Thumb Position for Beginners (less pain and better chords)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ก.ค. 2024
- Ever wondered about the proper thumb position for playing guitar? In this video, I'll show you the ideal placement to prevent pain in your thumb and wrist. Plus, I'll start with a crucial, often overlooked tip that's key to mastering your technique.
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Two things I teach my students: palm up and use the strength of the arm to pull fingers into fretboard particularly while barre chording. My Classical teacher taught me this and it really made a positive difference.
I'm glad I found this. Several of you have put out very helpful information about this topic. I'm 58. I played bass professionally for a long time and took guitar back up about 23 years ago I've always struggled with pain from being too tense, pressing too hard and using bad posture/technique. Vids like this help me to understand mistakes and though it's like learning to play all over again, it's really helping. LOL, 58 going on 17............
Good for you! Never too late to pick up music again :)
came (back) to this vid for help as i try to figure out barre chords, which apparently i've googled too many times bc i just got an add for a barre aerobic exercise workout program but IT'S THE WRONG KIND OF BARRE 😂
Thanks for the excellent tips.
This is helpful. I've been playing guitar for almost two years now, a real beginner. The sore finger tips didn't stop me from practicing, but when the base of my left thumb started hurting that I could no longer play for about a month, I've been searching posts on TH-cam for this specific topic, and thank goodness I found your video. Thanks so much!
Glad it helped Sapphire!
How is your thumb now? I think I’m in the exact position you were in when you commented!! My left thumb is super sore at the base and whenever I apply pressure or try to grip things there’s a bit of pain. Did changing your technique solve it?? Do you still play with a thumb behind the neck or do you have it over the top like hendrix?
@@R__A My thumb has stopped hurting since. I have small hands and shorter fingers so I couldn’t position it on top of the guitar’s neck. What helped for me though is made a DYI tube made of thin cardboard to wrap around my thumb from base to the knuckle. When I play, the pressure didn’t hurt as much. But I gave my thumb a rest from playing when the pain is bothersome.
Found this really useful. Thank you so much.
Thank you!❤
Excellent ! Merci beaucoup,
That's pretty much along the lines of how I explain thumb positions. Those of us who have played for about half a century learned through what our bodies have taught us. It's actually more of discovering the ranges of motions needed to get the sounds we're after with as little pain as possible. There will be many epiphanies where we realize something that we have habitually done that makes little sense and then we find a better way. A lot of this can't be taught - it needs to be personally discovered. Tips and pointers can open our eyes to certain things we haven't thought of, but ultimately we will have to go and prove things for ourselves. Enjoy the journey.
Very informative. Thank you. Sir.
Thanks!
Super helpful video!! This has really improved my technique and made a real difference in my playing.
Great to hear it Sidni!
Thanks Thomas
Thank you for the video! I feel a lot of good heart behind it and it's both educational and comforting.
I've been playing the guitar for about 10 years now, but lousily. I decided to take up lessons - and for all my chord knowledge, my basic technique is all wrong: I can't hold barres properly, however hard I press my finger into the guitar, but the thumb seems to be the biggest problem.
I am a short girl and I have tiny hands, so I bought a 2/3 this year, and when I play anything open, my thumb doesn't stay straight but the tip of it bends a little - that's how I can hold the guitar confidently. I was told I am supposed to have my thumb straight and somehow always put pressure through the tip - and I find it hard to move it up or down, or understand how to apply pressure, and the base of my thumb hurts. It's been three weeks and I almost don't practice at all, because I just don't get it and it's stressful to even think about it. It's especially hard to keep it in the middle of the neck - I then have to take my hand all the way front, and my arm front - it's all so uncomfortable it makes me cry!
Is it really such a big problem if my thumb bends a little? It doesn't go forward like in the end of the video, just follows the shape of the neck in the behind. Could it be a short arms/small hands problem?
Hi, You don't have to keep your thumb exactly in the middle of the neck of the guitar. Do what is more comfortable for you, where you are exerting the least pressure on your thumb. Try several ways as I showed in my video and go with whatever feels best for your hand size.
Incredibly well explained Tomas. Appreciated.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Youre such a great teacher! You really knoq how to teach. Ive been watching viral guitar lessons, and most just felt like showing off,ending each lesson with them saying, you know what I mean.
