Is ur thumb above or behind the neck?

rafazu41 · 11-03-2009, 09:29 PM

Im not sure if the question is correctly written but when u play do u have ur thumb like this

Or like this

Maybe its a stupid question but i was curious..

Atomic · 11-03-2009, 09:31 PM

i dont have insanely long fingers like hendrix..

besides that, someone told me early on that the "proper" hand position was "as if you have a rubber ball in the palm of your hand" .. so i would say im behind the neck most of the time.

diceman · 11-03-2009, 09:32 PM

Depends on the chords I'm playing.

So, both.

My bad habit is keeping my pinky behind the neck when I play power chords...

Boleskinehouse · 11-03-2009, 09:32 PM

Both, depending on what my hand has to do.

rafazu41 · 11-03-2009, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diceman

My bad habit is keeping my pinky behind the neck when I play power chords...

I cant imagine that.. can you show me a picture lol...

Mr Insane · 11-03-2009, 09:36 PM

Both

QuicksilverSS · 11-03-2009, 09:39 PM

Both..........

Ride on a Pony · 11-03-2009, 09:47 PM

I'd say everyone would be both. I'm yet to meet someone who can span 5 or 6 frets and have their thumb over the top, and then mute the low E with it planted on the back of the neck.

nauc · 11-03-2009, 09:48 PM

both, depending on what im playing

claricSTi · 11-03-2009, 09:54 PM

I hate to be Debbie Downer, but isn't this in the wrong section?

For the record, I go both ways (not like that, get your mind out of the gutters)

It depends on what I am playing and what I am trying to do. A lot of the time it seems I can access my low E string better when using my thumb, when I am trying to play something more technical it helps having my thumb behind the neck in proper playing position. I've heard of many guitar teachers that will tell you to never move that thumb over the neck though, no matter what.

In my eyes, do what feels right. To me, it makes more sense to use your thumb. If you don't, then 20% of your fretting hand isn't even being used.
So for me thumbs up

Mike's_LP · 11-03-2009, 09:55 PM

I have pretty long fingers, but like the others, it all depends on what I'm doing at the moment.

Jon Rambo · 11-03-2009, 09:58 PM

Depends. Sometime's it's behind, sometimes I actually fret the low E string with my thumb. So my thumb moves around.

River · 11-03-2009, 09:58 PM

D7:

E:

Pinky bend:

TKOjams · 11-03-2009, 10:01 PM

For Blues, Thumbs all the way!!

FastFret · 11-03-2009, 10:03 PM

My thumb is all over the back of the neck.......

rafazu41 · 11-03-2009, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by River

D7:

E:

Pinky bend:

Colombia if you where asking to me :S

jon1 · 11-03-2009, 10:22 PM

My thumb position just depends on where my fingers happen to be. Did hendrix have his thumb over the top all the time? I think he hit quite a few low E notes with his thumb.

rafazu41 · 11-03-2009, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jon1

Did hendrix have his thumb over the top all the time?

I think he did.. but im not sure atleast he did it most of the time..

YouTube - All Along The Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix

faded studio · 11-03-2009, 10:29 PM

both

AXE · 11-03-2009, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boleskinehouse

Both, depending on what my hand has to do.

diceman · 11-03-2009, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rafazu41

I cant imagine that.. can you show me a picture lol...

phos · 11-04-2009, 12:15 AM

I learned classical guitar when I was young so I never learned to ever play with my thumb wrapped over the top, not to mention the necks on those types of guitars are really huge. Recently when I picked up the guitar again, I started learning rock/metal type songs and so wrapping my thumb over the top over the neck was foreign to me. After 2 weeks of concentrated practicing I actually much prefer it for muting the low E or even using it to fret the low E. I've gotten a pretty handle on it even with my fattest LP neck ('58 Reissue). I personally prefer wrapping my thumb over as I find I have better muting control on both the up and down strokes, but it really depends on what feels comfortable to you and what you are playing.

Thundergod · 11-04-2009, 12:16 AM

On top, most of the time.

diceman · 11-04-2009, 12:24 AM

I fret the low E string with my thumb on my version of the Barre Chord.

yllsacky · 11-04-2009, 12:35 AM

over on my lp's and under when im playing my acoustic

BlackStrat · 11-04-2009, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diceman

I fret the low E string with my thumb on my version of the Barre Chord.

This is what I do also.

I didn't start doing it until I started playing hendrix type things though. Most of what he does is out of that thumb over type playing.

kelv_w · 11-04-2009, 02:46 AM

both

Didn't use as much until I started learning Hendrix as well.

