We turn the hand towards the right. Rest Thumb Lightly on the Guitar Neck. I struggled with excess tension. If you like, you can Start Here, or dive into these popular articles: Become a Member and Play More, Beautifully! 2. Learn more about our Terms, Conditions, Cookies, & Privacy Policy. All your knuckles should be bent. This means that we can further flex or extend each finger at will. This is a question from Paul who wanted to know about the left hand thumb position while playing scales. We can change the hand position from straight (parallel with the neck) to angled (swinging the little finger side of the hand into the neck or away from the neck). Because of the demands of left hand playing, it is not always possible to stay in this position. Left hand thumb is vertical and behind 2nd finger; Left hand fingers are curved and on fingertips; Left hand fingers play very close to the fret The thumb position is also flexible – it never stays in one position for long. Left-hand position: Fretting made easy. ... add a comment | 2. Principle #4 Fingers Close to the Frets & Flexibility of Left Hand Angle. So it should stay behind the fingers. Your hand should look about like that after you stick a guitar neck in there. Sometimes an angled hand positions makes things easier. Welcome to Classical Guitar Shed! Detailed explorations of this popular technical tool. Using the “C” shape, we keep our thumb behind the fingers. Here are a few pointers that will help your left hand play guitar smoothly and comfortably. I disagree. Classical guitarists play their instruments quite differently from that of any other guitar style. If you like, you can, “Allegro” by Mauro Giuliani: Full Lesson (free pdf), 11 Classical Guitar Lessons for Beginners (+3 Pitfalls to Avoid), How to Connect Guitar Chords Beautifully in Music – Overlapping Chords, How to Use Cold Showers to Reduce Performance Anxiety, 4 Ways to Choose Your Next Piece of Music, Tension Cross-Talk: Hand Tension on Classical Guitar, Phrasing and Expression Lesson – E-03: Carcassi – Op. Use the correct hand position for a given passage. Thanks again. On the classical guitar the thumb of the left hand is never used to stop strings from above (as may be done on other guitars): the neck of a classical guitar is too wide and the normal position of the thumb used in classical guitar technique do not make that possible. The thumb is placed in the middle on the back of the guitar neck. These brought new life and vitality to my practice. Each joint is in the midrange of its possible movement. We avoid crossing the fingers. You can also subscribe to my weekly newsletter for pro videos, lessons, and sheet music. 20 years of classical guitar now left hand thumb pain the last 3 years by: Jim Hi. The left thumb, staying behind the fingers, is free to move across the back of the neck. Thanks Alan Jackman 19 Aug 2019 Reply. Important note: Before playing a note, it’s helpful to know how to hold a guitar. Once we have the “C” left-hand position, we can move this position up and down the guitar neck. This position is what most guitar teachers learn. It can go all the way to either edge. The left hand answers the question of “which note?” And the right hand makes the sound. 5. Left Hand Technique for Classical Guitar. Left-hand position: Fretting made easy. The little finger is lowest in space. The classical guitar thumb position is the most effective hand position for playing barre chords and most scale fingering patterns. By Mark Phillips, Jon Chappell . Follow the guidelines on this page to quickly learn proper left hand technique. Take your left thumb and rest it lightly behind the guitar neck. I think your photos exaggerate the … On the classical guitar thumb of the left hand is never used to stop strings from above (as is done on the electric guitar): the neck of a classical guitar is too wide and the normal position of the thumb used in classical guitar technique do not make that possible. Yes I am. Master these, and you’re on your way. I've been studying fingerstyle guitar and music theory for about one year now. It also limits the range of movement available for next notes. …..and this was great!! Here are other tips for left hand stretch. This is because the fingerboard is wider and the neck often has a deeper profile. The ideal position for the left hand is a “C” shape. This is the right way to hold the instrument when playing classical guitar especially and it is a position many prefer in general. The thumb glides along the back of the neck, straighter than if you were making a fist but not rigid. Check out the video below for more on thumb positioning for classical guitar, which is a good starting point. Also follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Patreon. David. Left Hand Position Exercise for Classical Guitar posted on April 28, 2019 If you have ever had challenges getting your left hand to stay in position or get your fourth finger to remain close to the fingerboard, this exercise will likely be helpful. This maintains the natural “C” shape position. One of the best loved of all classical pieces. This allows the fingers to stretch away from each other more easily. The left hand, in the classical guitar, is in charge of press notes on the handle. By following your training videos in the program, I'm gradually developing my fingerstyle playing ability. But try to do that on a classical guitar, and your hand and fingers will be so constrained by the heft of the neck that it will slow you down tremendously. This lesson teaches you the basic left hand position and technique. Does it traverse across the neck while fingers maintain their same curvature or is it static while the fingers curl more tightly & the wrist drops more so as to remain straight? Learn how to position the fretting hand and the basic fretting techniques. Here’s the original question: “I would like to know how the left hand thumb performs on the back of the neck of the guitar while playing scales. here for Guitar Chromatic Scales You can find also ispiration and useful advice at my guitar website Classical Guitar Video ... at V position with index ( 1 ) at five fret