If you’re a guitar enthusiast, you should proudly display your prized instrument for all to see. Hanging your guitar on the wall is a great way to showcase its beauty and keep it easily accessible for impromptu jam sessions. But do you know how to hang a guitar on the wall?
In this blog post, I will guide you through the process of how to hang a guitar on the wall, step by step. I’ll also explore placement considerations and tips to ensure your guitar is securely and safely mounted.
Is It Safe To Hang A Guitar On The Wall?
Yes, you can hang guitars on the wall without any worries. Beginners often worry that hanging their new or even old guitar will put so much pressure on the neck that it will break. This is because guitars are built, so the bottom is heavier than the top.
Your guitar neck and wood, in general, can handle the weight and pressure when it’s hung up. As much tension force as the guitar weighs, it can handle. Most of the time that would be about 10 pounds, which is within the limit of how much wood can bend.
So, the chances of extension are low, and if they did happen, they would snap back quickly when the force was gone. Overall, you would notice no lasting changes in how your guitar is built if you hung it for a long time.
Remember that a stringed guitar is always under a total tension force or string compression of 85-180 lbs or more, depending on the number of strings, the string size, and the scale length. Since the strings are pulling it the opposite way, the pull from the bottom half of the guitar wouldn’t have as much effect.
Advantages Of Hanging Guitar On Your Wall
Hanging your guitar on a solid wall has the following advantages:
Reminds you to play
You will always remember to practice and play your guitar if you can see it regularly. Playing, practicing, and completing guitar lessons is a great way to keep motivated and improve your music skills.
Your guitar is easy to access
Furthermore, it allows you to access your guitar without removing it from your gig bag or case. The most inconvenient times are when inspiration strikes. You may already be lying in bed when you suddenly feel inspired to play a tued. You should place your guitar somewhere easy to reach in these situations.
However, to play your guitar for a few minutes, taking it out of its case could be a hassle. Our patience isn’t there for some of us.
Save space The Room
Regardless of where you mount your guitar, it instantly adds space to any room. It instantly becomes a conversation starter that can serve as an interesting centerpiece.
Prevents your guitar from being knocked over
The risk of accidentally knocking over your guitar is greatly reduced with a guitar holder compared to a guitar stand.
The guitar will also be located in an area with limited foot traffic, thus reducing the chances of getting scratched.
How To Hang A Guitar On The Wall?
What Will You Need?
To hang a guitar on the wall, you will need some specific tools to hang the guitar perfectly on the wall.
You will need the following tools:
- Screwdriver
- Hammer
- An array of drill bits and hammer drill
- Pencil
- Level
- Tape measurer
- Mounting plugs and screws
- Wall hanger
Process Of Hanging Guitar On The Wall with Drill
After gathering all the tools, you can’t wait to get started. Here are the steps you need to follow to mount your guitar safely and securely.
Step 1: Checking your wall's stability
Choosing the right wall to hang your instruments on is the most important step in this whole process. Hanging the guitar on a strong masonry wall is the easiest and safest choice.
Need to know if your wall is strong? Tap it hard. If it sounds hollow, you should look elsewhere. Most new brick or cinder block homes are best with an outside wall.
But just because you don’t have a solid wall doesn’t mean you can’t reach guitar-hanging heaven. You can hang big things on plasterboard or plasterboard, making things harder.
If your wall is strong, you must go to your local hardware or DIY store and pick up some hollow wall anchors. These anchors come in different shapes, but since they are often made to hold flat-screen TVs on walls, they should be more than enough.
The best thing to do is ask in the store and make sure the bolts for the anchors are small enough to fit through the holes in your hangers. You could also drill directly into the wooden wall stud. You’ll need a wall scanner to find these, but you’ll need one anyway if you’re drilling into a plasterboard wall to make sure there aren’t any pipes or wires close to where you’re drilling.
Step 2: Checking the clearance between the guitar and the mounts
Next, you can begin mounting your guitar on your wall. Make sure your guitar mounts are adjusted to the dimensions of your guitar if you haven’t already. Then, put your guitar on. Now that everything is set up grab your measuring tape or ruler.
Measure the distance between the mounting block’s top and your guitar’s bottom. For now, take your guitar off the hanger and place the hanger where you envision it hanging. Use your pencil to draw a small line on the wall at the top of your mounting block. For clearance, repeat the process for the length of the mounting block as well.
Step 3: Find Out The Place
The most important part of getting ready is figuring out where you want the hanger to go and ensuring it won’t get in the way of the instrument when it’s hanging.
To do this, lay your guitar face flat and hook the hanger around the headstock. Holding the hanger in place, measure the distance from the top of the mounting block to the bottom of the guitar. This will tell you how much space you need to put the instrument on your walls.
Put the hook on the wall where you want it. Mark the top of the mounting block with a small pencil mark, then measure the same distance down the wall. This ensures that nothing will get in the way of the guitar. Watch out for furniture, moldings, and plug sockets. You don’t want anything to stop the guitar from hanging straight and true.
Next, you’ll need to ensure the wall has nothing that could hurt or kill you. This isn’t likely to happen on an outside wall, but if you want to be safe, get a wall reader. These cheap hand-held devices can find anything wrong.
Step 4: Drill The Wall
Drilling masonry requires a hammer drill and the right drill bits. The hanger includes screws and plugs for wall mounting.
After checking that the area you wish to drill has no plumbing or wiring, place your hanger on the wall and line up the spirit level against the hanging block to level it. Mark the top and bottom of the block with your pencil and mark the screw holes.
