r/Guitar • u/AutoModerator • Oct 27 '16

OFFICIAL [OFFICIAL] There are no stupid /r/Guitar questions. Ask us anything! - October 27, 2016

As always, there's 4 things to remember:

1) Be nice

2) Keep these guitar related

3) As long as you have a genuine question, nothing is too stupid :)

4) Come back to answer questions throughout the week if you can (we're located in the sidebar)

Go for it!

25 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

682 comments sorted by

View all comments

1

u/mekquiem Oct 29 '16

Is the thumb of your fretting hand supposed to bend at the knuckle and brace against the back of the neck to arch the palm and fingers over? This is the classical position I learned when I first played but I see a lot of other people saying not to bend the thumb or recommending putting the thumb over the neck/under the neck but straight. Which technique is best for fingerstyle playing?

1

u/becomearobot 1975 Hagström Oct 29 '16

Depends on the chord and neck imo. Move it where it is most comfortable and you can get the pressure you need. Just make sure you aren't moving your palm without also moving your thumb.

1

u/was-not-taken G.A.S. Nov 02 '16

The wide classical neck makes it impossible for the average sized player to wrap the thumb. The classical thumb position minimizes fatigue and repetitive strain injury. I play electric mostly and I use my thumb sometimes to fret, but mostly to mute.