A cushioning guitar strap reduces unit load on the shoulder by the use of a relatively wide cushioning pad formed with a soft flexible foam layer to conform to a user's shoulder under the load of a guitar, with a flexible film, which is dimensionally stable in use under the load of a guitar, bonded to the foam layer to transfer the load over the area of the pad. Front and back straps connected to the cushioning pad each have a quick connect-disconnect adjustment mechanism permitting adjustment of strap length while the guitar strap is in use over the shoulder supporting a guitar.