I think I'm doing it right.

[Mr5150]

So now the warmer weather is upon us and I'm playing my mandolin in short sleeves. My strap is attached at the scroll and the tail price peg. Strap goes over left shoulder and behind my back. Very comfortable positioning for both hands sitting or standing. Not a bit of an awkward feeling.

Naturally if I just let the mandolin hang the weight of the neck will cause the mandolin to shift and the neck is pointing down 30*-45*. So I support the mandolin in the playing position with the inside of my right forearm. The amount of force is minimal with no muscle discomfort or fatigue.

So here is the possible issue: the corner (interface of top and side) while not sharp has an edge which after an hour or so causes some mild discomfort and slight linear indentation on that soft skin area that is the inside of my forearm. A bit of redness that disappears an hour after I stop playing. My instructor had the same indentations, but no redness.

Will that area of my arm toughen up in time or do I need to wear long sleeves in the summer when I play?

Was not an issue on my previous mandolin, because I could run the strap under the strings just above the nut so the instrument was naturally balanced.l

[Charlie Bernstein]

If you think that's bad, try guitar nipple.

This non-pro says live with it. Life's short.

[Tobin]

This is why we use arm rests. More comfortable on the forearm and better hand angle for picking.

[JeffD]

I use a terrycloth sleeve, like athletes wear. Works well.

[Ivan Kelsall]

Me too Jeff - The toweling wrist bands that tennis players wear. The sharp edge of the mandolin doesn't cause me any trouble because i only touch it with light pressure,but in only a few minutes,a layer of perspiration builds up between my arm & the mandolin,& that's something i'd rather not have. Apart from the fact that it doesn't feel nice,it can't be doing the finish any favours.

I like short sleeved shirts myself,but,if i know i'm going to be playing,i usually put on a long sleeved shirt & turn the cuffs up after i've finished playing. Sometimes,i'll put a short sleeved shirt on with the intention of having a day off from picking,then ''cold turkey kicks in & i gotta have a shot'' - thet's when i used the wrist bands,
Ivan

[Mr5150]

Glad to see the answers. Long sleeve shirt when in public. Wrist band at home. Thanks

[colorado_al]

I'm partial to a McClung armrest. No more indentation in my arm, better sound from the top of the mandolin, and I can still use it as an anchor point.

[pops1]

Long sleeve shirt in the winter, short sleeve shirt in the summer, arm rest all the time.

[indexless]

If you think that's bad, try guitar nipple.

This non-pro says live with it. Life's short.

Charlie...I've been wondering about guitar nipple since I read it this morning, trying to figure out what it was....so kind of arm rest? it sounds like a pedal of some sort but I can't imagine what effect it would be, later this afternoon I sat down with my dobro and all was revealed...thanks for the laugh

[Mr5150]

I'm partial to a McClung armrest. No more indentation in my arm, better sound from the top of the mandolin, and I can still use it as an anchor point.

Hmmm

Could work unless my case is too tight, which might be a problem.

[Ivan Kelsall]

I'd advise anybody using an armrest to put a piece of thin leather between the armrest 'turnbuckle' & the side of the mandolin. I put an armrest on a once owned mandolin, & the side pressure of the case pushed the turnbuckles into the side of the mandolin & flaked a tiny piece of the finish off. I was less than happy as the mandolin was only a couple of weeks old !,
Ivan

[Charlie Bernstein]

Sometimes I put bandana between me and the instrument.

[LadysSolo]

"Guitar nipple" is why I (and probably some other women) prefer parlor guitars if we are somewhat well-endowed. Mandolins do not seem to have the same issues IMHO.

[Astro]

McClung arm rest for sure. They fit in the case. They make playing more comfortable and if you have skinny musician forearms like me, they improve your wrist angle.

And thanks for the tip Ivan. Makes since. I'm going to do that too.

[Bertram Henze]

There seem to be some fun stories about such disorders which make it hard to distinguish real vs ridiculous. I guess not all people are built alike and each have to find their own solution, but I never had an irritation problem anywhere with my OM, and female players of guitars or other large instruments don't have either, normally, apparently.

Was not an issue on my previous mandolin, because I could run the strap under the strings just above the nut so the instrument was naturally balanced.

The same should work with an F-style mandolin as well. Using the scroll as a strap hanger ist not mandatory.

[sbhikes]

My mandolin is pretty neck heavy, too, and I just can't attach the strap at the scroll comfortably at all. Instead I attach it at the top near the tuners. I play standing up a lot so it's not like I can use a leg to position the instrument. I loosen the strap enough you can read at least the top half of whatever cool t-shirt I've decided to wear that day and this gets it out of the way of my well-endowed-ness.