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Hand Position
Hand Position
Hi Guys,
I am trying to improve my technique and strength.
I am currently trying a fingergym exercise that exercises all 4 fingers
independently.
I wonder, should ONLY the thumb be in contact with the back of the neck?
At the moment, part of my palm (just under ny index finger) hits the back of
the neck as well. When I try to tap or pluck the fine E string on the first
fret I dont seem to get enough purchase on the string.
I dont want to continue trying the exercise with the wrong form so can
anyone advise me on the correct LEFT hand position for plucking/tapping.
Cheers
Hi Guys,
I am trying to improve my technique and strength.
I am currently trying a fingergym exercise that exercises all 4 fingers
independently.
I wonder, should ONLY the thumb be in contact with the back of the neck?
At the moment, part of my palm (just under ny index finger) hits the back of
the neck as well. When I try to tap or pluck the fine E string on the first
fret I dont seem to get enough purchase on the string.
I dont want to continue trying the exercise with the wrong form so can
anyone advise me on the correct LEFT hand position for plucking/tapping.
Cheers
Re: Hand Position
news.virginmedia,com wrote:
> ... should ONLY the thumb be in contact with the back of the
> neck?
Try and describe, in text, how to sit correctly in a chair
or how to walk.
Have difficulty describing?
Trying to asess playing ergonomics via a text
based forum is pretty useless. Everyone's thumbs,
hands, guitars are different.
The ONLY hard and fast rule I subscribe to is,
there ARE no hard and fast rules. If anyone tells you
"you have to put your thumb here", that lets you know
immediately that is the wrong person to get advice from.
Lumpy
In Your Ears for 40 Years
www .LumpyMusic,com
news.virginmedia,com wrote:
> ... should ONLY the thumb be in contact with the back of the
> neck?
Try and describe, in text, how to sit correctly in a chair
or how to walk.
Have difficulty describing?
Trying to asess playing ergonomics via a text
based forum is pretty useless. Everyone's thumbs,
hands, guitars are different.
The ONLY hard and fast rule I subscribe to is,
there ARE no hard and fast rules. If anyone tells you
"you have to put your thumb here", that lets you know
immediately that is the wrong person to get advice from.
Lumpy
In Your Ears for 40 Years
www .LumpyMusic,com
Re: Hand Position
"news.virginmedia,com " <voodoochile3@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
news:MN4Jj.2377$tW.2146@newsfet29.ams...
> Hi Guys,
>
> I am trying to improve my technique and strength.
>
> I am currently trying a fingergym exercise that exercises all 4 fingers
> independently.
>
> I wonder, should ONLY the thumb be in contact with the back of the neck?
>
> At the moment, part of my palm (just under ny index finger) hits the back
> of
> the neck as well. When I try to tap or pluck the fine E string on the
> first
> fret I dont seem to get enough purchase on the string.
>
> I dont want to continue trying the exercise with the wrong form so can
> anyone advise me on the correct LEFT hand position for plucking/tapping.
In my experience, different situations call for different positions. When I
started out on classical guitar to play classical stuff, it really helped to
place the thumb on the middle of the back of a neck. It made it easier and
faster for me to be ready to form all kinds of different finger placements.
When I moved onto electric guitar, it started to vary, as there were more
techniques which were introduced compared to classical fingerings. Yes it
helps to place the thumb on the back of the neck at most times, but there
were times when it was needed to grip the neck and sometimes thumb over the
neck. Things like D chord made me use thumb-over to fret the F# note, while
I gripped the almost whole back when soloing that required things like
bending the strings, vibrato, etc.
It all depends on different situations, at least for me.
"news.virginmedia,com " <voodoochile3@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
news:MN4Jj.2377$tW.2146@newsfet29.ams...
> Hi Guys,
>
> I am trying to improve my technique and strength.
>
> I am currently trying a fingergym exercise that exercises all 4 fingers
> independently.
>
> I wonder, should ONLY the thumb be in contact with the back of the neck?
>
> At the moment, part of my palm (just under ny index finger) hits the back
> of
> the neck as well. When I try to tap or pluck the fine E string on the
> first
> fret I dont seem to get enough purchase on the string.
>
> I dont want to continue trying the exercise with the wrong form so can
> anyone advise me on the correct LEFT hand position for plucking/tapping.
In my experience, different situations call for different positions. When I
started out on classical guitar to play classical stuff, it really helped to
place the thumb on the middle of the back of a neck. It made it easier and
faster for me to be ready to form all kinds of different finger placements.
When I moved onto electric guitar, it started to vary, as there were more
techniques which were introduced compared to classical fingerings. Yes it
helps to place the thumb on the back of the neck at most times, but there
were times when it was needed to grip the neck and sometimes thumb over the
neck. Things like D chord made me use thumb-over to fret the F# note, while
I gripped the almost whole back when soloing that required things like
bending the strings, vibrato, etc.
It all depends on different situations, at least for me.
Re: Hand Position
I can't do the thumb on the back of the neck thing. My hands are too big.
