How To Keep My Guitar Strap From Falling Off

It is common to see guitarists perform while they stand, no matter what type of music or guitar. In order to do so, they will have to use a guitar strap. But there is one important thing that you should consider. You need to make sure that your strap is firm on the guitar and that there is no chance of it falling off. Otherwise, you will drop and damage your guitar, and it happened to me twice! It happens to all guitarists even pros like Herman Li from the dragon force, just watch the video and you will see for yourself.

So, how to keep guitar strap from falling off? There are several ways you can achieve this, and the most popular one is by using strap locks. 

Before we proceed on explaining how to keep your guitar strap from falling off, we should take a look at the reasons why this might happen. 

Reasons Why The Guitar Strap Can Fall Off

There are so many reasons why your guitar strap can fall off. You should keep in mind that if it is something that happens regularly, there might be an issue you need to address. On the other hand, if it was just a one-time thing, then there are no reasons to worry. 

Issue With the Strap

So, let’s start with the obvious. You might put on the strap not firmly enough. It can happen quite often that you put on the strap on the guitar pins but you didn’t ensure that it is secure all the way. In that case, one of the ends can just slip while you play and the guitar will fall, and this is the case that happened to me.

The other reason may be that the guitar strap you use is worn out. It might happen that the parts that go through the pins on the guitar are worn out and that they aren’t capable of holding the guitar. 

And the last one can be if it is a cheap strap that is bad from the beginning and unable to hold the weight of the guitar. If this is the case, then the best course of action would be to get a new strap reliable strap. 

Issue With The Pins On The Guitar

One of the pins might be an issue, and they aren’t able to provide the support for the guitar. You will need to replace them if you want to ensure that your guitar stays in place while you play it. However it may not be that simple just to put a new one instead, maybe you will have to drill it in, or maybe you will need to cover the old hole and then drive the screw in. Whatever the case is, if you have your doubts about this and don’t want to damage your guitar you can always take it to the local shop, they will do it for you.

Guitar Strap Lock Will Prevent The Strap From Falling

One of the safest and easiest ways to protect your guitar from falling is by using a strap lock. They can be used even if your strap is not the newest one, and shows signs of wear. But what exactly is a strap lock?

Strap lock is either a replacement of the pins (buttons) that are used for holding the strap or addition to the buttons you already have on the guitar. There are several types out there, but they all serve the same purpose. Their job is to hold your strap firmly and to prevent it from slipping. With high-quality strap locks, it will be nearly impossible to remove the strap without “unlocking” them. So this is the best and easiest option you can do to prevent the strap from falling. 

Strap locks can vary in quality and price, but you should always keep your guitar safe as the first priority. If you get the best one on the market, you will be sure that your guitar will never slip and you will avoid damaging your instrument. 

There are many different brands and types of strap locks so we will mention only the most common ones. However, any type that will be able to successfully protect your guitar is a good one. 

Strap With Strap Lock

If you don’t already own a strap, this might be a good idea if you were looking for two in one solution. There are several brands that create straps with their own strap locking system to ensure that your guitar is safe. 

Instead of a regular strap with a hole in the end, both ends of the strap will have a locking mechanism. This is a perfect option for everyone looking to find a strap lock but without having to alter the guitar itself. The mechanism is mounted on the existing pins or buttons of the guitar, and there is a safety button for easy release. They can be used for any guitar, and there is no need for any installing.

There are several other options with clips like you have on backpacks, and one part is attached to the guitar. The only issue here is that you will need to be extra careful to avoid scratching the finish while carrying the guitar.

While there are so many brands out there, I recommend the Planet Lock Strap by Planet Waves(Daddario). The strap is made of nylon, adjustable, and easy to use. Furthermore, the price is decent, and you won’t have to spend a fortune on it. There are additionally several types of guitar strap that include cool looking patterns on them.

Locking Mechanism

This might be the best option available, but it’s not something that everyone likes. The locking mechanism will replace your existing pins on the guitar. This means that you will need to either do it yourself or find someone to install them. 

They usually have two parts and can be a bit larger than your regular buttons. You should bear in mind that if your guitar fits tightly in the case, you might experience issues when installing pins since they are a bit bigger. Usually, these kinds of pins will have two parts and a spring mechanism. Most brands will create these two-part locking mechanisms because they are proven to do the best job when it comes to holding the strap. However, you should remember that you’ll need to take care of them because of the springs and the entire mechanism.

Schaller Strap Locks has been a go-to for many players looking for strap locks. The reason for this is that they continue to deliver the best quality for the price, and you will be sure that nothing will ever happen to your guitar if you buy their products. As you can imagine, there are several types that they sell, and you can check them if you like. I recommend the S-Locks type, but others are incredible too

Strap Blocks

Finally, if you are looking for a cheap and easy solution, this might be the right choice for you. They are a piece of rubber that’s placed over the strap to prevent it from slipping. Usually, they are really tough and stern with minimum flexibility, so it might be difficult to place them on the pin. However, once you do, you won’t have to worry about your strap falling off. 

Easy to use, cheap, and reliable. Those three words perfectly describe the Fender’s strap blocks, and if you were looking for an easy solution, you needn’t look further. Furthermore, you won’t need to replace your pins nor your strap. All you have to do is place these on top of the strap, and you’re ready to go. 

How To Use A Guitar Strap Lock

Once you picked the type that you like the best, you will need to know how to use it. The Strap with a strap lock and the Strap Blocks won’t require any installation on your guitar, and everything will be easier. 

You will take the strap, place it on the pin you already have on your guitar, and lock it. For the first type we mentioned, there will be locking on the strap itself. For the third type, you will just place the rubber over the strap to ensure that it keeps it in place.

The second type will require you to replace the pins with the mechanism. Once you do that, you will need to place the cover on the strap and washer on top of it. Once you do that, all you have to do is take the spring-loaded clip and place it on the inner side of the strap. Usually, placing in the guitar is as easy as you can imagine, and all you’ll have to do is press a button and put the strap on the guitar. 

DIY Strap Lock

if you are in a hurry and in need of a strap lock right away or maybe you want to save that money on something else. You can create a strap lock yourself easily. You will need a guitar pick and a few tools to do it, but it’s rather simple and effective. 

Once you take a pick, you will need to drill a hole in the middle of it. The size of the hole should be the size of the pin or rather the smaller diameter (where the strap is when placed on the pin). Once you finished with the hole, you will take a pair of scissors and cut the pick from the tip to the hole. Finally, when you place a strap on the guitar, you will use the pick to ensure that the strap won’t fall over the button. Use the part that you cut with scissors to place it on the button of the guitar. 

This DIY was created by JonathanCM on instructables.com and you can check it here.

Summary

Getting a strap lock is always a good idea, and it will undoubtedly provide safety for your instrument. Besides, they can be used for almost any type of guitar, so you won’t have to worry if a strap lock will fit on your guitar. 

Depending on your taste and budget, you can pick one of the options we mentioned. We hope you won’t have trouble picking only one. 

If you found this article useful, you may want to save this pin below to your Guitar board.