Bad Habits!

Midnight Rider · #1 February 25th, 2008

I have been playing chords for awhile, I have big hands and have been wrapping my thumb around the neck sometimes playing some chords. I see some pros do that too.

However, I am working more and more on notes up and down the fretboard and finding that some of my chord positions do not place me in a good position to switch to lead and may be a bad habit?

I read a lot to keep your wrist down and only part of thumb on back of the neck with fingers curled over the fretboard.

Now I think I need to revisit my chords in this hand position so I am in a better position to play lead up and down the neck.

How many think it is best to play with only half of your right hand thumb on the back of the neck all the time? It seems to lend itself to lead better.

agent0064life · #2 February 25th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midnight Rider

I have been playing chords for awhile, I have big hands and have been wrapping my thumb around the neck sometimes playing some chords. I see some pros do that too.

However, I am working more and more on notes up and down the fretboard and finding that some of my chord positions do not place me in a good position to switch to lead and may be a bad habit?

I read a lot to keep your wrist down and only part of thumb on back of the neck with fingers curled over the fretboard.

Now I think I need to revisit my chords in this hand position so I am in a better position to play lead up and down the neck.

How many think it is best to play with only half of your right hand thumb on the back of the neck all the time? It seems to lend itself to lead better.

Although I don't have real big hands, I practice the same thumb over the top technique on chords that don't use the low strings, to save face in case the pick happens to come in contact with the string that shouldn't be strummed. I don't really find a problem switching to lead but I guess different strokes

Stratrat · #3 February 25th, 2008

I use thumb over for open chords, thumb on the back of the neck for bar chords. Don't even really notice myself switching between them.

Rockerbob · #4 February 26th, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stratrat

I use thumb over for open chords, thumb on the back of the neck for bar chords. Don't even really notice myself switching between them.

Pretty much the same here, although I never wrap my thumb all the way around and I never use it - because I can't - to add a bass note.

billywhitebread · #5 February 26th, 2008

my boss says i usually have my thumb up my rear end anyway so it really doesn't affect me too much...however, i stopped worrying about thumb placement, i do whatever makes it comfortable and useful like on a D/F# chord or something like that...it also helps me relax my monkeygrip on the fretboard and neck as well....you're at jax bch? i've probably run into you at george's super store before!!! nice to see a neighbor on here!

Midnight Rider · #6 February 26th, 2008

Yeah Man! Jax Beach Rocks! George's is great...I got my Les Paul there.

RedZeppelin · #7 February 27th, 2008

I've been confused about thumb placement from day one. Every lesson I've seen emphasizes placing your thumb on the back of the neck, but I've never seen a pro guitarist play that way. Ever.

For those of you that switch back and forth from the back of the neck to the wrap-around position, how did you learn which position to use at what time? Did it just come naturally after playing for a while, or were you taught different positions for specific chords?

Midnight Rider · #8 February 27th, 2008

Thanks for the input so far. I am probably over concerned about hand position....but I want to develop the best form I can starting out. I asked an instructor tonight....and he said when you get good you don't even need your thumb!

I have just seen some very competent players that appear to keep their wrist lower than the neck with their fingers curled around onto the fretboard, with very little thumb contact.....and it looks like "textbook" form to me.