is it bad technique to play with your thumb not on the back

[Transcend]

Just a quick question to ask if its bad technique to play with you thumb not resting in the back of the neck of the guitar?

sometimes i do have it resting there but sometimes i have the joint of my thumb on the back of the neck with my thumb sticking up.

and also if so why is it bad?

[WezV]

yes its bad... but who cares :P

[Transcend]

will it hinder my playing at all? ive noticed i only seem to do it when im playing really slow finger picked things

[warpthrone]

as long as it sounds good no one gives a damb.

[markofled]

you offten need your thumb to give u strength wen playin barre chords. but i thnk hendrix offten used his thumb to hold down notes on the low E string so really its what ever works for you.

[Elliot]

NO! You cannot play blues/rock based music unless you have a firm grip on the guitar, which means thumb over.





- unless you are playing a classical guitar that was made post 1840 or so, then it is wrong and you will lose balance and have bad posture.  Finger on middle of neck works for neo classical shredding too.

[FELINEGUITARS]

Many players adapt and play both styles - depending on what they are playing both guitar and style wise.

[gwEm]

well, i play both styles... not that i'm a great a player (a bit sh!t in fact, but at least i have a good time :) )

[hamfist]

Whatever works for you is good !  8)

[badgermark]

I always play barre chords without the barre- I use my thumb over the top to hold the low E note. Lets me get fancy with hammer-ons and pull-offs, Hendrix/Fruciante (think under the bridge).

Sod it, there is a 'proper' classical technique, but whatever works, is comfortable and doesn't do you any damage is fine.

[stuh84]

Depends really, for some passages I find the thumb on the back of the neck way preferable, as it allows cleaner execution of the notes, whereas in some fingerpicked parts, or weird droning clean riffs, I get my thumb over for them.

To be honest, anyone who says there is only one way to play is wrong, I don't play one way for same stuff, and it doesn't hinder me whatsoever.

[MrBump]

Also depends on the guitar - some have thinner necks, and lend themselves to using the thumb "over the top".

Basically, it doesn't matter.  I suspect that when you've been playing for a while you'll move your hand into all sorts of positions, not all of which are "text book", but will work for you.

Mark.

[Transcend]

ah thanks i was wondering if this couldve been the cause of my recent injury but i went back playing through everything i played on the day and i noticed that i played them with the thumb on the back of the neck.

[froglord]

You wanna play like folk legend Richie Havens. Take a look at this:

http://www.richiehavens.com/HM3365.htm

[Roobubba]

Basically, it doesn't matter.  I suspect that when you've been playing for a while you'll move your hand into all sorts of positions, not all of which are "text book", but will work for you.

Mark.

+1 to that!

Roo