Mark H · 11-04-2009, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rafazu41

Im not sure if the question is correctly written but when u play do u have ur thumb like this

Or like this

Maybe its a stupid question but i was curious..

Were you really asking ....Do yall play the way that most books tell ya to>>> Thumb planted on the back in the center?
OR
Get ?? Lazy

and wrap your thumb around the side?

Not so much the Hendrix Purple Haze thing on the E in the pic.

One vote for LAZY thumb wrapin me.OR
Is "grippin" the neck like that all so wrong??

chazza · 11-04-2009, 03:54 AM

Both. Behind the neck when I am playing barre chords and over the top the rest of the time.
I have a really bad playing technique....

Dr. Brown · 11-04-2009, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by diceman

Depends on the chords I'm playing.

So, both.

My bad habit is keeping my pinky behind the neck when I play power chords...

Ha! I do that too!

11-03-2009, 09:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
rafazu41 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Santa Marta, Colombia, South America Posts: 185 Thanks: 1 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Is ur thumb above or behind the neck? Im not sure if the question is correctly written but when u play do u have ur thumb like this Or like this Maybe its a stupid question but i was curious..

11-03-2009, 09:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
Atomic Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N'orlins :D Posts: 1,852 Thanks: 52 Thanked 46 Times in 13 Posts	Re: Is ur thumb above or behind the neck? i dont have insanely long fingers like hendrix.. besides that, someone told me early on that the "proper" hand position was "as if you have a rubber ball in the palm of your hand" .. so i would say im behind the neck most of the time. __________________ check out my bands new video! -->Atomic Pilot - Radio Waves My band Atomic Pilot on: FACEBOOK YouTube atomicpilot.com Myspace Twitter

11-03-2009, 09:32 PM	#3 (permalink)
diceman V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Montana Posts: 29,930 Thanks: 1,212 Thanked 419 Times in 83 Posts	Re: Is ur thumb above or behind the neck? Depends on the chords I'm playing. So, both. My bad habit is keeping my pinky behind the neck when I play power chords...

11-03-2009, 09:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
Boleskinehouse Banned Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Next to Raleighwood Posts: 27,153 Thanks: 91 Thanked 673 Times in 114 Posts	Re: Is ur thumb above or behind the neck? Both, depending on what my hand has to do.

11-03-2009, 09:36 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mr Insane Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,472 Thanks: 333 Thanked 157 Times in 60 Posts	Re: Is ur thumb above or behind the neck? Both __________________ https://soundcloud.com/jachinharder/destroy-the-arena http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Ov...13175585481437 https://twitter.com/overflowohio

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11-03-2009, 09:39 PM	#7 (permalink)
QuicksilverSS Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Zebulon,N.C Posts: 9,262 Thanks: 652 Thanked 622 Times in 177 Posts	Re: Is ur thumb above or behind the neck? Both.......... __________________

11-03-2009, 09:47 PM	#8 (permalink)
Ride on a Pony Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 2,510 Thanks: 79 Thanked 22 Times in 8 Posts	Re: Is ur thumb above or behind the neck? I'd say everyone would be both. I'm yet to meet someone who can span 5 or 6 frets and have their thumb over the top, and then mute the low E with it planted on the back of the neck.

11-03-2009, 09:48 PM	#9 (permalink)
nauc Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: USA Posts: 7,370 Thanks: 1 Thanked 356 Times in 151 Posts	Re: Is ur thumb above or behind the neck? both, depending on what im playing __________________ Gibson Les Paul Studio Peavey Classic 30

11-03-2009, 09:54 PM	#10 (permalink)
claricSTi Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 476 Thanks: 28 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Is ur thumb above or behind the neck? I hate to be Debbie Downer, but isn't this in the wrong section? For the record, I go both ways (not like that, get your mind out of the gutters) It depends on what I am playing and what I am trying to do. A lot of the time it seems I can access my low E string better when using my thumb, when I am trying to play something more technical it helps having my thumb behind the neck in proper playing position. I've heard of many guitar teachers that will tell you to never move that thumb over the neck though, no matter what. In my eyes, do what feels right. To me, it makes more sense to use your thumb. If you don't, then 20% of your fretting hand isn't even being used. So for me thumbs up __________________ Tone is in the pants

11-03-2009, 09:55 PM	#11 (permalink)
Mike's_LP Premium Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 4,596 Thanks: 157 Thanked 84 Times in 29 Posts	Re: Is ur thumb above or behind the neck? I have pretty long fingers, but like the others, it all depends on what I'm doing at the moment.

