I've seen lots of artists playing with their thumb resting on the top of the neck, but my guitar teacher says it's a must to place the thumb on the back of the neck. Opinions?
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Playing with your thumb on the back of the neck generally means you have to bend your wrist more, but gives your fingers greater range since they can extend further from below the neck. If you have long fingers or a thin neck it might not be an issue, but I have above-average sized hands and find that with my thumb on the top I have to lay my fingers flat on the strings (making it impossible to play many notes on higher strings if I'm fretting lower ones). On the other hand, some also play bass notes with their thumb wrapped around over the neck. In short, there are downsides and upsides to both methods. I think you should do whatever you prefer as long as it doesn't hurt. |
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If you are a rocker who is just determined to hold your axe in that low-slung "sexy" position, then wrapping your thumb around the neck is about the only way to avoid eventual tendinitis... And that only marginally. If you want the most efficient position and the one least-disposed to cause injury, then adopt the position used by classical guitarists with the thumb below the half-way point of the neck and the wrist essentially straight. Of course, there are intermediate positions as well.... Flatpickers often hold the guitar essentially level, but they are rarely playing wrist-stretching barred chords either. So...Little strain on those important tendons. |
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This has been covered very well in the following questions:
Simple answer though is - it varies, depending on hand size, style, which chord etc. Find out what is comfortable, and avoid painful positions:-) |
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