Not a typical subject on this site, but it’s worth mentioning that good posture is incredibly important when playing the guitar.
You don’t need to worry too much if you’re a healthy, active, fit or sporty individual. But if like some you work a desk job and find for one reason or another find it hard to keep yourself in good shape, you need to think about your posture at all times, but especially if you spend a significant amount of time with the guitar.
If playing acoustic, (Spanish or steel string) and find that you are sitting down most of the time, try not to spend all of your time crouching over the guitar with your neck bent down and craning over to look at your fretting hand. It’s excellent practice to try and sit up straight on a good firm chair with your head looking straight ahead. This will be good for your back and also (with some practice) make you a more competent player for not always watching what you are doing. If you’ve never tried this before, you may just have to accept that you will make more mistakes for a while, as you get used to it.
Proper posture for Classical guitar playing requires that you have the bottom of the guitar resting between your legs and the angle of the guitar at more like 45 degrees or greater, rather than the typical rock / folk position with the curve of the guitar resting on your leg and the guitar level with the ground. The classical posture forces your back into and upright position, which is overall much better for you, although it doesn’t look as “rock ‘n’ roll”.
If you play electric guitar, try standing up when playing, rather than sitting down. This is also better practice for when you are gigging. The same rule applies as for acoustic guitar above. If you are strong, fit and flexible with good core strength then you do not need to worry so much. But if not, then try to spend more time looking straight ahead when practicing. Keep your shoulders back and your stomach tucked in.
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