer » Blog Archive » So You Want My Job: Guitarist — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:32:36 +0000

[...] here to read the rest: So You Want My Job: Guitarist June 25th, 2009 | Posted in Trailer Tags: advice-on-how, current, desirable-man, friend-sent, [...]

By: So You Want My Job: Guitarist

So You Want My Job: Guitarist — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:27:19 +0000

[...] News Sources wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerptOnce again we return to our So You Want My Job series, in which we interview men who are employed in desirable man jobs and ask them about the reality of their work and for advice on how men can live their dream. For this installment we interviewed, Dan Skidmore. Like Joe Cope before him, Dan proves that you can have both a regular day job and doing something you love on the side. Dan is a Ph.D statistician by day and a professional guitarist every chance he gets. He really rocked out t [...]