Hang A Guitar On The Wall: Tips And Tricks For Guitar Safety

Proper guitar storage is one of the few things you have to learn first when you own your first guitar. While a handy guitar case protects it from dust and exposure to other elements, hanging the guitar by the neck also works.

Hanging your guitar gives you immediate access to it for days when you simply want to play a tune. It’s also undeniable that it adds a unique charm to the room. But what really made us want to hang our guitars is the fact that it won’t accidentally topple over – unlike conventional guitar stands.

If you’re also planning to hang a guitar on the wall, then you came to the right place. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know about how to mount your guitar safely and easily.

Is it safe to hang a guitar on the wall?

Before anything else, we want to address the most common question we get about hanging electric or acoustic guitars. Is it safe or bad to hang a guitar on the wall?

Yes, it’s perfectly safe to hang guitars on the wall.

Beginners often fear that hanging their new or even old guitar could put so much stress around the neck area, which could cause it to fall apart. This is considering the bottom-heavy construction of guitars.

Fortunately, your guitar neck (and wood in general) can take on the pressure and weight when it’s hanged. A guitar can endure as much tensile force as the instrument’s weight. In most cases, that would be around 10 lbs, and that is within the wood’s elastic limit.

So any elongation possibilities are little, and if occurs any, they would springback quickly when the force is gone. Overall to say that you wouldn’t notice any permanent structural differences after hanging your guitar for the long term.

Bear in mind that a strung guitar is continuously having a total tension force or string compression of about 85-180 lbs or more (which fluctuates on the number of strings, string gauge, and scale length) exerted on it. As the strings are pulling it in the other direction, so the downward pull from the bottom half of the guitar wouldn’t affect it as much.

Will hanging a guitar damage it?

On the issue of damage to your guitar, we would want to highlight some pointers that you should also consider.

Generally, hanging a guitar by the neck or headstock won’t cause damage to it. If you mount the guitar properly – which we will get into shortly – then there’s nothing to worry about. But you must remember that proper mounting is only part of it. The bigger factor lies in the placement of the instrument.

Sunlight Exposure

One of the things that you should avoid is the guitar’s exposure to sunlight. While sunlight doesn’t cause the wood to become brittle, it can cause the wood to change color over time. Thus, if you want to preserve the natural color of your guitar’s tonewoods, then look for a place that’s hidden from direct sunlight.

Also, having your guitar placed near a window can cause it to be exposed to different temperatures and weather conditions. This can cause the wood on your instrument to expand and shrink repeatedly over time.

These fluctuations could, unfortunately, cause so much stress on the wood. And as a result, they would develop splitting or could become more brittle altogether.  Thus, take this into consideration before you pick a spot for your guitar wall hanger.

Humidity Levels

The second factor you have to look into is the humidity levels in the room.

The moisture content in the air also plays an important role in how the wood performs. Basic science tells us that moisture content in solid wood can cause it to expand, and this can greatly affect the quality of your guitar’s tone.

To prevent this from happening, make sure to maintain the humidity levels in your room between 45 to 55%. We suggest investing in a hygrometer to help you monitor the humidity levels.

With that said, we suggest placing a humidifier in the room where you intend to keep your guitar. This comes in handy during the dry winter season.

Also, it goes without saying that you should try to keep the guitar away from the direct blow of your air conditioner. The cool air from the AC can also cause moisture to be absorbed by the wood.

How To Mount A Guitar On The Wall?

Now that we know how to minimize damage to our guitar, we can proceed with the steps on how to mount a guitar safely. This is one of the common ways to hang a guitar on the wall with nails or screws.

Step 1 # Gather Required Tools

The first step is to gather all the needed materials and tools. For this purpose, you will need mounting screws, an electric screwdriver or a hammer drill, a level, a hammer, and of course, a guitar hanger of your choice.

Here we recommend the best guitar wall hanger, Hercules Auto Grip System which is a good quality hanger and can be used safely for different-shaped acoustic and electric guitars or basses. You should also prepare a tape measure and a pencil to make sure that you get the measurements right before screwing in the wall mount.

Step 2 # Choose An Ideal Location

Once you have your materials ready, you can now choose the ideal location to mount your guitar on. In doing so, think of the pointers we have previously set out. Doing so will help you prolong your guitar’s life.

Also, make sure that the wall you select is sturdy enough to hold the load of the guitar. In the case of drywall, it can be dangerous if you miss the wall stud entirely and put your trust solely in the strength of drywall. You don’t want your wall to collapse – that will not only cost you a fortune on home repairs but can also ruin your precious guitar.

Step 3 # Check & Measure

With a level, check if the wall bracket will allow the guitar to hang perpendicular to your floor. This assures you that there won’t be an unnecessary strain on its neck as it is hanging from a guitar holder.

