Whats with some guitar players using their thumbs?

mattm · Post by **mattm** » Sun Oct 12, 2003 6:25 pm

i don't really use my thumb for fretting, but i do use my thumb to mute the bassE .... like with open chords (A, Am, C, etc..). that way i can strum hard without having to avoid striking the bassE. (i imagine many of you do the same).

but the thumb-fret style does require large hands, and really is a totally different style of playing. it requres you to grip the neck like a baseball bat, which is dead opposite of the 'classical' grip that is taught most. the 'classical' method requires your fretting hand to be moved much further under the neck (your palm doesn't touch the neck), and enables you to 'spread' your hand much easier and play faster since it avoids having to change your grip for each chord in a progression.

i prefer the 'classical' grip. works best for me.

gravedigger · Post by **gravedigger** » Sun Oct 12, 2003 8:15 pm

mattm wrote:i don't really use my thumb for fretting, but i do use my thumb to mute the bassE .... like with open chords (A, Am, C, etc..). that way i can strum hard without having to avoid striking the bassE. (i imagine many of you do the same).

yeah, I do the same.

mattm wrote: but the thumb-fret style does require large hands, and really is a totally different style of playing. it requres you to grip the neck like a baseball bat, which is dead opposite of the 'classical' grip that is taught most. the 'classical' method requires your fretting hand to be moved much further under the neck (your palm doesn't touch the neck), and enables you to 'spread' your hand much easier and play faster since it avoids having to change your grip for each chord in a progression.

i prefer the 'classical' grip. works best for me.

yes. I prefer the classical grip as well, I like to fret the low E with my index as much as possible (instead of my thumb) cause it tends to sound better and also can mute the A and or D with that finger if need be. with the classical grip you can really get that pinky stretched out. all depends what chords you're after.

fatjack · Post by **fatjack** » Sun Oct 12, 2003 8:32 pm

mattm wrote: but the thumb-fret style does require large hands, and really is a totally different style of playing. it requres you to grip the neck like a baseball bat, which is dead opposite of the 'classical' grip that is taught most. the 'classical' method requires your fretting hand to be moved much further under the neck (your palm doesn't touch the neck), and enables you to 'spread' your hand much easier and play faster since it avoids having to change your grip for each chord in a progression.

i prefer the 'classical' grip. works best for me.

its not like you can't just change between the different style grips, you just move your wrist. you need to be able to play both ways to advance in styles like jazz

mattm · Post by **mattm** » Sun Oct 12, 2003 11:43 pm

Fatjack: i wanna hear some of your stuff. from your post, i imagine you're pretty damn good. mind sharing some rec's and advice.

s'il vous plait

mattm · Post by **mattm** » Sun Oct 12, 2003 11:44 pm

*** from all the posts i've read of yours......

fatjack · Post by **fatjack** » Sun Oct 12, 2003 11:47 pm

mattm wrote:Fatjack: i wanna hear some of your stuff. from your post, i imagine you're pretty damn good. mind sharing some rec's and advice.

s'il vous plait

http://jkavanaugh.iuma.com

subotai · Post by **subotai** » Sun Oct 12, 2003 11:49 pm

Is that TR cover hard to play?

Deceptively Irish is a nice tune.

Thomas · Post by **Thomas** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 12:58 am

subotai wrote:*cough John Mayer *cough* to fret stuff on the 6th string? Like every song he is fretting something that way. Dave never does it. I dont paticularly like that style at all.

yeah dave does do it sometimes

if you watch a video of ants marching the first chord is D/F# (200232)and he uses his thumb to fret the low E string. thats the only one i can think of off the top of my head but it just makes things easier if you can do it

Roastbeef · Post by **Roastbeef** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 7:48 am

Appsoldier wrote:i actually can't play the F#/D like dave plays it. i have to do it w/ my thumb. it's because it's the was i learned it.

Yup. I use it on this chord too. That's about it...

skilly · Post by **skilly** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 8:36 am

i only use it on chords like the ones in "man on the side" like 2X2200

gravedigger · Post by **gravedigger** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 8:58 am

fatjack wrote:
mattm wrote: but the thumb-fret style does require large hands, and really is a totally different style of playing. it requres you to grip the neck like a baseball bat, which is dead opposite of the 'classical' grip that is taught most. the 'classical' method requires your fretting hand to be moved much further under the neck (your palm doesn't touch the neck), and enables you to 'spread' your hand much easier and play faster since it avoids having to change your grip for each chord in a progression.

i prefer the 'classical' grip. works best for me.
its not like you can't just change between the different style grips, you just move your wrist. you need to be able to play both ways to advance in styles like jazz

yeah that's right, you just move your wrist, but it takes practice. I switch "styles" all the time and don't really think about what I'm doing. how long have you been playing, Fatjack and what kind of stuff do you play? I guess I should listen for myself

I'll check out your link

fatjack · Post by **fatjack** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 9:02 am

gravedigger wrote:
fatjack wrote:
mattm wrote: but the thumb-fret style does require large hands, and really is a totally different style of playing. it requres you to grip the neck like a baseball bat, which is dead opposite of the 'classical' grip that is taught most. the 'classical' method requires your fretting hand to be moved much further under the neck (your palm doesn't touch the neck), and enables you to 'spread' your hand much easier and play faster since it avoids having to change your grip for each chord in a progression.

i prefer the 'classical' grip. works best for me.
its not like you can't just change between the different style grips, you just move your wrist. you need to be able to play both ways to advance in styles like jazz
yeah that's right, you just move your wrist, but it takes practice. I switch "styles" all the time and don't really think about what I'm doing. how long have you been playing, Fatjack and what kind of stuff do you play? I guess I should listen for myself I'll check out your link

i learned by playing jazz, so i had to learn how to move between chords quickly and smoothly

tip for all guitar players: if you wanna get better at playing guitar, get in a jazz band and play every single day

gravedigger · Post by **gravedigger** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 9:12 am

I'm not worried about getting better at playing guitar, and yes, I'd love to get in a jazz band or any band for that matter. fuckin' sick of playing by myself all the time.

fatjack · Post by **fatjack** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 9:13 am

gravedigger wrote:I'm not worried about getting better at playing guitar, and yes, I'd love to get in a jazz band or any band for that matter. fuckin' sick of playing by myself all the time.

you dont wanna get better?

gravedigger · Post by **gravedigger** » Mon Oct 13, 2003 9:14 am

I fuckin' love Hopeful Hearsay

DMBTabs.com

Whats with some guitar players using their thumbs?

Re: Whats with some guitar players using their thumbs?