I look like I'm doing 'the crane' or something.
I don't much worry about the thumb. It seems to know where to go all on
it's own.
-Larry
"Alai" <alai702@texanet,com > wrote in message
news:fpqdnRaKYKcDZ2nanZ2dnUVZ oGjnZ2d@comcast,com ...
> "news.virginmedia,com " <voodoochile3@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:MN4Jj.2377$tW.2146@newsfet29.ams...
>> Hi Guys,
>>
>> I am trying to improve my technique and strength.
>>
>> I am currently trying a fingergym exercise that exercises all 4 fingers
>> independently.
>>
>> I wonder, should ONLY the thumb be in contact with the back of the neck?
>>
>> At the moment, part of my palm (just under ny index finger) hits the back
>> of
>> the neck as well. When I try to tap or pluck the fine E string on the
>> first
>> fret I dont seem to get enough purchase on the string.
>>
>> I dont want to continue trying the exercise with the wrong form so can
>> anyone advise me on the correct LEFT hand position for plucking/tapping.
>
> In my experience, different situations call for different positions. When
> I started out on classical guitar to play classical stuff, it really
> helped to place the thumb on the middle of the back of a neck. It made it
> easier and faster for me to be ready to form all kinds of different finger
> placements.
>
> When I moved onto electric guitar, it started to vary, as there were more
> techniques which were introduced compared to classical fingerings. Yes it
> helps to place the thumb on the back of the neck at most times, but there
> were times when it was needed to grip the neck and sometimes thumb over
> the neck. Things like D chord made me use thumb-over to fret the F# note,
> while I gripped the almost whole back when soloing that required things
> like bending the strings, vibrato, etc.
>
> It all depends on different situations, at least for me.
>
I can't do the thumb on the back of the neck thing. My hands are too big.
I look like I'm doing 'the crane' or something.
I don't much worry about the thumb. It seems to know where to go all on
it's own.
-Larry
"Alai" <alai702@texanet,com > wrote in message
news:fpqdnRaKYKcDZ2nanZ2dnUVZ oGjnZ2d@comcast,com ...
> "news.virginmedia,com " <voodoochile3@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:MN4Jj.2377$tW.2146@newsfet29.ams...
>> Hi Guys,
>>
>> I am trying to improve my technique and strength.
>>
>> I am currently trying a fingergym exercise that exercises all 4 fingers
>> independently.
>>
>> I wonder, should ONLY the thumb be in contact with the back of the neck?
>>
>> At the moment, part of my palm (just under ny index finger) hits the back
>> of
>> the neck as well. When I try to tap or pluck the fine E string on the
>> first
>> fret I dont seem to get enough purchase on the string.
>>
>> I dont want to continue trying the exercise with the wrong form so can
>> anyone advise me on the correct LEFT hand position for plucking/tapping.
>
> In my experience, different situations call for different positions. When
> I started out on classical guitar to play classical stuff, it really
> helped to place the thumb on the middle of the back of a neck. It made it
> easier and faster for me to be ready to form all kinds of different finger
> placements.
>
> When I moved onto electric guitar, it started to vary, as there were more
> techniques which were introduced compared to classical fingerings. Yes it
> helps to place the thumb on the back of the neck at most times, but there
> were times when it was needed to grip the neck and sometimes thumb over
> the neck. Things like D chord made me use thumb-over to fret the F# note,
> while I gripped the almost whole back when soloing that required things
> like bending the strings, vibrato, etc.
>
> It all depends on different situations, at least for me.
>
Re: Hand Position
Larry wrote:
> I don't much worry about the thumb.
> It seems to know where to go all
> on it's own.
Odd little digit, isn't it.
I too, never knew what all the fuss
was about where I was "supposed" to put it.
I keep mine right next to my hand.
Very handy.
Lumpy
In Your Ears for 40 Years
www .LumpyMusic,com
Larry wrote:
> I don't much worry about the thumb.
> It seems to know where to go all
> on it's own.
Odd little digit, isn't it.
I too, never knew what all the fuss
was about where I was "supposed" to put it.
I keep mine right next to my hand.
Very handy.
Lumpy
In Your Ears for 40 Years
www .LumpyMusic,com
Re: Hand Position
Virgin,
Guitar playing does not require great strength so these finger exercises
may be pointless. I often post here recommending that beginners find a
teacher. Your left hand position question illustrates why. Hands come in all
sorts of shapes so the proper left hand position varies from student to
student. The best you can do is get the advice of a few knowledgeable
teachers and then try out their recommendations. Eventually you may find
your left hand position.
I've never tried tapping So I have no other recommendation.
Dave M.
Virgin,
Guitar playing does not require great strength so these finger exercises
may be pointless. I often post here recommending that beginners find a
teacher. Your left hand position question illustrates why. Hands come in all
sorts of shapes so the proper left hand position varies from student to
student. The best you can do is get the advice of a few knowledgeable
teachers and then try out their recommendations. Eventually you may find
your left hand position.
I've never tried tapping So I have no other recommendation.
Dave M.
