[Witch Hunter]

First off, hi!

Now, for my question.
I was wondering, my left hand thum is sort of paralyzed (It's been almost cut off a few years ago) and I can't bend it! (I can move it around though and should be able to get it fixed, once I get the self-will to do so )
Now, up until now (My glorious first week of guitar playing ) I've had no problems, but recently a girl from school mentioned I won't be able to play the guitar as good as a "normal thumed" person would be able to, due to the fact she uses her thum to press frets

Now, this sort of sucks for me because I really want to play
I was wondering, will it pose a major problem for playing styles like Jazz? Rock'n'roll? or even Metal?

Thanks in advance for any answer!
~Witch Hunter

[coldethyl]

IMO I can't see it being a problem for you. Some guitarists like to use their thumb to fret the low E string. But then again there are other guitarists who are quite content to let the thumb just sit behind the neck while the fingers do the work around the other side.

If you really want to play, then let NOTHING stand in your way!

Neil

[allthumbs]

It is called a thumb over. You can go your whole playing life and not use one. A classical player does not use it. We don't recommend using it here because it has been known to cause damage to the thumb long term. It is just popular because a lot of rock guys do it. That girl is misinformed. You have no worries about your thumb not going over the neck.

[Witch Hunter]

I'm just scared I won't be able to do anything advanced, or play fast

[allthumbs]

Originally Posted by Witch Hunter

I'm just scared I won't be able to do anything advanced, or play fast

It is just the opposite. One of the skills needed to play fast is being able to reach different notes quickly. Here is a simple test so you can see what I mean. Try to get your thumb as close to being over the top of the neck as you can, Now bar the A chord with your index finger and the 1 string third fret with your second finger to make an A7. Take your pinky and fret the 1 string five fret to go back to playing the A chord with the A note on the top string. Now strum and lift the pinky and put it back. SRV plays a couple of bars doing just this in his tune Close To You. Now do the same thing with your thumb under the neck. You should feel how much easier it is to do the reach. The less stress in your hands, the faster your fingers can move. Next time you look at a sherdder playing at full speed, you won't see a thumb hanging over the top of the neck. It slows you down and limits your fret reach. You really have no worries about your thumb.

[Witch Hunter]

Huzzah! I am happy!
thanks for the answers!

[joehere1]

hey witch hunter
im pretty new to all of this but from what ive learned from everyone ive talked to you dont use your thumb or most pple donot
ive tried and my fingers are a bit messed up but the thumb is fine ( i tried to remove a few of them as well so i know how you feel ) and my hands are not big enough so i couldnt do it either and honestly if felt all wrong when i tried
so keep playing youl do fine

[Witch Hunter]

thanks^^ I tried the same with my right hand (where my thum is normal )
and it wasnt so fun >.<

You're all right:o
~thanks!

[Rockerbob]

My thumb does not bend inward at all. I am not able to use my thumb to fret any strings, not even just the low E string. I just find another way to play the stuff I want to play. It has never been a roadblock for me. I'm certainly not God's gift to guitar playing, but the way my thumb does, or doesn't, bend is not holding me back.