Fat Fingers

ianvomsaal

DOSW wrote:

Almost all professionals have their thumb up high, and they can't all have bad technique, right?

YES - thay ALL have bad technique - that's the point!!!
True there are tons of players that can't read a note, don't know much music theory,
and have less than perfect technique and form.
But some of these players are "Good IN SPITE of it, NOT because of it".
Just imagine how good they'd be if these techniques were emphasized more
when they were learning the instrument.
Remember, when you're able to play your instrument with ease and understanding,
you develop more confidence & higher esteem about your own playing.
Therefore the overall benefit is that you have more fun.
Cheers . . .

- Ian C.T. vom Saal

DOSW

ianvomsaal wrote:

YES - thay ALL have bad technique - that's the point!!!
True there are tons of players that can't read a note, don't know much music theory,
and have less than perfect technique and form.
But some of these players are "Good IN SPITE of it, NOT because of it".
Just imagine how good they'd be if these techniques were emphasized more
when they were learning the instrument.
Remember, when you're able to play your instrument with ease and understanding,
you develop more confidence & higher esteem about your own playing.
Therefore the overall benefit is that you have more fun.
Cheers . . .

- Ian C.T. vom Saal

I see... interesting, thanks. So the optimal technique would be to always have your thumb on the bottom-middle of the neck on chords as well as scales?

lucylespian

ianvomsaal wrote:

YES - thay ALL have bad technique - that's the point!!!
True there are tons of players that can't read a note, don't know much music theory,
and have less than perfect technique and form.
But some of these players are "Good IN SPITE of it, NOT because of it".
Just imagine how good they'd be if these techniques were emphasized more
when they were learning the instrument.
Remember, when you're able to play your instrument with ease and understanding,
you develop more confidence & higher esteem about your own playing.
Therefore the overall benefit is that you have more fun.
Cheers . . .

- Ian C.T. vom Saal

I'm gonna suggest it depends on teh style you are playing. Classical is defintely thumb on back of neck, as well as fretting chords, esp barre chords, but for playign electric, esp power chords, there is a need to mute a lot of notes, and that wrapped around thumb does come in handy for that, as do fingers laying on strings muting them, rather than letting them ring cleanly. I find my hand moves around a lot on the neck , with my thumb going to the best position for the job at hand, and depends a bit on teh neck size too. Having the same set of rules for a classical and a strat tsknny neck is not always gonna work.

Having said that, I did say from teh get-go for this poster, "thumb on the back of the neck, gets those fingers straight up for clean chord sounds", so in thios case, thumb on the back of the neck it is !!

ianvomsaal

DOSW wrote:

I see... interesting, thanks. So the optimal technique would be to always have your thumb on the bottom-middle of the neck on chords as well as scales?

It's a general rule of thumb, though sometimes your thumb will need to come up a bit depending on where you're playing.
Having your thumb "near" the top is okay sometimes, but try not to keep it up there or wrap it around if you can help it.
Your thumb basically works in sync with your fretting fingers.

Here's a little something to try . . .
Create a U with your fretting hand (not on the guitar, but basically like you're about to hold the neck) - NOW FREEZE IT!
As you rotate the wrist to bring your fretting fingers higher up on the fretboard (near the E,A,D strings) your thumb drops.
Now as you rotate the wrist the other way to bring your fretting fingers lower (near the G, B, e) strings) your thumb raises higher.
Hope this analogy helps . . .
Cheers . . .

- Ian C.T. vom Saal

Drew263

ianvomsaal wrote:

YES - thay ALL have bad technique - that's the point!!!
True there are tons of players that can't read a note, don't know much music theory,
and have less than perfect technique and form.
But some of these players are "Good IN SPITE of it, NOT because of it".
Just imagine how good they'd be if these techniques were emphasized more
when they were learning the instrument.
Remember, when you're able to play your instrument with ease and understanding,
you develop more confidence & higher esteem about your own playing.
Therefore the overall benefit is that you have more fun.
Cheers . . .

- Ian C.T. vom Saal

Two things I heard a lot from my instructor when I first started.

1. Lower your wrist!!
2. Keep your thumb on the back of the neck!

Eventually it becomes natural.