Whats with some guitar players using their thumbs?

[mattm]

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]

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.

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]

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]

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]

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

[fatjack]

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]

Is that TR cover hard to play?

Deceptively Irish is a nice tune.

[Thomas]

*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]

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]

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

[gravedigger]

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]

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]

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]

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]

I fuckin' love Hopeful Hearsay