Take the block aside; you should see where to drill the holes. Next, use a drill bit that matches the width of the plug to drill the screw holes. Stay deep. After drilling the holes, gently tap the plugs into place with a hammer. If they’re hard to get in, consider re-drilling the hole with a larger bit. Don’t force it—you’ll damage the plug.
Step 5: Set The hanger
Assuming everything went as planned, set the hanger and carefully screw it into place, ensuring the screws go through the hanger and into the end of the plugs.
Tighten the screws until the hanger block is flush and tight to the wall, and when you feel you can’t go anymore, gently pull the hanger down to ensure that the screws and plugs are all securely in place.
Step 6: Hanging Your Guitar
Check that all of the guitar hanger’s parts feel stable with your hands. There shouldn’t be any loose screws, the blocks should be tightly drilled into the wall, and the hanger shouldn’t move around. You can hang your guitar from the wall hanger if you do well. Step back and enjoy how beautiful your hanging guitar is.
Hang A Guitar On The Wall Without Drilling
If you don’t like making holes in your walls, have drywall with no studs in the right place to put a guitar, or live in a rented home with a strict no-drilling policy, you can hang your guitars on the wall without drilling.
It doesn’t suggest getting guitar wall hangers or wall mounts that only use glue since they probably won’t be able to hold your guitar’s weight. Instead, you should buy ceiling and floor pegs that you can use inside your house.
These brackets hold up posts from the floor to the roof without tools. This gives you more vertical room in your house to hang your guitar hanger safely. Also, these brackets are known for holding up to 44 pounds (20 kilograms) of weight. And this gives you confidence that it can carry your guitar.
Hang A Guitar On The Wall Horizontally
Hanging a guitar on the wall horizontally can be a great way to display your instrument while also saving space. To hang a guitar horizontally, you will need a wall mount specifically designed for guitars. These mounts typically consist of a sturdy bracket that attaches to the wall and padded arms that hold the guitar securely in place.
To begin, locate a suitable spot on the wall where you want to hang your guitar. It’s important to choose a location that is away from direct sunlight, excessive humidity, or extreme temperature changes to ensure the best preservation of your instrument.
Next, use a stud finder or electronic stud sensor to locate the studs in the wall. This will provide the strongest support for your guitar mount. Mark the stud’s positions on the wall, once you have located them.
Now it’s time to install the guitar mount. Using a drill and screws appropriate for your mounting surface (e.g., drywall anchors if not attaching directly to studs), attach the bracket securely to the wall using your marked stud positions.
Once the bracket is securely attached, gently place your guitar onto the padded arms of the mount, making sure it is centered and balanced. Adjust any movable components of the mount to ensure a snug fit and proper support for your instrument.
It’s always a good idea to periodically check and tighten any screws or fasteners on your guitar mount to maintain its stability over time. Regularly inspecting your instrument for any signs of damage or wear is also recommended.
What You Need To Consider Before Hanging A Guitar On The Wall?
Before hanging a guitar on the wall, a few important factors must be considered.
Sunlight Exposure
One thing you should try to avoid is letting the guitar get too much sun. Sunlight doesn’t make wood get weak, but it can change the color of wood over time. If you want the natural color of your guitar’s tonewoods to stay the same, you should put it somewhere that doesn’t get full sunlight.
Also, putting your guitar near a window may expose it to different temperatures and weather. This can cause your instrument’s wood to grow and shrink over time.
These changes could put a lot of stress on the wood, which could be better. And as a result, they would start to crack or could get even more fragile. So, think about this before you decide where to put your guitar hanger on the wall.
Humidity Levels
The second thing you need to consider is how wet the room is. The water in the air also affects how well the woodwork is. We know from basic science that the amount of wetness in solid wood can cause it to expand, which can have a big effect on the sound of your guitar.
Ensure that your room’s humidity stays between 45 and 55% to prevent this from happening. We suggest buying a hygrometer to keep track of how wet it is.
We recommend putting a humidifier in the room where you plan to store your guitar. During the dry winter months, this comes in handy.
Also, you should try to keep the guitar out of the air conditioner’s direct blow. The cool air from the air conditioner can also cause the wood to soak up wetness.
Check Tuning Pegs
This is a bigger problem with acoustic guitars than with electric guitars because the tuning pegs are on both sides of an acoustic guitar. Still, you should ensure that your wall hanger is not hitting or rubbing against the pegs in any way. Over time, it can become an issue. If you want to play this guitar again, you want to make sure it is safe, so be careful.
Final Thoughts
Now that you have all the steps and tips for hanging your guitar on the wall, it’s time to turn your walls into a rockstar-worthy display.
Following the step-by-step guide and considering placement considerations, you can proudly display your prized instrument while keeping it easily accessible for last-minute gigs.
Remember to take precautions to ensure your guitar is securely and safely mounted. With a little effort and attention to detail, you can transform your space into a music lover’s paradise.
FAQs
Is it preferable to hang or stand a guitar?
It’s better to hang your guitar because its downward weight is less strong than its strings pulling in the opposite direction.
Can a guitar break from falling?
The most common cause of headstock cracks and breaks is the instrument falling. I could afford less beer if everyone put their guitars back into their cases after playing or gigging.
How much weight can a guitar wall mount carry?
Each mounting point or stud weighs 50 pounds. There is a weight limit of 15 lbs per hanger.
Good article!!