However the thumb should form a 90 degree position with the neck, not dragging behind, or in a parallel position with the strings. Loosely maintain the closed hand position. In this lesson, we will be discussing proper left hand form when forming chord shapes and playing single notes. You can also subscribe without commenting. It will be up to you to keep an eye on yourself as you continue in this course, and make sure those proper positions are becoming habitual. Youâll find it much harder to see your left hand, for a start. I think there are two general types of hand positions that are useful when playing guitar. Most of this has to do with how you’re holding the guitar and your fretting hand position. 3. Use the tip of your fingers to press down the strings and place them as close to the fret as possible. 1. I studied classical guitar for years. Extend your left hand, palm up, and make a loose fist, placing your thumb roughly between your first and second fingers. I just wanted to find out your thoughts regarding using a guitar stool to improve holding the guitar as well as the fretting hand? 1. To get an idea of correct left-hand positioning on the acoustic guitar, extend your left hand, palm up, and make a loose fist, placing your thumb roughly between your first and second fingers. Posts: 1. Because of the demands of left hand playing, it is not always possible to stay in this position. Left hand position and finger placement (fretting hand) The thumb of your fretting hand should rest behind the neck of the guitar placing it approximately between your first two fingers. You’ll also learn the tips and tricks that separate a real guitarist from a beginner. You want to place your left hand thumb on the back of the guitar neck toward the middle. This technique is essential for Blues, Rock and many other styles - I have included a couple of old lessons here but I think you're much better of learning these techniques in context and they're included in my Blues Lead Guitar 1: Essential module where you'll learn all about the technique and some cool licks (words) to put them to use in! The basics of left hand position on the guitar ... We are going to start with what I call the home base left hand position. This satisfies the requirement of midrange function of joints. A neutral position for the thumb is vertically in the middle of the neck and laterally in line with your index finger. String Bending. The large base knuckles of the finger are positioned on the side of the fretboard opposite the player. ... Notice how the first joints of my left-hand fingers are right over the knuckles of my right hand. I'm a professional classical guitarist. Thumb in the middle of the back of the neck and all 4 fingers having the best reach possible. Although I've played for over 20 years, only in the past 2-3 years I've had a problem with increasing, acute pain in my left thumb joint when holding particular shapes. Wrist Position. Sometimes the pain isn’t just isolated to the thumb, but it spreads to the tendons in the hand, wrist, and arm that connect to the thumb. Some fingers are in the right middle of the frets. 2. All your knuckles should be bent. I learned a lot! Be sure that youâre still relaxing everything, then take a mental snapshot of how your body feels. And that’s where your left hand thumb is in the middle of the back of the neck so that all 4 of your finger have good access to the fretboard. Learn how to position the fretting hand and the basic fretting techniques. Rest Thumb Lightly on the Guitar Neck. If you wear your guitar higher or play seated with a highly angled neck you could even play classical style with your thumb primarily on the back of the neck. The benefits of taking your guitar lessons online, The Benefits of Taking Online Singing Lessons, Getting the most out of your online saxophone lessons, The best setup for your online guitar lessons. This is a question from Paul who wanted to know about the left hand thumb position while playing scales. Try it and youâll see what I mean. Curving the fingers is certainly advantageous, although we may differ slightly on what we believe to be the ideal thumb position. We will discuss where to place the thumb of your left hand on the back of the guitar neck for the best results. Fingerstyle guitar requires the use of the picking hand thumb ⦠The left hand twist (wrist rotation) is set so that the pinky side is slightly closer than the index side. How you position your fretting hand will make a difference to how well you can play the guitar – simple as that. The position of your left hand will vary depending on what you are playing. The left leg on a footstool. Fingering pressure should come from the left arm, the chest and the right arm sits on the bout to keep the guitar still (this is crucial because your thumb pinching used to hold the guitar still but you must stop pinching or you will injure your hand.) The advantage of using thumb position on the bass guitar is that the left hand can cover two octaves or more without shifting position, which facilitates complex passages. – perform music with others – meet students and staff – enjoy light refreshments. Below are images of both good and poor finger position. Guitar solos in a rock and blues style involve a lot of string bends. On both electric and acoustic, youâll play most rhythm (chord-based accompaniment) and virtually all lead (single-note melodies) by holding the pick, or plectrum (the old-fashioned term), between the thumb and index finger.. To play pick-style, hold a guitar in your lap and drape your right arm over the bass bout. Guitar at the perfect angle. Perfect post and photos! The position of the left thumb depends on the angle of the guitar neck. Left Hand Thumb position. This lesson teaches you the basic left hand position and technique. Peter Vogl will take you step by step through basics like playing chords, strum patterns, scales, and more. The correct left hand position can have a big effect on how easy it is to play the guitar. 