How do you play a dreadnought comfortably?

[vintage40s]

Originally Posted by Rpt50

I never knew I was uncomfortable playing a dread...
Guitar Center has the CSF3M parlor on sale...

At age 76 I find it little more comfortable to play the dread standing, with a capo to reduce the reach. The CSF3M is good sitting or standing, but sacrifices a lot in tone.
Sitting or standing, the first thing I do when taking a guitar out of the case is put on its strap for security.

[AndrewG]

I'm 5'10" and slim and have no issues playing dreads. If you're sitting use a hard chair that keeps your thighs parallel to the floor, not a sofa you sink into which brings your legs, your picking arm shoulder and the guitar higher. I don't like playing acoustics standing.

[doublescale1]

get a 000 size guitar

[varmonter]

Originally Posted by Pura Vida

Maybe the OP has gotten taller in the last eight years.

Maybe not taller. But a few lbs can make a big
difference in playing a dred comfortably. Ones
beer investment can push the guitar outward
making the wrist work harder.

[TDavis]

Nothing sounds like a Martin dreadnought...nothing, and it's a shame that I cannot play one comfortably at least when I'm sitting on the sofa or my chair. My shoulder starts to ache and it just gets to be no fun before long...

That's the reason I prefer small body Martin guitars (000/00) any more. My OM sounds amazing and can be played sitting down easily, and the tone is not so far from a dread that I feel like I'm missing something.