Some straps are cotton, some are made from a material similar to seatbelts, and top-of-the-line versions are made from durable leather. Pick one that feels right to you. Guitar straps come in a wide variety of designs, so try to find one that fits your personal style.
On some guitars, the top button will be on the neck of the guitar, while on other guitars the button will be on the body itself, near where the neck and body meet. If your guitar doesn’t have any buttons, you will need to install them in order to use a strap. If the guitar has one button on the body, you can either install a button on the neck or tie the strap onto the neck with string.
Guitar straps typically have leather (or fake leather) ends in the shape of rounded triangles. On each end should be a small hole with a slit cut in the side of it. These holes will support the weight of your guitar while you play. To ensure comfort during playing, ensure that you slip the strap hole over the knob so that the fitting buckle faces outwards - otherwise, it may dig into your shoulder.
If you are right-handed, sling the strap over your left shoulder so that the guitar hangs in front of you, allowing you to strum with your right hand and fret with your left. If you are left-handed, do the reverse - sling the strap over your right shoulder. Do not use the strap if it easily slips off of the strap buttons. Instead, either get a new strap or install a strap lock.
As above, be sure to orient the strap so that the buckle faces outward and doesn’t dig into your shoulder while playing.
If you have one strap button, you can tie the strap to the neck rather than installing another button. However, doing this can cause pressure on the neck joint and can damage the finish, so keep in mind that both methods carry risks when you’re deciding which one is right for you.
Strap buttons come in different colors and designs, so look for a design that will look good with the finish and style of your guitar. Most of the time, strap buttons are sold in sets of 2. Depending on the style you choose, strap buttons are generally around $5-$15 USD. For added security, purchase locking strap buttons. These will have a metal piece that fits onto the strap so the strap can’t fall off the button while you’re playing.
It’s important that the strap helps you support the guitar comfortably; otherwise, wearing it could interfere with your playing.
The button on the body of the guitar should go in the center of the bottom panel, directly across the guitar from the head. Some guitars already have a strap button on the bottom of the guitar. If this is the case, attach the strap to this button, then wrap the strap behind your back and over your opposite shoulder, and find the angle location where the strap should attach to the neck of the guitar.
Try to keep the mark as small as possible, since you might not be able to remove it from the guitar if it’s bigger than the button. You can crack the neck heel when installing a button there. If you don’t want to take this chance, use string to tie the strap into place.
The size of strap buttons may vary by manufacturer, so it’s a good idea to measure them even if you’ve done this before. For example, if the diameter of your button, including the threads, is 9⁄64 in (0. 36 cm), but the diameter of the shaft without the threads is 7⁄64 in (0. 28 cm), use a 7⁄64 in (0. 28 cm) drill bit.
A red marker will be easy to see while you’re drilling, but if you watch carefully, you can use whatever color you have on hand. The depth will vary depending on your guitar and the location of the hole, but you probably won’t need to drill more than 1⁄2–1 in (1. 3–2. 5 cm).
Countersinking should help prevent the wood from splitting or the finish from chipping.
Most strap buttons will come with a small felt washer. If yours didn’t come with one, you can buy one from a craft store or skip it entirely. The washer will keep the strap button from rubbing against the finish on the guitar, which could dull or damage it.
When you attach the strap, the lock will snap into place. To remove it, just press the quick-release button, usually on the side of the lock. This is a good option if you have an expensive guitar or you tend to move around a lot while you’re playing.
After doing this for each knob, the strap should remain in place no matter how you twist or pull it while playing. You do not need to install special buttons for these locks. They can be used over your existing strap buttons.
You can find rubber washers at your local hardware store.