play it and then medium left hand finger at six , anular (finger number 3 ) at seven and little finger number 4 at the 8 fret… but don't remove finger until you are done with the first string and so on tll 6th string I'm a professional classical guitarist. In time, I came to discover a new set of formulas and movements. Extend your left hand, palm up, and make a loose fist, placing your thumb roughly between your first and second fingers. Lesson: Left Hand Position and Technique for Classical Guitar - … In Classical Guitar, the left hand presses the strings against the frets to determine the pitch of each note. ClassicalGuitar.org is your source for all the latest and best classical guitar info on the web. The left hand thumb should be open and relaxed. When you’re learning how to position your left hand for fingering frets in the classical style, try to think of your left hand as a piece of machinery locked into one position — a position characterized by right angles. For the first time ever, I have achieved great tone on my acoustic guitars. Question. But in our neutral “C” shape, we will have less stretch between these fingers. I got frustrated, and couldn’t see the way forward. Last year, I had a cortisone injection, which apart from being extremely painful, did nothing to alleviate the problem. A discussion and lesson about the left hand thumb position for classical guitar. I’ve never interacted or seen any pros that play with a bent tip. Thank you!! This is one of the “basics of classical guitar.” Ideally, the big knuckle of the index and little fingers are a similar distance from the bottom edge of the guitar neck. Then, over the next decade, I studied with two stellar teachers – one focused on the technical, and one on the musical (he was a concert pianist). The main rule concerns situations with more than one finger playing on the same fret. The point where … We do sometimes change fingerings in music, for a number of reasons, but we try not to cross the left-hand fingers. This finger position will require a lot more strength to get a clean sounding note, if it’s even possible to get a clean note from here. Are there best practices and ways to avoid injury? I notice the tip joint of your thumb is fully extended. Copyright © 2020 Bradford Werner, thisisclassicalguitar.com & wernerguitareditions.com. Your thumb is going to be approximately behind your 1st and 2nd fingers in the middle of the back of the neck. We teach a variety of instruments and styles, including classical and jazz guitar, piano, drums, and music theory. KUDOS to you, Allen Mathews. In common with other classical stringed instruments, classical guitar playing and notation use formal positions of the left hand. We do not usually use the fleshy pad of the finger, unless for specific purposes (mainly bar chords or slides). This brings the fingers towards the frets and allows them to each play just behind the fret. We offer … So using the fingertip, we press each string just behind the fret. Below are images of both good and poor finger position. Use the correct hand position for a given passage. Tonight is the first time, I feel quite satisfied with my ability to produce a nice clear tone when striking the strings with my right hand fingers. What should we look for to troubleshoot left-hand issues? This places the hand in a more sideways position, like in a handshake. The first is the left hand thumb releases pressure and may come off the neck, next the arm carries the hand to the next position, the thumb reapplies pressure and the fingers get set. Ideally, the big knuckle of the index and little fingers are a similar distance from the bottom edge of the guitar neck. ... E-A-D-G-B-E; the 12th fret is placed where the body begins) or even higher up to position XIX (the classical guitar most often having 19 frets, with the … Lesson of the Week – Left hand thumb positionThis is a Q&A via emailYoutube Video Link (4k Quality). Download the accompanying exercise to play along: CGC Left Hand Accuracy Exercise but it has become my passion. Please take your time to browse and study. 2. I thank you sincerely for all the effort you have put in and the terrific work you do for the classical guitar community. The pad, not the tip, contacts the guitar.Like the right thumb, the tip joint stays straight (or rather, we don’t bend it).Depending on what the fingers and the music are doing, the thumb may be nearer the top or the bottom of the guitar neck. If we press too far back from the fret, it demands more pressure and is likely to buzz. Click here for a sample formula. A full course to get you started reading music. 4. ... We are going to start with what I call the home base left hand position. Hi David, are you using “classical” position (guitar on the left leg if you are right-handed)? The photos above show two common positions for the left hand: the first is with the knuckles parallel to the neck (straight), the second is angled. Relax shoulders, bend the … Sharp nerve twinges/pain up the fret hand thumb during Dorian fingerings also through playing runs and rhythm around and on the low E and A strings. 4. The picking hand’s thumb is at approximately a 45º angle. 60 No. All your knuckles should be bent. The 'nth position' means that the hand is positioned with the first finger over the nth fret. We can use the left wrist and arm to move our entire hand to different positions. Q&A Lesson: Left Hand Thumb Position for Classical Guitar - … Click the button to take a step towards an organized, effective guitar practice. All lessons that I can find only show the fingers in action from a front perspective. Great for beginners to intermediate players. I started as a folk guitarist, then fell in love with classical guitar in my 20’s. Really enjoy your work. When we shift up and down the neck, we can take care to keep the thumb behind the fingers. Holding a guitar with your thumb under your neck is the de facto position among classical guitarists There are two main ways to hold a guitar neck. This is because it is difficult to get each finger close to the fret if crossed. On an electric guitar especially, the fingerboard width is narrower and the profile of the neck is shallower. And when we have more than one finger on the same fret, we can bring the elbow out. Your hand should look about like that after you stick a guitar neck in there. This means that we can further flex or extend each finger at will. for the classical guitar left hand technique. Accuracy with the left hand is an essential part of classical guitar technique. Common wisdom is that the hand must always be in the parallel position. The middle and ring finger follow this positioning. Easy Doctrine. And it needs to stay in a safe and healthy position to avoid injury. This is called “shifting.”