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Post subject: Thumb problem
Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 3:55 pm
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I have been playing for about 7 months now (and I haven't really gotten into practicing alot until just the last two months) and on my left hand, I still have the bad habit of letting my thumb rest on the top of the neck. Do you guys have any advice on how to quash this habit? I hope my explanation is a clear enough illustration of my problem.


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Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 4:03 pm
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Well, they say you should have your thumb placed in the middle of the neck to allow proper/better fingering. I have a large hand and almost always have my thumb up around the low E. Been doing it that way since the 70's and hasn't bothered me much. I've seen lots of guitar players who use their thumb to fret the low E. I use it to add the F# to a D chord sometimes.

It's all a matter of preference, but proper technique and probably better playing, will come from doing things correctly.

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Post subject: Re: Thumb problem
Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 4:11 pm
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The Metalhead Punk wrote:
I still have the bad habit of letting my thumb rest on the top of the neck.


Be glad you have that habit. Don't consider it something that'll hold you back. If anything it might help you. I use my thumb to help with playing and it surely hasn't held me back any.

I've got five fingers, and plan on using all of them.

Remember, your playing guitar, you need all the help you can get, hehe.


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Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 11:11 am
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Form is more important with Classical Guitar playing. I say hang that thumb where ever you want and kick out the jams!


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Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 11:16 am
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i can do that to, i find that is a great thing to do becuase it helps with alot of hendrix stuff, chords and alot of John frusciante style playing.

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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 3:28 pm
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I don't get the thumb over the top of the neck at all. My hands are normal sized. How can you bar a chord without the thumb in the middle of the neck to apply the counterforce to the barring index finger? I don't get how you can play that way if barring chords. But . . .

I've seen Clapton doing it. I've seen him hooking his thumb over the top of the neck and using it to mute or bar the low e string. I'd like to know how to do it. I'd like to know how to bar a chord without using the thumb as counterforce. I bar using the fret usually and I don't use huge force to bar chords, but wow I would sure like to be able to bar chords while also using my thumb to mute or fret the low e string. I play a basically standard sometimes mislabeled "correct" style and that's the only way I know to do things.


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Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 3:33 pm
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well when I play bar chords and power chords, that is the only time I don't do it, but if I am playing any other type of chord, licking, soloing, or practicing scales, my thumb sneaks up the back of the neck

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Post subject:
Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 3:42 pm
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Jimi Hendrix plays riffs on the low E-string with his thumb while playing
melodies with his other fingers.

Peter :wink:


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Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2007 3:02 pm
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Do whatever works for you.... you'll probably need your thumb 'round back when playing bar chords, but if it hangs over the top when playing open chords - no big deal. :wink:

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Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 11:51 am
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form is important in any style of playing if youre trying to excel as a player. it will be OK for a while and then you'll hit a road block as far as speed and movement are concerned because planting your thumb over the top of the neck causes you to lock on to the neck, slowing movement. another thing to think about is sitting or playing with a strap. you could be wearing your strap too low and thats a lot of cause for concern of the wrist which can lead to cysts and joint/tendon issues.

i think youre right in wanting to correct it. its the one thing my professor wont ever let me do is plant my thumb like that he says "the thumb is just for balance you should be able to play with out it, use the natural weight of the arm to fret instead of pressure from the thumb". he recommends playing in front of a mirror for some portion of your playing time. its amazing what you'll notice about your form from a different point of view.

people like hendrix, clapton, srv and john mayer all use/used the thumb heavily on the 6th string when using barre chords. i always thought they did this to get quicker access to the 1st and 2nd strings with the index finger of the left hand. they also have HUGE hands that i definitely dont. these players are anomalies anyway. they can make their own rules. then again if it works for you and it feels good, do it. but pay attention to what your body is telling you. if it hurts, change. if you hit a wall with speed change it up.


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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Oct 24, 2007 2:32 pm
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I hang my thumb over top also. When you bar chords (e shape) and use your thumb, you don't have to press as hard because your pointer finger is only holding down two close strings (b and high e) and not three widely spaced ones (low and high e and b).


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