Thumb possitioning

cain

HI

I was watching a Bret garsed video this morning and he was talking about how to play slide guitar. In his explanation a key element jumped out which wasn't really just in context to slide and is something ive been trying to get into my playing for a couple of months. No intro guitar handbooks or teachers ever explain this but its the left hand thumb position.

Out of learning to play open chords most of us learn to play wrong for speed or best control of our left hand. We learn to rest our thumbs over the top of the fretboard. Dont get me wrong, this is a killer technique to have as its great for playing top and bottom strings ( hendrix and john mayer use this allot ) as well as bluesy vibrato ( BB KING ). But as with all techniques one must learn to do it all ways.

Now to the correct thumb positioning for total control. One must learn to hold the neck with your thumb resting at about the middle of the neck and your other 4 fingers being able to fret strings. With your hand at the back of the neck and not over the top it becomes easier in controlling the little bastard of guitar also known as your pinky. The other advantages includes better and cleaner legato, better sweep picking, clearer playing etc. Also remember, your thumb does not stick to the middle of the neck, it needs to learn to move up and down freely as you move from high to low strings etc. You can still do awesome vibrato using this technique, vai does lots of vibrato like this and bending is also possible as long as you dont use to heavy gauge strings.

As i said, im not an expert on this, but its something my previous guitar teachers moaned about and im trying change in my playing. It might not be easy for you to get this happening if you dont do it already, but just practice it, it comes natural very quickly.

Renesongs

+1 Hmm interesting thread. The thumb position in the middle of the neck is prescribed for Jazz guitar particularly chord work, some jazz chords stretch 5 frets. For speed and accuracy I find it more important not to bend my wrist much, rather let my thumb float between just behind 6th string to about middle neck as you run from 6th to first string. the thumb over the top is cool for blues and hard rock, passionate stuff but not a virtuosos technique. Interestingly enough I badly sprained my thumb 2 weeks ago. I discovered how little I really use my thumb on the neck, mainly just a counter weight to my other digits - just tried to stay away from jazz chords on nylon string guitars unfortunately I have a couple of jazz students as well.

Gray

No intro guitar handbooks or teachers ever explain this but its the left hand thumb position

My first guitar book instructs you to hold the guitar like this, but it's ancient.

I always thought this technique was employed by classical gutarists and generally accepted as the sort of "standard" left hand position for guitar? ?

cain

Classical guitarist do it this way because they have huge necks to deal with. I started playing on electric and none of my teachers or the books i own every explain it.

Check this video guys ( in the intro part, watch his thumb moving up but never over the neck ...