Pain and discomfort in your back, neck and shoulders when playing guitar is common for many different reasons and is likely inevitable, particularly as you get older.

Fortunately there are ways to prevent this but also alleviate any existing issues if you know how. In our article Best Stretching Exercises For Guitar Players – Illustrated Guide (Back, Neck, Hand, Elbow, Fingers) Jeff Caulfield, a Senior Physiotherapist, talked about how to play to avoid issues occurring in the first place but also how to prevent and alleviate the most common guitar injuries so you can keep on playing.

All the help aside however, sometimes, some of us are in a position where we can’t ‘fix’ the issue. Fortunately there are manufacturers who have recognized this and created products that can help many of us who play with pain or in a position that might not be recognized as ‘normal’.

So in this article, after spending many hours finding the best products, I’ll share 10 of the best essential guitar accessories for guitar players who play with back, shoulder, neck and wrist / hand pain to help you keep playing guitar.

1. Best Weight Relief Guitar Playing Stands For Back, Neck, Shoulder Pain

There are two great options, depending on your budget, when it comes to self supporting playable guitar stands. They both take the weight of the guitar entirely off your shoulders and back, and enable a flexible position for you to play the guitar, whether that be sitting or standing.

So if you have back, neck or shoulder pain these can be a fantastic option for you.

Most Affordable Guitar Playing Stand

The Mbrace stand attachment (lick here to check price at Amazon) fixes to your guitar or bass using 2 strap buttons, and then you can fix to any existing tripod mic guitar stand. It works for electric, bass, acoustic and even round backed guitars.

If you have an existing stand then this will be the most economical method of a gaining a weight relief guitar playing stand.

Most Robust Guitar Playing Stand

The K&M Performer Stand is a sturdy, well built guitar playing stand with excellent adjustment. You get what you pay for and whilst this will set you back a lot more money than the MBrace, it will provide you with assurance of an excellent guitar playing stand.

2. Best Weight Relief Guitar Straps For Back, Neck, Shoulder Pain

There are many types of weight relief Guitar Strap but if you have existing back pain, feel like it is developing or are just aware and want to maintain a good position when practising then these 3 guitar straps are an excellent alternative.

Hip Guitar Strap

Remove the weight from your back and shoulders entirely with the Slinger Ergonomic Hip Strap that comes in versions for the acoustic / hollow body guitar as well as for electric and bass.

Acoustic / Hollow Body Guitar

Electric & Bass Guitar

Double Shoulder Guitar Strap

Gruv Gear Duo Ergonomic Strap

Good for both bass and 6 string guitar the Gruv Gear Duo Strap distributes the weight of the guitar across both shoulders.

Harness Guitar Strap

The Neotech double shoulder guitar strap is ideal for those who suffer from neck, shoulder or back pain. It distributes the weight to the torso instead and the pivoting snap that attaches the guitar to the strap allows you to adjust the neck angle of the guitar to find your ideal playing position.

Best Weight Relief Guitar Strap (Extra Wide)

The Neotech Mega Axe Guitar Strap (click here to check price at Amazon) is 4″ wide comes in 4 different sizes, is made of neoprene with leather attachments, has a stretch system that provides weight relief and has extra foam padding to provide comfort along.

It has received excellent reviews from those looking for a traditional style guitar strap that helps back, shoulder and neck pain by providing weight relief and comfort.

3. Best Guitar Chair and Stool For Backpain (Back Support)

Sitting for extended periods of time is not good for any of us, so taking the time to find a guitar chair that is supportive to our backs is important.

Guitar High Chair

The Quik Lok DX749 is an excellent chair and will suit many of those look for a chair that provides an elevated position with the necessary back support.

You can buy a similar seat to this called the Gator Frameworks Guitar seat but the seat, back and foot support aren’t adjustable and has limited space for your foot / feet. So for these main reasons I recommend the Quik Lok.

Traditional Chair For Guitar

The Adjustrite Musician’s chair is the best guitar chair for back pain, it is labelled as a ‘musicians chair’ but the features it has and the lack of other guitar chairs to really hit the mark make this the best. It does come with a catch and that is you will need your own guitar foot rest.

The chair provides the largest area of support, all the legs are individually height adjustable with 1″ increments, it is light, sturdy and comfortable and can be easily packed away.

4. Best Seat Cushion For Lower Back Pain

If you don’t want to go the expense of purchasing a new chair then using a balance disc on one of your existing chairs may be the ideal solution for your guitar playing.

Gaiam Balance Disc Wobble Cushion

It works by engaging your abs and core muscles while you sit. It will add about 2″ to the height of any seat you put it on so be aware of this for any existing chair you have.

If you slouch whilst using it then it wont benefit you but if you use with a chair with back support whilst playing guitar then it will aid and relieve you lower back.

5. Guitar Rest Support

A Guitar rest support are used by many classical guitar players to help them get the neck height desire. Posture is equally important when sitting and playing acoustic or electric guitars.

Guitar rest supports can provide an elevated position for playing guitar and so aid posture and pain that may occur in the back, neck and shoulders.

Most Affordable Guitar Rest Support

The Yifan Guitar Cushion (click here to check price at Amazon) works for acoustic, electric and bass as well as classical guitars.

It helps by raising the height of the guitar in relation to your torso and enables a steeper angle for easier access to the fretboard.

Conclusion

So that rounds up the 10 best accessories for playing guitar when you have pain in your back neck or shoulders.

If you believe I have missed anything let me know in the comments below.