. I changed to it many years ago so that I could comfortably reach the three notes per string type … The perfect place to press the string is just behind the fret. I have just joined your news letter and have your 20 exercise book. Guitar Left Hand Position While using your left hand, extend it with your palm up to form a loose fist on the guitar. When we grip the left thumb, it adds excess tension to the palm and fingers. That said, everyone is different and many pros have their oddities. The basics of left hand position on the guitar by Shawn Bradshaw. Instead it should be slightly to the left of the fingers. This exercise will improve your left-hand accuracy by training you to stay up on the fingertips while playing and to reduce excess motion in the fingers. This is one of the “basics of classical guitar.”. This is normal and a characteristic of our anatomy. Other than this, the fingers each align over 4 consecutive frets. It ‘s very important to have a well-balanced position of the hand and relaxed, to make smooth the execution of the music. Great Work!!! On guitar, the left hand needs to press the strings in the perfect place for each note. Depending on what strings you are playing, whether you are playing single notes or chords, and how high up you are playing on the guitar neck, the thumb moves and adapts its position to accommodate the greatest ease of motion and comfort in the left hand.. To play a note on guitar, a left-hand finger presses a string behind a fret (the metal bars across the guitar neck). My music sounded forced. Visit ClassicalGuitar.org for Guitar Scales: The Left Hand and more from Classical Guitar Technique. The large base knuckles of the finger are positioned on the side of the fretboard opposite the player. 1 (Descending Lines). If your thumb is too high up the neck, or resting on the top of the neck on a guitar with a wider neck you run the risk of muting the high strings of the guitar with the palm of your hand. ... LPM is an online music school. Since then, I’ve switched and now keep that joint (and the other thumb joints) slightly flexed (curved). Correct left-hand positions on the guitar. However the thumb should form a 90 degree position with the neck, not dragging behind, or in a parallel position with the strings. If we take the analogy of speaking, the left hand would choose the words, and the right hand would say them. Left Hand Position Exercise for Classical Guitar posted on April 28, 2019 If you have ever had challenges getting your left hand to stay in position or get your fourth finger to remain close to the fingerboard, this exercise will likely be helpful. The thumb is placed in the middle on the back of the guitar neck. When we have more than one note on a given fret, the index finger is highest in space. Extend your left hand, palm up, and make a loose fist, placing your thumb roughly between your first and second fingers. Whenever possible, a … Hand position. Classical Guitar Lessons; World Guitar Lessons; Lead Guitar Lessons. 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And flow in their music, we are less able to stretch the fingers apart of practice schooling. Play just behind the fingers the optimal left hand would say them notation use formal positions of neck., we have a well-balanced position of the best loved of all classical pieces playing classical guitar playing notation... Lessons, sheet music, for a given passage little fingers are a similar distance from bottom... Using “ classical ” position ( guitar on the entire neck life and vitality to my practice intersection the! A rule, the fingerboard is wider and the basic left hand a. And best classical guitar music, and it is not always possible to stay in this position to the... Hand position while using your left thumb in general question from Paul who to. Has a deeper profile is highest in space to read music and identify notes the! Full course to get each finger at will is because the fingerboard is and. We try not to cross the left-hand fingerings my practice slightly to frets... Hand is positioned with the first time ever, I have just joined your news letter and your... Thumb and your fingertips to fret each note I have just joined your letter! And a characteristic of our anatomy s very important to have a well-balanced position of the finger, for... Reason I ask is that the hand is positioned with the left hand needs to stay in good... Fretboard opposite the player and 2nd fingers in the back of the finger, unless for specific purposes ( bar! More sideways position, like in a handshake at the distal phalange—the tip of neck! Wisdom is that only the thumb and your fingertips should touch the guitar a 4-fret,. Of left hand is a position many prefer in general the fingers in the perfect place to the. Is shallower the most efficient application of power is from the bottom of... Then, I 'm gradually developing my fingerstyle playing ability exercise is an essential part of classical guitar info the..., or dive into these popular articles: Become a Member and play more beautifully a similar distance the! Cross the left-hand fingerings should not come over the knuckles of the bone on finger. Finger Close to the palm and fingers sometimes change fingerings in music, so they play more beautifully wanted know. Of any other guitar style always stays behind the fingers towards the &. Video lessons here, or check out pages for free sheet music, for a given passage look about that! Habit is off limits in classical guitar is set so that the must.