I wish your YT success!
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed this!
😎🎸😊
Thank you man! had bad pains trying to play the barre chords of Everlong, this should work wonders! Thanks!
Glad it helped Ryan!
Thank you Tom!
My pleasure!
Thank you please make more this Kind of video
Excellent video thank you although I am really struggling with the pressure I apply in my fret hand, specifically between thumb and fingers. I find myself holding tight and not relaxing, I’m only two weeks in but it’s really annoying me. I am slowly managing to change between 2-3 chords but the the whole fretting hand doesn’t feel right for me at all..help anyone please 😂
Very very helpful, thank you so much!!! Stay safe and happy.
Thanks Joanna. You too.
omg it was MAGIC when I tried fitting my arm into my side and fitting the guitar neck where my hand reaches. I was able to play my Cm, Bm, and A#m chord way more clearly (: thank you!
You're very welcome Julia.
Oh...this was my query.I can't express my gratitude in words;thus saying only thank you and regards.May God bless you.From India.
You're very welcome Prakash.
Greetings sir!
Thank you for this video it really helped me.
I have struggled with my guitar journey for various reasons but now I am going to be really more patient, if it takes me half a year to really learn the open chords again with the right technique, then why not. I will be more patient and consistent. Also I was always giving up because there is just so much things to focus on, what might be wrong and you just don´t know. Maybe my guitar doesn´t suits me, well don´t give up, try buying a strip it will be easier or something you know?
Anyway I want to ask how to find the right technique with these chords, thumb positioning?
Should I practice one chord for a week with one placement and if it´s okay I move to next chord. If there is a pain or discomfort then I try playing with different placement for another week, or what would you recommend?
Thank you very much!
Your a great teacher, I loved the video. Thank you!
You are so welcome Randy!
@@TomasMichaud my pleasure.
Very helpful. The right way to hold the left hand/wrist/thumb matters and I need to be more conscious of that.
Glad I could help, Eric.
man..Thank you so so much
You're very welcome Moepaing!
Really really great video💯💯💯❤❤❤. Thank you❤
Glad you enjoyed it Levi.
@@TomasMichaud 😌🫂
That was so helpful!! Thanks grandpa 💙💙
Thank you
You're welcome
Very helpful video. I have long fingers and my thumb tended to wrap around the guitar neck. I need to rework all my chords with a new thumb position.
This can be helpful Lindsay if you're in the early stages. But there are times to wrap your thumb around the neck also. Don't stress over it too much.
Thanks Tomas!
How would you mute the 6th string when your thumb is behind the neck for open chords eg c chord , a chord
👏👏👏
I have a question I can't find the answer to. It's about hand morphology and how that affects how you hold the neck. I'm looking at the three minute mark and your thumb is shaped so that the tip arcs back and your pad is on the neck. My thumb doesn't curve like that. It won't curve like that so I have to have the actual tip of my finger just under the nail up against the back of the neck. This feel horrible and painful. I'd imagine that some people's hands are just perfectly formed to hold a bass or a guitar neck while other less so. I can't help but wonder if I fall into the less so category. Do you or does anyone have an insight into this?
My thumb doesn't work right it doesn't stay straight it kinda gets cockeyed the hole pad doesn't stay against the gutair unless my thumb is over the top. My hands are smaller but it's like my thumb won't sit that way, but my thumb behind my nail on the pad gets pretty sore, is there thumb stretches or something after 6 months of playing I figured my fingers and stuff would stretch but it's not looking like it .
Explain about Barre chords..tricks...
Thanks for the suggestion Madhu. Here's one of my videos on making Barre Chords: th-cam.com/video/wsRu8eGNIM4/w-d-xo.html
What if you have double jointed thumb. Which bends 90 degree backward
I'm not sure about that.
Well i have that kind of thumb which really slows my progression technique and all the common rules
thanks Dad
you welcome sonny 😏
I can't get over the tiny fleur de lis 😂
😌
Awful example to be taught.
Your shoulders aren't level, hips aren't level and you're right handed resting the guitar on the left leg.
Is this a joke video?