6. Hi David, are you using “classical” position (guitar on the left leg if you are right-handed)? The pad, not the tip, contacts the guitar.Like the right thumb, the tip joint stays straight (or rather, we don’t bend it).Depending on what the fingers and the music are doing, the thumb may be nearer the top or the bottom of the guitar neck. It usually pluck the bottom three strings of the guitar (4th, 5th and 6th string). Why? A fifth "finger" – by involving the thumb you could achieve specific chord shapes, including chords with the thumb. This forces the hand into a better position and establishes good habits. For the best right hand position, see here. This is a great lesson for beginners and review for intermediates. With out it, the beginner will experience a lot of difficulty grabbing chords and playing scales. Proper form is vital to success on the instrument, as well as, a way to prevent injury. The tension in your hand will reflect in your music and make it harder for you to learn new techniques. The left hand thumb should be open and relaxed. Poor positioning – Arched wrist from excessive wrist extension. ©2015 Sage Music, LLC. Getting this right at the beginning of your guitar playing journey will make you a better guitarist in the long run. Of course, special requirements of the music could force you to abandon the basic left-hand position from time to time. Right hand thumb position and exercises for classical guitar Youtube Video Link. One of the most ... almost perpendicular to the neck of the guitar. Thank you very much for this very good explanation! Left Thumb Position and the Angle of the Guitar Neck. 2.3. The left hand fingers should be positioned so that all of the joints in the fingers are curved and in the middle of their range of motion. Wonderful! Left-hand position: Fretting made easy. Rock/Blues Lead Guitar Hand Position. In this position, your thumb will act as a guide and pivot-point for your hand, allowing your fingers to remain relaxed on the strings. Make sure you have a good guitar strap, adjust it to a comfortable length (forget slinging it down around your knees â looks cool, but itâs a crap playing position) and regularly practice playing while youâre standing up. Thumb Position for Guitar is a free video lesson for beginning guitar players by Peter Vogl. Assume Your Best General Position. Let's quickly recap the most important points to keep in mind as you are learning how to properly position your left and and your right hand for playing guitar. Repeat as many times as ⦠Squeezing the thumb against the neck will make your hand feel tired until you develop a more refined sense of weight and touch in the left hand. My first guitar lessons at age 9 were with a college classical guitar teacher. It's mostly preference, you just want your guitar position preference and your wrist geometry preference to … Filed Under: Fundamentals Tagged With: classical guitar , classical guitar left hand technique , left hand , position Because of the demands of left hand playing, it is not always possible to stay in this position. No wrist flexion or extension. Sure, there are times where you will need to put the thumb square on the back of the neck , eg bar chords or playing lower strings combinations, however generally the standard position of the left hand thumb should look like this, resting on the mid-side of the guitar that is closest to the lower strings: Having your thumb stretched out and parallel with the neck should be avoided. The reasons why we keep the thumb in a low position behind the neck to allow the fingers to stretch properly. I agree with a lot of what you're saying here. Instead it should be slightly to the left of the fingers. Instead it should be slightly to the left of the fingers. It should have minimal deviation and arch, none if possible. This satisfies the requirement of muscular alignment. We are so focused on our left hand in the early stages of development that we start to bring our head down and to the left. Take a good look. The thumb is open, relaxed, and to the left of the fingers. Now engage only the left biceps to bring your hand to the guitarâs neck at the fifth fret. Left Hand Position Really Matters! Brought to you by Strings By Mail and their excellent YouTube channel. Lesson of the Week – Left hand thumb position This is a Q&A via email Youtube Video Link (4k Quality) A discussion and lesson about the left hand thumb position for classical guitar. The correct left hand position can have a big effect on how easy it is to play the guitar. Sitting Position â Head Down and the the Left. Continue this motion with the rest of your fingers: ring, middle, and then your index finger. The first, pictured above, is with your thumb directly under the neck; this is de facto in classical guitar techniqueâtry otherwise with a classically trained teacher and be prepared to receive a earful. Left hand form is one of the least discussed topics when beginning to learn how to play the ukulele. The point where your fingers attach to your hand should be even with the surface of the guitar string. Your hand should look about like that after you stick a guitar neck in there. Isn't there any buzzling sound when we use chord? (See the post on technique for a fuller description.) Use the tip of your fingers to press down the strings and place them as close to the fret as possible. When you’re ready for more, check out our premium membership plan that includes an 18 lesson course for beginners. How to Hold a Guitar. Online Music Lessons: Guitar, Piano, Voice, Violin, Cello, Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Drums and more. – have fun! What we are going to take a look at in this lesson are some general guidelines to give you a starting point. Poor positioning. Now, raise your fretting hand. Make sure that your thumb is kept straight while playing. All your knuckles should be bent. His job is to provide bass notes, rhythm and sometimes strumming. More tips for the left hand: As I said before, I’ll post more in the article on the left hand, this is really more focused on the arm position; Your left thumb should be vertical and not bent at the tip joint; Your left thumb should be behind the 2nd finger Left Thumb Position On Bass Guitar: Try Pivoting The “proper” way of positioning the left hand on the neck is to have it so the left thumb is on the middle of the back of the neck, straight between where the first through fourth fingers will be on the fretboard. Stretched out and parallel with the rest of your fingers around the neck forming shapes. 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