Bernard, the tangerine and tightening a wing-nut are good images. I've used "holding an egg," which seems to get the idea of position across fairly well.

Now, I've had self-taught folkies tell me that because I've taken singing lessons (to sing properly and not damage my voice as happens to a lot of folk singing types, such as Pete Seeger, who can no longer sustain a note on pitch, while Russian operatic bass, Mark Reizen kept his voice until he died (here he is at age 90—CLICKY)) and that I have taken classic guitar lessons (partly to avoid the kind of problems that Jerry got himself into, AND because I wanted to PLAY some classic guitar), that I am no longer qualified to sing folk songs!!

Now, who the hell made up THAT commandment!??

Don Firth

P. S. I don't sound like an opera singer (I know some aspiring opera singers who wish it were just a matter of taking voice lessons!! It doesn't work that way!), and just because I can play some pretty flashy stuff on the guitar doesn't mean I HAVE to. There is such a thing as TASTE!