11-03-2009, 09:58 PM	#12 (permalink)
Jon Rambo Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 312 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Is ur thumb above or behind the neck? Depends. Sometime's it's behind, sometimes I actually fret the low E string with my thumb. So my thumb moves around.

11-03-2009, 09:58 PM	#13 (permalink)
River Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Rural Colorado, USA Posts: 54,443 Thanks: 742 Thanked 847 Times in 77 Posts	Re: Is ur thumb above or behind the neck? D7: E: Pinky bend: __________________ River Bottom Blues Band - Music Home of the River Bottom Blues Band

11-03-2009, 10:01 PM	#14 (permalink)
TKOjams Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Connecticut Posts: 9,541 Thanks: 92 Thanked 177 Times in 54 Posts	Re: Is ur thumb above or behind the neck? For Blues, Thumbs all the way!! __________________ Flametop Special Build - Carvetop Doublecut Build - '57 Custom BB Replica Build - '56-ish Flame Top Build - Boudreau Celia build - Lefty Walnut Les Paul Build My ebay auctions.. http://www.ebay.com/itm/290915967253...#ht_843wt_1395

11-03-2009, 10:03 PM	#15 (permalink)
FastFret Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Mount Washington Kentucky Posts: 1,046 Thanks: 28 Thanked 17 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Is ur thumb above or behind the neck? My thumb is all over the back of the neck.......

11-03-2009, 10:22 PM	#17 (permalink)
jon1 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,303 Thanks: 4 Thanked 11 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Is ur thumb above or behind the neck? My thumb position just depends on where my fingers happen to be. Did hendrix have his thumb over the top all the time? I think he hit quite a few low E notes with his thumb. __________________ Does anybody read these anyway? But to give myself some credibility around here my two favorites are my 1998 Orville LP Standard and my 1998 Standard Strat. You can check out my stuff at http://www.reverbnation.com/jonhyman

11-03-2009, 10:29 PM	#19 (permalink)
faded studio Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 910 Thanks: 0 Thanked 15 Times in 6 Posts	Re: Is ur thumb above or behind the neck? both

11-04-2009, 12:15 AM	#22 (permalink)
phos Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 53 Thanks: 5 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Is ur thumb above or behind the neck? I learned classical guitar when I was young so I never learned to ever play with my thumb wrapped over the top, not to mention the necks on those types of guitars are really huge. Recently when I picked up the guitar again, I started learning rock/metal type songs and so wrapping my thumb over the top over the neck was foreign to me. After 2 weeks of concentrated practicing I actually much prefer it for muting the low E or even using it to fret the low E. I've gotten a pretty handle on it even with my fattest LP neck ('58 Reissue). I personally prefer wrapping my thumb over as I find I have better muting control on both the up and down strokes, but it really depends on what feels comfortable to you and what you are playing.

11-04-2009, 12:16 AM	#23 (permalink)
Thundergod Douchebag extraordinaire Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 9,569 Thanks: 586 Thanked 310 Times in 138 Posts	Re: Is ur thumb above or behind the neck? On top, most of the time.

11-04-2009, 12:24 AM	#24 (permalink)
diceman V.I.P. Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Montana Posts: 29,930 Thanks: 1,212 Thanked 419 Times in 83 Posts	Re: Is ur thumb above or behind the neck? I fret the low E string with my thumb on my version of the Barre Chord.

11-04-2009, 12:35 AM	#25 (permalink)
yllsacky Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Svearike Posts: 2,725 Thanks: 80 Thanked 22 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Is ur thumb above or behind the neck? over on my lp's and under when im playing my acoustic

11-04-2009, 02:46 AM	#27 (permalink)
kelv_w Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: UK Posts: 867 Thanks: 42 Thanked 84 Times in 23 Posts	Re: Is ur thumb above or behind the neck? both Didn't use as much until I started learning Hendrix as well. __________________ Gibson LesPaul CCV#01 Melvyn Franks 59 '10 Gibson LesPaul Historic VOS 1958 '09 Gibson LesPaul GaryMoore BFG '09 Gibson LesPaul VintageMahogany '08 Epiphone ES335 Dot VS Fender Stratocaster '09 MIK Squire Stratocaster '99 Travellers Guitar EG-1 Orange TinyTerror\|PPC112, Haze 15, Blackstar HT5 Marshall Slash AFD100 Marshall YJM100

11-04-2009, 03:54 AM	#29 (permalink)
chazza Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: UK Posts: 1,279 Thanks: 4 Thanked 7 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Is ur thumb above or behind the neck? Both. Behind the neck when I am playing barre chords and over the top the rest of the time. I have a really bad playing technique....

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