Are my fretting fingers supposed to be able to line up perfectly like I I I I because I can't seem to do that, I can only hold them at a slanted angle.
ive been playing guitar for about 2 and a half years i mainly play thrash metal and when i was playing after a while my thumb on my left hand hurts like hell
@xDXPxJOEx456x1 I`ve been playing for 6 years, and i play all metals. It started hurting like hell, my thumb area, then it got worse and worse. After a few months i couldnt even play a whole song without dropping the guitar. Go see your doctor, get it checked out before it gets too bad like mine. I`ve been 2 months off guitar to heal.
This whole 'right way' crap is absoloute bull. Many all time greats play with a 'bad technique' as long as it doesn't effect playing negatively its not a bad technique. As it happens, this is the way I position my left hand, but hendrix, scott ian, even john petrucci all do it the 'wrong way'
Had problem with the far stretching on the "spider riff" when playing master of puppets and also some riff on nothing else matters with metallica, now it's no problem at all!
hello there, thank you for uploading lessons. I have one question about my left hand pinky position: When try to play fast, it tend to stand up straight. Is this a bad habit? Should I change it (I have tried to but it looks hard). Cause when i look at guitarist like Jimi, Govan, Clapton, Page and even my friend etc, their pinky always in a 'curl' position (and it looks great), but after researching i see Joe Satriani or Eric Johnson, their pinky tends to stay straight sometimes too.Pls help me:(
The thumb over position should ONLY be used for bends/vibrato. As you've observed, the fingers can spread out further with the thumb behind the neck, this is because this position reduces tension and improves finger independence, flexibility and accuracy.
I'd also like to point out that your fingers ought to be parallel to the frets when in the "spread" position, which yours were not. Your pinky finger technique is far too stiff and tense. I don't think you ought to be giving anyone lessons.
Hey thanks for the video. The thumb over the top position is where my hand jumped to naturally but I want to practice the spread position as well. I've been practicing for about a week now and mainly just working on flexibility and fretting. In the spread position as I approach my max I feal the tendon "pop" over the top of my pinky nuckle. This is really distracting and a bit painful, does this improve with conditioning of the hand?
I have had a guitar for 3 days. I want to play blues. I have watched videos of Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Guy, BB King, and Duane Allman, and they all play with the thumb over the top of the neck. This is also the most comfortable for me as a beginner. The 'classical' style with the thumb in the center of the neck is very uncomfortable as of yet. Thank you for the affirmation. I just want to be comfortable and learn to play in the easiest manner for me. Great vid.
I've been playing for a few weeks now, and I was having problems stretching my fingers to get some of the chords. After watching your video, I figured out my thumb was up too high on the back. Thank you for explaining that clearly and slowly. My problem is now corrected thanks to you. Keep on rockin'!
Maybe try a different guitar posture. Put your guitar on your left leg rather than your right and this should angle the neck upward, this should keep your wrist and forearm straight and stop any pain! Both slant and spread position will feel a bit arkward to start with while your hand adjusts to the new postion but it should become more natural with time.....let me know how you get on......
Hi, i've been playing for about three years and play blues style guitar. I always play with my thumb on the back of the neck and when i try the "slant" position it actually feels very uncomfortable. I even have my thumb on the back of the neck when playing high bends and also i have a habit of bending the G string downwards instead of up. Would you advise against the use of this thumb position in blues guitar and this downward bending?
Thanks for your question, there is nothing wrong with playing blues in the classical 'spread' position. However trying to accurately achieve a targeted bend is very difficult because you have no 'pivot' point ie your first finger in contact with the fretboard at the first knuckle, that said if you are able to do full tone (2 fret) and minor 3rd (3fret) bends effectively with the classical method then go for it!! As for the bending downward, if it's good enough for BB king then it's all good!!!!!
Hello, could you give me a tip? I've been playing for a few years and developed a very comfortable (and efficient) "slant" guitar position, but my classical position was a disaster (pulled my whole wrist out of wack). So i'm seeing a specialised physiotherapist to fix it (it has caused me a tendonitis) which he is doing fantasticaly but he told me to avoid doing the "slant" position. Do you think this is because it is different or potentially harmful (causes excessive stress on the hand)? cheers
It's great to hear you are making good use of these videos. I would suggest asking your physiotherapist about the strain the slant position causes. I have never had any students come to me with anything similar and I teach hundreds of people every week!!
Hope it works out and let me know how you get on..........
i had been playing guitar for nearly 2 years on my own playing in the slant position, i had my first lesson a few days ago and my teacher says my technique is horrible and that i should change to spread, this causing some pain, and doesnt seem to be working, should i persist?
