Can a Headless Guitar Help with Injuries? The Hills HN4

I’ve always been curious about headless guitars, but I never had a real reason to try one—until about a year ago when my shoulder decided it had had enough.

It wasn’t a dramatic accident—more like the result of decades of guitar playing catching up to me. I developed a winged scapula and some rounded shoulder posture, which started wreaking havoc on my upper back, shoulder, and chest muscles.

After some chiropractor visits and a steady routine of physical therapy exercises, I started looking into ergonomic guitar options. My search first led me to Strandberg headless guitars, but the price was a bit steep. Then I stumbled across Hils headless guitars—a much more affordable option—and decided to give one a shot.

The design of some headless guitars naturally positions the instrument in a way that avoids the posture problems that got me into trouble in the first place. Even if it only reduced my daily shoulder strain by 2–3%, I figured it was worth the try. And honestly—it’s made a noticeable difference. The guitar is also so lightweight that it doubles nicely as a travel guitar.

In this vlog, I share sound samples and my thoughts on headless guitars, including whether they’re a good choice for players dealing with shoulder, neck, or back issues. Spoiler: I’m pretty satisfied with the Hils HN4, and I’m glad I invested in it.

Thanks for reading,

Nate