Guitar Technique: Playing Hand

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Playing should be effortless, or at least approaching effortless. There’s no need to strain exceedingly when you play. Now of course you’ll have to hit positions that require you to stretch beyond the normal position. But if your hand is in its proper position you will require much less strain than if it is not. I’m going to go over four different positions that tend to occur with the playing hand. I’ll also go over some possible problems you may be having and their causes. Hopefully we can eliminate some issues if you’re having any.

The four positions

The Thumb Over

This position is commonly used in most styles aside from classical and flamenco. It is useful when bending strings especially, but can be helpful as well in some chord formations.

•Try to use as little of your thumb as possible when you reach over to press the string down. This reduces the torquing of the wrist.
• Try to reach with your thumb as opposed to pushing your wrist up to reach the string.
• Take note of the position of the wrist. Try to keep it as aligned as possible.

guitar technique

The Vice Grip

Ease up there buddy. This is one you want to avoid. I’ve mentioned this in previous lessons but this photo shows you what the thumb looks like when you’re squeezing too hard.
• Note the fleshy part of the thumb. Try to make this part of your thumb as soft as possible, the more the tension the harder this muscle is.
• Notice the shape of the thumb. When your pressing it arches backwards, concave-like.

The Hitch-hiker

I find myself slipping into this position more than any of the others. For me it doesn’t cause any detriment to my technique because I keep my fingers and wrist in proper alignment. At least I try to be aware enough to keep them that way. The drawback is that it takes longer to move to move your thumb if need be to the thumb over or for barre chords. So it is better to try to stay in the next position as much as possible.

• Hand is still relaxed, and reach is still maximum if needing to stretch the pinky and/or index.
• Wrist is not hyper-extended. It should stay slightly bent as shown.

The soft touch or the bottle

This is the position to shoot for as the reference point while you play.

• Hand is still relaxed, and reach is still maximum if needing to
stretch the pinky and/or index.
• Wrist is not hyper-extended. It should stay slightly bent as shown.
• Thumb, with the inside pad of it, is lightly touching the center of the back of the neck.
• Thumb is relaxed and not concave as previously shown in the vice grip. No unnecessary tension.
• Without the guitar, your hand should look as if it were holding a bottle.

Possible problems and their causes

1. strings sound muted or buzzing .... Fingers need to be more perpendicular to the fretboard.
2. can’t articulate the notes .... Fingers need to be more perpendicular to the fretboard.
3. hitting too many unwanted notes .... Fingers need to be more perpendicular to the fretboard.
4. left wrist is uncomfortable or twisted .... Need to review the correct arm and hand mechanics.
5. can’t reach the notes that I should be able to .... Need to practice streching exercises
6. left hand keeps cramping .... RELAX
7. joint are sore in my left hand .... RELAX

Wrist Finger issues:

Fingers are not perpendicular to the fretboard, they are either slanted towards the headstock or they are too straight. See the photos next page for correct finger position. Palm is raised to the back of the neck too much causing your joint at your fingers and hand to be too close to the fretboard.

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