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Hello. I am a beginner and I just wanted to ask a question. In every guitar book that I have bought and every video lesson I have watched it says that you NEVER, EVER place your thumb on or over the fretboard. Yet, when I see pictures or videos of great guitar players, almost all of them have their thumb hanging over the fretboard! (Including the lessons on this site!) I am so confused. Is that the trick to being a great player? Apparently, Jimi Hendrix even used his thumb to play notes on the low E string. I find playing this way extremely difficult since I always mute a string with my fingers when holding the neck like a baseball bat. Also, in all the books I have read it says to play the strings with your fingers hitting the notes straight on or perpendicular to the fretboard. Again, it appears that when I see experienced guitarists playing, their fingers are on an angle. How in the heck are they not muting any strings?!?! It is taking me so long to play a stupid E major without muting a string. I am curling my hand so far forward my elbow is coming under the neck. I get massive wrist pains too. Which way should I play? Which way is right? Please don’t tell me whichever way is comfortable for me, since it is all uncomfortable for me right now. Anyone tried the way it actually says in the books? I don’t want to develop any bad habits so what is correct?

Hi mrhoades, welcome to AM. I am new to learning guitar as well and I remember having some wrist and hand pain which was frustrating- I came across a tip that helped me. It went like this: The first 3 frets are the most difficult to hold down because they are closest to the nut of the guitar and because we are so eager to have the strings not buzz we push them down hard causing undo tension in the hands and wrist.  The advice is to bring that chord shape down to the fifth fret or higher where the frets are closer together and require less pressure to hold down. Also those finger walking exercises can be helpful with coordination and further developing the muscle memory to form the chords closer to the nut. Well, Good luck with that and hope it works out .
Dawn

Hi mrhoades !

Welcome to you

All I can say about this thumb story is that when you learn to play open chord (the first we usualy learn like A, E, Am, C, G and so on) try to learn them with the thum behind the neck, it’s a good habit if you never played before.

The thumb is used to mute the low E string when you play C, A, D, etc.. all chords who do not require this E string to be played.

But you just have it to move a bit to just touch then strings. At first try to find a natural position, wrist down, fingers with a “cup shape” and thumb behind (up but not too much) the neck .

You can feel little pain at start in your wrist but it is normal. If you feel big pain, stop.

Hop it helps and sorry for my loosy english.

mrhoades - 11 May 2011 02:55 PM

Hello. I am a beginner and I just wanted to ask a question. In every guitar book that I have bought and every video lesson I have watched it says that you NEVER, EVER place your thumb on or over the fretboard. Yet, when I see pictures or videos of great guitar players, almost all of them have their thumb hanging over the fretboard!

Many players will use their thumb to play the bass note on the low E string, particularly in acoustic blues and other fingerstyles.  It may feel awkward, but with practice this can be done with the thumb angled to the fretboard.  In blues, there ain’t no rules.  It’s the music that is important.  As well, for some difficult chord inversions it may be easier to use the thumb.