Thumb over the top on guitar

,mnb

I tend to have my thumb a good bit over the top playing guitar for everything except playing barre chords. I've been looking at online lessons and mostly the thumb is at the back balancing the other fingers which I have read is the correct way. I genuinely don't think I can change this - I've done it my way ever since I started playing 20 years ago (on and off playing since then).
Is it something I should change.
Is it something I could change - what practice should I do to change it.
Im trying to learn good fingerstyle technique - I have enough to learn without adding this to the list!

Rigsby

When playing the guitar, the thumb's function is simply to counter act the pressure of the fingers. IMO, the best thing is to let it go where it naturally needs/wants to. If you can convey your musical message on the guitar with the thumb over the top of the neck, then I dont see a problem, except that it may be a bit limiting. Granted, while no one would do so, in theory it is possible to play without the thumb at all.

While this clip is meant for bassists, I think the message is the same for guitarists.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OM-rkoy2H8I

seamus

The primary difference I would say is that you have less mobility and dexterity with your thumb over the top. So any complicated chord changes or moving from chords to picking and back to chords will be made more difficult because you have to rotate your hand and get your thumb in position in order to make the transition. Whereas if your thumb is in that position all the time, the change will be smoother and faster.

I don't think it's something you can't change. There's no reason not to stick with it if it works for the song that you're playing. I find thumb over the top great for playing a relaxed style. But if you find with a specific song it makes more sense to play with your thumb pressed against the neck, then just practice that song that way and you'll become accustomed to it.

hidinginthebush

You'll be fine OP

,mnb

I feel a lot better now!
I'm still worried will I be able to progress beyond Jimmy Hendrix though. I don't want to plateau.

loyatemu

quite a few fingerstyle techniques require fretting the low E with the thumb anyway (Dylan, Davy Graham etc do this a lot). I actually find this quite difficult - damn my short thumbs!

edit - that's my 5000th post... I've wasted my life :pac:

sarkozy

It all depends what you're playing. If it's lead, jazz or shredding, then it might make sense to learn the 'proper' technique as it does matter for particularly styles and developing a light touch.

When I went to guitar lessons, my teacher didn't worry about it too much - his mantra was to feel it out. If your fingers seem obstructed or stiff, it might be your thumb, so, if it doesn't feel right, correct it.

These days, I'm playing a style that actually *requires* using the thumb to fret the sixth string on occasion when I need the other fingers (Bert Jansch, Davey Graham, John Fahey, Leo Kottke, Jack Rose). This is common in country, country blues ragtime and folk, for example, when making a barred F chord, or all kinds of open tunings craziness.