You can then mark your preferred location with a pencil, with measurements precisely taken with a measuring tape.

Step 4 # Drilling The Holes

Once you’re done with the preparatory arrangements, you can now begin drilling the holes where you will attach the guitar hanger onto.

In doing so, make sure that you are wearing the appropriate gear to keep your eyes and hands protected.

Also, this process will greatly depend on the type of wall hangers you’re planning to use. Different guitar holders for the wall have different installation instructions. Thus, make sure to check the manual for the particular model you bought.

Step 5 # Place & Secure The Hanger

With the foundation for the wall mount properly in place, you can now secure it in place with the screws. You can use wall anchors to tighten the screws and prevent them from pulling out of the wall. And that’s it – you can now safely hang your favorite guitar on your music room or home studio’s wall.

As a safety precaution, make sure that if you leave the guitar on the hanger, it can hold the entire load of your guitar to prevent it from falling. And as much as possible, look for a wall bracket or holder that securely clasps the neck of your guitar.

How To Hang A Guitar On The Wall Sideways?

Some of you may think that hanging your guitar by itself is boring, so you look for ways to make it look more interesting. Fortunately, we also considered this so we could also suggest an alternative for you.

One of today’s more popular guitar display styles is hanging them sideways or horizontally. In doing so, you relieve the stress from the upper neck area of your guitar. This mounting style also helps distribute the weight evenly to protect the sensitive neck area.

If you’re looking for a sturdy horizontal hanger, then we highly advise one of the best guitar wall hangers, RawRock Horizontal Guitar Hanger. This sturdy set is made of durable wooden pieces that certainly look great on any wall. We also love that it’s easy to install, so you wouldn’t have to hire a professional to do it for you.

The installation for this type of guitar hanger is similar to what we have laid out above. The difference is that you have to make measurements twice – first for the bottom part of your guitar, and second for its neck.

To make sure that it holds on to your guitar as snugly as possible, you have to make sure that your measurements are accurate.

How To Hang A Guitar On The Wall Without Drilling?

If you’re not a fan of creating holes in your wall, or you have drywall with no stud in the right place to mount a guitar, or if you live in a rented home with a strict no-drilling policy, then we will also clarify you how to hang your guitars on the wall without drilling.

We do not recommend getting any guitar wall hangers or wall mount that only relies on adhesive because that is not likely to carry the weight of your guitar. Instead, we would suggest investing in ceiling and floor brackets that you can install inside your home.

A good example and the best option for that is the Labrico Brackets. These brackets support floor-to-ceiling posts without the use of tools. This allows you to create additional vertical space within your home where you can safely install your guitar hanger.

Additionally, these brackets are known for withstanding weights of up to 44 pounds or 20 kilograms. And this assures you that it can carry a full load of your guitar.

Advantages Of Hanging Guitar On Your Wall

Before ending this article, we’d like to remind you of the following advantages of hanging up the guitar on a solid wall:

1. It Reminds You To Play

If you can see your guitar regularly, you will always be reminded to practice and play it. This is a great way to keep you motivated while also encouraging you to improve your music skills through playing, practicing, and completing guitar lessons.

2. It Offers Easy Access To Your Guitar

Another advantage is that it gives you easy access to your guitar without the need for removing it from your gig bag or case. Let’s face it – inspiration hits you at the most inconvenient of times.

You may already be lying in bed when you have the sudden urge to play a tune that just seemed to pop inside your head. In these instances, it would be best to have your guitar placed somewhere that you can easily reach.

In contrast, it could get troublesome to have to carefully take your guitar out of its case just to play it for a while. Some of us simply do not have the patience for it.

3. It Breathes Life Into The Room

Wherever you plan on mounting your guitar, there’s no doubt that it instantly breathes life into the room. It instantly becomes an interesting centerpiece that can serve as a conversation starter.

4. It Reduces The Risk Of Your Guitar Getting Knocked Over

Compared to a guitar stand, having your guitar hanging from a guitar holder greatly reduces the risk of having your kids, pets, and guests accidentally knocking them over.

This also reduces the chances of getting scratched all over your guitar since it will be located in an area that does not receive a lot of foot traffic.

Alternative Of Guitar Wall Hangers

Final Words

Hanging your guitar is not a problem if you do it properly, you see! Before deciding where you would keep your guitar, consider what is your guitar type and whether your guitar sensitive to changes in temperature and humidity.

If you desire to store your new guitar, put it in the hard case! If you want to play it frequently, you can tuck up it on your wall after examining the room’s temperature and humidity level. We hope that from the above discussion, it would be easier for you to decide whether it is worth or not hanging your musical instruments on the home or studio wall.