When we were birds??????????
josephsisson 1 week ago
Are my fretting fingers supposed to be able to line up perfectly like I I I I because I can't seem to do that, I can only hold them at a slanted angle.
xdarkherox93 3 weeks ago
nice hotel california end there....
hoehater 1 month ago in playlist Uploaded videos
ive been playing guitar for about 2 and a half years i mainly play thrash metal and when i was playing after a while my thumb on my left hand hurts like hell
xDXPxJOEx456x1 3 months ago
@xDXPxJOEx456x1 I`ve been playing for 6 years, and i play all metals. It started hurting like hell, my thumb area, then it got worse and worse. After a few months i couldnt even play a whole song without dropping the guitar. Go see your doctor, get it checked out before it gets too bad like mine. I`ve been 2 months off guitar to heal.
xxDoubleImpressionxx 1 month ago
This whole 'right way' crap is absoloute bull. Many all time greats play with a 'bad technique' as long as it doesn't effect playing negatively its not a bad technique. As it happens, this is the way I position my left hand, but hendrix, scott ian, even john petrucci all do it the 'wrong way'
lazycrazybastard 6 months ago
Thanks alot, this has been very very helpful!
Had problem with the far stretching on the "spider riff" when playing master of puppets and also some riff on nothing else matters with metallica, now it's no problem at all!
ozzyman91 7 months ago
hello there, thank you for uploading lessons. I have one question about my left hand pinky position: When try to play fast, it tend to stand up straight. Is this a bad habit? Should I change it (I have tried to but it looks hard). Cause when i look at guitarist like Jimi, Govan, Clapton, Page and even my friend etc, their pinky always in a 'curl' position (and it looks great), but after researching i see Joe Satriani or Eric Johnson, their pinky tends to stay straight sometimes too.Pls help me:(
geetard17 7 months ago
The thumb over position should ONLY be used for bends/vibrato. As you've observed, the fingers can spread out further with the thumb behind the neck, this is because this position reduces tension and improves finger independence, flexibility and accuracy.
I'd also like to point out that your fingers ought to be parallel to the frets when in the "spread" position, which yours were not. Your pinky finger technique is far too stiff and tense. I don't think you ought to be giving anyone lessons.
AnarchisticLeper 7 months ago
So the thumb over position is ok, but should the spread (classical) position, be a reference point?
kanemetlake8 10 months ago
Hey thanks for the video. The thumb over the top position is where my hand jumped to naturally but I want to practice the spread position as well. I've been practicing for about a week now and mainly just working on flexibility and fretting. In the spread position as I approach my max I feal the tendon "pop" over the top of my pinky nuckle. This is really distracting and a bit painful, does this improve with conditioning of the hand?
hyperdrachen 1 year ago
I have had a guitar for 3 days. I want to play blues. I have watched videos of Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Guy, BB King, and Duane Allman, and they all play with the thumb over the top of the neck. This is also the most comfortable for me as a beginner. The 'classical' style with the thumb in the center of the neck is very uncomfortable as of yet. Thank you for the affirmation. I just want to be comfortable and learn to play in the easiest manner for me. Great vid.
waxpoetix 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
What song did you play at the very end?
Guitarfreak365 1 year ago
What song did you play at the very end?
Guitarfreak365 1 year ago
I've been playing for a few weeks now, and I was having problems stretching my fingers to get some of the chords. After watching your video, I figured out my thumb was up too high on the back. Thank you for explaining that clearly and slowly. My problem is now corrected thanks to you. Keep on rockin'!
ddhill80 1 year ago
Maybe try a different guitar posture. Put your guitar on your left leg rather than your right and this should angle the neck upward, this should keep your wrist and forearm straight and stop any pain! Both slant and spread position will feel a bit arkward to start with while your hand adjusts to the new postion but it should become more natural with time.....let me know how you get on......
randlesomeguitar 2 years ago
Hi, i've been playing for about three years and play blues style guitar. I always play with my thumb on the back of the neck and when i try the "slant" position it actually feels very uncomfortable. I even have my thumb on the back of the neck when playing high bends and also i have a habit of bending the G string downwards instead of up. Would you advise against the use of this thumb position in blues guitar and this downward bending?
Gibbo1291 2 years ago
Thanks for your question, there is nothing wrong with playing blues in the classical 'spread' position. However trying to accurately achieve a targeted bend is very difficult because you have no 'pivot' point ie your first finger in contact with the fretboard at the first knuckle, that said if you are able to do full tone (2 fret) and minor 3rd (3fret) bends effectively with the classical method then go for it!! As for the bending downward, if it's good enough for BB king then it's all good!!!!!
randlesomeguitar 2 years ago
Hello, could you give me a tip? I've been playing for a few years and developed a very comfortable (and efficient) "slant" guitar position, but my classical position was a disaster (pulled my whole wrist out of wack). So i'm seeing a specialised physiotherapist to fix it (it has caused me a tendonitis) which he is doing fantasticaly but he told me to avoid doing the "slant" position. Do you think this is because it is different or potentially harmful (causes excessive stress on the hand)? cheers
latourchico 3 years ago
It's great to hear you are making good use of these videos. I would suggest asking your physiotherapist about the strain the slant position causes. I have never had any students come to me with anything similar and I teach hundreds of people every week!!
Hope it works out and let me know how you get on..........
randlesomeguitar 3 years ago
i had been playing guitar for nearly 2 years on my own playing in the slant position, i had my first lesson a few days ago and my teacher says my technique is horrible and that i should change to spread, this causing some pain, and doesnt seem to be working, should i persist?
jonnyb2020 2 years ago
great stuff, very helpful
many thanks
thejbl 3 years ago