minorkey
C.O.G.
On book 3 of the Guitarist's Way, thanks Keith
Posts: 3,626
My main instrument is: Tanglewood TU13M concert ukulele named Kalea
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Post by minorkey on Aug 16, 2024 13:47:44 GMT
I know this is probably wrong but I can't help my thumb going into this position, regardless of what guitar I play. Sometimes it even sticks out like I'm thumbing a lift! I realise that the ideal position should be like a C shape onto the back of the neck but it keeps doing its own thing.
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Post by jonnymosco on Aug 16, 2024 19:22:27 GMT
Ideally, points of contact for the LH should just be the pad of the thumb and fingertips. The thumb should support the fingers and therefore be placed in between the 1st and 2nd fingers, in line with the frets and quite high to avoid a wrist bend. Gripping the neck with your hand restricts movement and reach.
I hope that helps.
Jonny
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colins
Luthier / Guitar Maker
Posts: 2,385
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Post by colins on Aug 16, 2024 21:22:46 GMT
Ideally, points of contact for the LH should just be the pad of the thumb and fingertips. The thumb should support the fingers and therefore be placed in between the 1st and 2nd fingers, in line with the frets and quite high to avoid a wrist bend. Gripping the neck with your hand restricts movement and reach. I hope that helps. Jonny Jonny's description is spot on. I have never understood the restrictive, almost tennis racket grip many players seem to adopt, which to me severely restricts the hand and fingers ease of movement on the fretboard. Colin
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minorkey
C.O.G.
On book 3 of the Guitarist's Way, thanks Keith
Posts: 3,626
My main instrument is: Tanglewood TU13M concert ukulele named Kalea
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Post by minorkey on Aug 16, 2024 21:36:05 GMT
This position just happens naturally, can't help it. Must be my big piano hands
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Post by jonnymosco on Aug 17, 2024 9:34:49 GMT
This position just happens naturally, can't help it. Must be my big piano hands The position of the thumb on the neck should be how it naturally lies when your hand is completely relaxed with your fingers curled when knuckles face the floor - all positions and techniques should aim to replicate how the body is when it is relaxed.
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cesspit
Busker
Posts: 92
My main instrument is: Martin D10
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Post by cesspit on Aug 18, 2024 7:12:46 GMT
Wow, this feels a little 'deep'. My thumb is all over the place depending what I am playing. Sometimes as described above, regularly over the top playing a note on the E string, which seems natural to me. In all honesty I've never given it much thought but I guess it's the price you pay for playing electric guitar.
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Post by Vinny on Aug 18, 2024 17:16:07 GMT
Wow, this feels a little 'deep'. My thumb is all over the place depending what I am playing. Sometimes as described above, regularly over the top playing a note on the E string, which seems natural to me. In all honesty I've never given it much thought but I guess it's the price you pay for playing electric guitar. It’s the price we pay for being self taught. Very hard to change established habits. My thumb peeps over the top and sometimes is called into fretting the sixth string. It’s in a “more” correct position on barre chords, but tires if used for a long time.
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juliant
C.O.G.
Posts: 417
My main instrument is: Lowden L23
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Post by juliant on Aug 18, 2024 21:21:05 GMT
Many (many!) years ago when I was first learning, I saw that Mr McTell fretted the bottom E with his thumb, as did quite a few of the blues and ragtime players I followed. That was good enough for me, and it's what I've done ever since.
I think it's like your choice of instruments - do/use what works for you and lets you play the music you want to play!
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cesspit
Busker
Posts: 92
My main instrument is: Martin D10
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Post by cesspit on Aug 19, 2024 9:48:48 GMT
I've always been against 'It MUST be done this way'. Never had a lesson and whilst I probably missed out in some ways I'm glad. What works for you is the best advice in my opinion. I certainly benefitted learning where no internet or Tab existed as you develop an ear for music which I have found invaluable over the years. Just the opinion of an uneducated old fool.
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ocarolan
Global Moderator
CURMUDGEONLY OLD GIT (leader - to join, just ask!)
Posts: 35,440
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Post by ocarolan on Aug 19, 2024 10:14:57 GMT
Many (many!) years ago when I was first learning, I saw that Mr McTell fretted the bottom E with his thumb, as did quite a few of the blues and ragtime players I followed. That was good enough for me, and it's what I've done ever since. I think it's like your choice of instruments - do/use what works for you and lets you play the music you want to play! Exactly this for me too, Julian. Having my thumb wrapped over for much of the time at least stops my fretting hand from falling to the floor. And there are occasions when the thumb hides behind the neck too at various points in fingerstyle playing. But every now and again I have a brief flirtation with classicalish nylon strung sort of stuff. I can thumbover (just) on a 52mm neck, but tend not to, instead adopting a much more behind the neck thumb position. Keith
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Post by peterh on Aug 19, 2024 16:24:32 GMT
Hello eveyone,
This kind of discussi can get pedantic, but, I know that Johnny really helped me.
THE TRICK he taught me was to move my thumb to match perhaps to what you are playing.
So it very handy to use it over the top aka Keith , and also to up and down for other stuff...
But you know I hope this might help but I 'm happy for others with more experiance to help me too.
regards to all,
Peter
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juliant
C.O.G.
Posts: 417
My main instrument is: Lowden L23
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Post by juliant on Aug 19, 2024 20:14:42 GMT
Many (many!) years ago when I was first learning, I saw that Mr McTell fretted the bottom E with his thumb, as did quite a few of the blues and ragtime players I followed. That was good enough for me, and it's what I've done ever since. I think it's like your choice of instruments - do/use what works for you and lets you play the music you want to play! Exactly this for me too, Julian. Having my thumb wrapped over for much of the time at least stops my fretting hand from falling to the floor. And there are occasions when the thumb hides behind the neck too at various points in fingerstyle playing. But every now and again I have a brief flirtation with classicalish nylon strung sort of stuff. I can thumbover (just) on a 52mm neck, but tend not to, instead adopting a much more behind the neck thumb position. Keith A few years ago I had a 7-string classical that I used to play Renaissance lute stuff. I used a capo on the third fret to approximate the scale length of my old lute, and also used to wrap my thumb round occasionally, although as Keith said, the neck was a bit wide. For some reason all that seemed to infuriate a few classical guitar and lute playing acquaintances ;-)
And now the embuggerance of arthritis in the thumbs makes it very uncomfortable to even try the classical thumb position, so I think I'm stuck with my traditional approach.
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leoroberts
C.O.G.
Posts: 25,859
My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
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Post by leoroberts on Aug 19, 2024 20:17:04 GMT
I like to keep mine on my left hand. It just looks out of place anywhere else.
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Post by otis1960 on Aug 19, 2024 20:56:21 GMT
I like to keep mine on my left hand. It just looks out of place anywhere else. No sense of adventure, that’s your problem ”Where ‘ere you be, let your thumbs go free” (or something in that vein)
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cesspit
Busker
Posts: 92
My main instrument is: Martin D10
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Post by cesspit on Aug 20, 2024 8:46:04 GMT
I think I suffer from 'Thumb up bum, brain in neutral' syndrome.
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