Looking at the fretboard is ruining my stage presence

The simple answer is: practice playing without looking at the fretboard. It might seem hard at first, but it is just the sort of thing many other instrumentalists have to do when sight-reading. Practice, practice, practice ... Practice playing while looking yourself in the eye in a mirror.

1. Is it bad to look at the fretboard while playing?
2. Is it normal to look at guitar fretboard as you play?
3. How do guitarists have stage presence?

Is it bad to look at the fretboard while playing?

Looking at the frets is not a bad thing, but when performing, you should limit this because you will get more contact with the audience when looking around. Then it will be more of a performance to the audience, and the audience will feel that you perform for them.

Is it normal to look at guitar fretboard as you play?

Having your eyes glued to your fretboard is completely natural for players just starting out on guitar. But once you start performing on bigger stages, more professional tours, and for increasingly engaged audiences, you're going to have to use your eyes to connect with the fans, not your strings.

How do guitarists have stage presence?

Here are seven ways to improve your presence on stage as a guitarist:

1. Master the Power Stance. ...
2. Step Forward During Solos. ...
3. Finish in Style with a Windmill. ...
4. Lift Your Neck During a String Bend. ...
5. Groove with the Music. ...
6. Point Your Headstock in Different Directions. ...
7. Move Away from the Microphone When You're Not Singing.