Actually I am a start over after some 20 years. I have question. How important is it to keep your thumb behind the neck? Seems like I wasn't taught that way before, and people who can play don't do it. I salute all here! Brett

Well....It keeps your guitar from hitting the floor. welcome! I do alot of barre chording....so I need that leverage to bar the frets with my index finger. Hope this helps,
J

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Welcome to the party Brett

The pureists will say keep your thumb at the back resting at the mdway point of the neck and this will help as jayro says to play barre chords correctly. However a lot of rock guitarists will have the thumb over the top of the neck and use it to mute the low e string.

As long as you are making and playing the correct chord shapes it shouldn't be an issue imho.

Above all have fun!!!

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Thanks guys. I'll keep at it with my thumb behind the neck. I was just wondering if it would be strict rule, or do it what ever way you like. practice practice practice...ringertips are almost not sore anymore.

Sometimes I use my thumb for fretting.

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Personally, 'just play the guitar and bass. Thumb goes here and there, depending on what's being played.

There are a couple of things here ...

There is a difference between having the thumb behind the neck, and having it behind the neck "properly". Proper technique has a player almost always having the thumb behind the middle of the neck. Watch any good classical player. I practiced this way for years when I first started, and I am sooooo glad I did. It forces you to really build up hand and finger strength, so that when you get to instances of "breaking the rules" and playing difficult fingerings, you can really fly. Playing with proper technique allowed me later as a lead guitar player to not even need my thumb when soloing above the 10/12th fret. When soloing in those higher frets, I can play with lots of speed without having my thumb on the neck whatsoever ... it freaks some people out, actually. But it is not just a speed thing, as I also have much more control on my bends (and I bend a lot). Although, I am strictly a 9-42 player ...

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Welcome to the forum Brett,as otherhave suggested it's much better for your playing to keep your thumb behind the neck as it gives you better leverage especially when doing barre chords.If you keep at it,after a while you'll do it automatically without thinking. Lots of luck and most of all enjoy yourself.

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+1...depending on what I'm playing, my hand moves around. My thumb is over the top of the fretboard for a lot of stuff, but finds it's way to the back of the neck from time to time; especially bar chords. It never hurts to learn the proper techniques, then you can decide which works better for you in the long run.

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Brett22, welcome to the Forum and welcome back to the guitar players universe.
"How important is it to keep your thumb behind the neck? "
pretty important and then you watch some videos of Jimi Hendrix thumbing technique. Then you have a lot of playing options that you wouldn't have staying behind the neck only. Jimi's technique isn't easy at first but give it some practice time each time you practice and you will be surprised by the new tricks in your bag after a little while.

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Yuh...

...apologies for evangelizing sloppy technique; best to learn the correct way, first.

Great to have you Brett. Hope you enjoy your stay..........

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I don't know of anyone who can barre a chord without putting their thumb behind the neck.

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Thanks so much for the welcome guys. And thanks for all the help too. I'll try not to wear out my welcome, or your patience. One more goofy question I can't remember the answer to please, then I'll recede (watched the stooges this morning), string damping. Going through chord changes now, and I can't get my index finger off or out of the way of other strings except on the higher frets where the space is bigger. Should I just play through or is there a technique to practice?

The main thing I try and tell anyone is to be sure you're using the very tip of your finger to fret the chords. And you may have to go through the chords one finger at a time and find the best position for each finger without touching the adjacent strings. Sometimes very small adjustments in hand and finger placement can make a big difference.

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