Question:
I have been playing for 3-4 months now and when I first started to learn open chords I had my thumb up over the neck of the guitar and then someone told me that you should have your thumb in the middle of the neck so for about 3 months I have learned like that but I think I am going to go back to my old way because it was way easier and more comfortable- Question- Is playing open chords with your thumb up and over the neck okay???
Answer:
that's how I play.
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I'd suggest not doing it, just out of desire for proper technique. Many players, however, do it often. It's a bad habit in that your fingers have less mobility and room to move. Overall, it's going to make learning difficult chords with stretches more difficult, and your thumb won't be as strong as it should be. See, when you move your thumb up like that, your palm can apply pressure to the strings.. instead, your thumb should be strong enough to apply ample pressure to play chords.
Answer:
Originally Posted by texhorns06 I have been playing for 3-4 months now and when I first started to learn open chords I had my thumb up over the neck of the guitar and then someone told me that you should have your thumb in the middle of the neck so for about 3 months I have learned like that but I think I am going to go back to my old way because it was way easier and more comfortable- Question- Is playing open chords with your thumb up and over the neck okay???
Well I have read that as well that that isn't a "correct" stance. But I'll tell you what: I play very similar (2.5 years playing) and still do. My hands are large (I'm actually a bass player) and that was the way that I felt comfortable with. As long as you're not muting the low E string unintentionally and all the strings are ringing clearly when you make an open chord you're fine. Remember music is an art not a science. (It's really both).
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My advice is that you should look at your own arm as you hold the thumb just overtop. In some chord positions, it does, granted, give better leverage, and really dosent matter. However, as often happens with muscle memory, you may be in THE worst position to hold your thumb known to man, and feel as if its comfortable. I've seen and heard once too often, people holding their shoulders against their CHEEKS because thats simply the way they learned. If you dont mind improper technique, go with the flow. But a warning: You can seriously hurt yourself if you build too much tension.
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I will concede to the more learned players here. And I will confess that part of my playing style is due to an injury to my thumb as a teenager.
There are many chords that do play better with the thumb placed in the middle of the neck, but I simply don't have the strength to maintain them, and have to settle for cheating.
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I find that placing the thumb in the middle of the neck is best when playing barre chords, cuz the pressure seems to be greatest in such positions, which also means you run out of thumb strength pretty quickly...once that happens to me I get lazy and for something like F, I go x33211 and the x is kinda just covered by my thumb while the 1s are my index...
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I play that way.. and my guitar teacher plays that way (he's pretty darn good too ) - while it may not be correct technically.. I'm going to keep doing it, unless I find that it hinders my playing in some way
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I do it for some chords. I actually use my thumb as much as possible. Sometimes I use it to mute the low E. Sometimes I use it to fret the low E which frees up the rest of my fingers to add notes you wouldnt normally be able to get. Look up some Jimi Hendrix songs, he did the same thing. But when I get into doing more barre chords or chords where I just need a little more pressure, then I use my thumb at the back of the neck for the pressure. IMO, you shouldn't just tuck the thumb behind the neck and never use it. It's there, so why not use it a little?
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I think it's all dependant on your finger strength. I've seen awesome guitar players with really large, strong hands do it and it doesn't hurt them or their playing. However, if your hands are smaller like mine, proper technique will be better in the long run for you.
Peace.
Jay
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Yeah, it does depend on your hands. Typically though, people with small hands (like Jay) will have a harder time if the thumb-over thing becomes a habit. I dunno, I just stay out of it.
I can't beleive you guys actually use it to fret or mute notes. To each his own, then.
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I use my thumb occasionally to fret or mute notes, but only on occasion. I know it's not a technically superior thing to do, but sometimes you've got to play like a classic rock guitarist to get that classic sound.....
Nate
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Hmm, I thought that using your thumb to play or mute notes was a good thing to do...how else would you play D/F# (besides the crappy x04232)? It'd be 200232 with the low E pressed by the thumb, right?
Or playing "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"...it's Am to Am/G to Am/F#...that F# would once again be performed by the thumb, wouldn't it?
I just don't get why it's a bad thing to do...seems to help a lot more than it can hurt
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Hmm, I thought that using your thumb to play or mute notes was a good thing to do...how else would you play D/F# (besides the crappy x04232)? It'd be 200232 with the low E pressed by the thumb, right?
Or playing "While My Guitar Gently Weeps"...it's Am to Am/G to Am/F#...that F# would once again be performed by the thumb, wouldn't it?
I just don't get why it's a bad thing to do...seems to help a lot more than it can hurt
With the same amount of practice that it took you to learn to play D/F# with your thumb wrapped around, you could have (and probably still can if you want to) learn how to play it with your index finger on the F# bass note and your other three fingers forming a D chord.
Nate
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It's always interesting to see how people play and voice different chords...personally I play the D/F# chord like this 20023X. I do this so I don't have to use my thumb. I rarely use this chord, but if I do I usually change it up a bit to make it an F#m chord 20X22X (Dave Matthews style)...
For my style 20X22X is easier than barring the chord at 244222...
Peace.
Jay