Members soundcreation Posted August 2, 2012 Members Share Posted August 2, 2012 not often. don't seem to need to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PrawnHeed Posted August 2, 2012 Members Share Posted August 2, 2012 Can't do it. Tried 30 years ago and didn't like it Will try again in 30 years time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GAS Man Posted August 2, 2012 Author Members Share Posted August 2, 2012 ^^ That's pretty much me too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ashtray Posted August 2, 2012 Members Share Posted August 2, 2012 Here's a BIG hint: try using a vintage spec'd neck. I'm talking 1.625" nut and 7.25" radius. You'll be able to wrap your thumb around the whole thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members LesPaulFetish Posted August 2, 2012 Members Share Posted August 2, 2012 Rarely. I can if I really want to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Doctor Morbius Posted August 2, 2012 Members Share Posted August 2, 2012 No I do not use my thumb for fretting. It remains around the middle of the back of the neck. Occasionally though, I do use my thumb to mute a low E string that needs quieting, but that's the extent of my thumbage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GAS Man Posted August 2, 2012 Author Members Share Posted August 2, 2012 Here's a BIG hint: try using a vintage spec'd neck. I'm talking 1.625" nut and 7.25" radius. You'll be able to wrap your thumb around the whole thing. Just tried a bit of it with my Moostang. And yeah, the concept seems a bit more plausible with a more vintage neck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GAS Man Posted August 2, 2012 Author Members Share Posted August 2, 2012 No I do not use my thumb for fretting. It remains around the middle of the back of the neck. Occasionally though, I do use my thumb to mute a low E string that needs quieting, but that's the extent of my thumbage. Yep, the way God and the baby Jesus intended it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Doctor Morbius Posted August 2, 2012 Members Share Posted August 2, 2012 Yep, the way God and the baby Jesus intended it! Exactly! Would Chet Atkins use his thumb for fretting? Not a chance! Oh, and I have it on good word that all the harps in Heaven are to be played thumbless too. Just an FYI for those with season tickets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GAS Man Posted August 2, 2012 Author Members Share Posted August 2, 2012 Exactly! Would Chet Atkins use his thumb for fretting? Not a chance! Oh, and I have it on good word that all the harps in Heaven are to be played thumbless too. Just an FYI for those with season tickets. Speaking of Chet, one of the last little ditties I learned is part of his song "Jam Man" that they've been abusing for insurance commercials lately. This one is fun. I only got to the point that this site displays, but heck, that's all the commercials use and then some http://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/mtdFPE.asp?ppn=mn0073732 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members HP Hovercraft Posted August 2, 2012 Members Share Posted August 2, 2012 I was taught not to use my thumb by my guitar instructor 24 years ago. I haven't used my thumb since. I might give it a shot now that I use a guitar with vintage neck specs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members honeyiscool Posted August 2, 2012 Members Share Posted August 2, 2012 Yeah I learned the Hendrix thumb by playing mostly on Mustangs until my fingers got used to it that they did the trick fine on other neck shapes but vintage radius with small 60s style profile is key IMO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Jkater Posted August 2, 2012 Members Share Posted August 2, 2012 Now see, you're all making me look like a wuss. No other thumb phails in the crowd? Come on, fess-up. Mediocrity loves company. . I'm with you. GAS Man.I can't do the thumb thing. It hurts and it doesn't work for me. I have small hands so maybe that's why. But i do use it to mute the sixth string like Doc Morbius does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Canadian Jeff Posted August 2, 2012 Members Share Posted August 2, 2012 Use my thumb for fretting and muting. Done so ever since I got into playing. It's like anything, practice and you'll be good at it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members roughtrade Posted August 2, 2012 Members Share Posted August 2, 2012 Exactly! Would Chet Atkins use his thumb for fretting? Not a chance! Oh, and I have it on good word that all the harps in Heaven are to be played thumbless too. Just an FYI for those with season tickets. Au contraire, mes ami![video=youtube;n-c66SJPuUI] Check about 13 seconds in.Merle did it to! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bluesnapper Posted August 2, 2012 Members Share Posted August 2, 2012 I can't play lots of the thumb-over Hendrix stuff like Wind Cries Mary on my 50s-necked Gibsons - I can only play bar chords with the thumb up to about the 3rd fret - any higher than that I start pulling the strings out of tune. Absolutely fine to bar chords all the way up to the 8th fret on my Strat though. But then again I can't fingerpick very well on my Strat - the Gibsons are more comfortable. Probably something to do with string-spacing at the bridge. That's why we have different guitars! I almost never play proper bar chords (i.e. F and Bb) with the first finger across when I'm strumming an acoustic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hecticone Posted August 2, 2012 Members Share Posted August 2, 2012 Doc be pawned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members AlexMC Posted August 3, 2012 Members Share Posted August 3, 2012 I use the thumb to mute the E (and A string when playing a D chord - yeah, it wraps that far), and also to play slash chords (D/F#) and partial barres (I tend to play 1x3211 for F chords allowing me to swap to a C shape more easily) . Couldn't manage without it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Presc Posted August 3, 2012 Members Share Posted August 3, 2012 I do it all the time - the point where I almost NEVER play a "regular" major on minor barre chord. I like having that extra finger free, and you can do some interesting funky bits by alternating hand pressure between thumb on the bass note and fretted fingers, good for that choppy semi-muted stuff. I do not have large hands and I play guitars with med/large necks. It's not a hand size thing. It's technique and muscle memory. I remember when power chords used to hurt my fingers when I was just starting as a kid. I got used to it, this will work the same way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members HanSolo Posted August 3, 2012 Members Share Posted August 3, 2012 I dont know who andrea segovia is but screw her and her techniqiue. As Sig worthy as anything I've ever read here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BydoEmpire Posted August 3, 2012 Members Share Posted August 3, 2012 You can always work on fretting the high E with your thumb, like Guthrie does at 19:01 (or see attachment) [video=youtube;SyM-rvUDqcE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyM-rvUDqcE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GAS Man Posted August 4, 2012 Author Members Share Posted August 4, 2012 You can always work on fretting the high E with your thumb, like Guthrie does at 19:01 (or see attachment) That's just crazy. Snuff that dude! Git playing is already challenging enough. Thanks for posting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members HP Hovercraft Posted August 4, 2012 Members Share Posted August 4, 2012 You can always work on fretting the high E with your thumb, like Guthrie does at 19:01 (or see attachment) WHAT IS THIS MADNESS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members IbanezJon Posted August 4, 2012 Members Share Posted August 4, 2012 I recall a few months where my thumb sort of hurt and had to stretch out a bit.. the knuckle in the middle that folds in half.. that hurt a touch too.. my whole hand had to stretch out a bit.. and adjust.. then it just became a matter of co ordination.. and then after years.. it becomes second nature and you don't even think about it. It's just nice to have that option.. a lot of things, you can fret either way. It's the sound that matters. It's nice to have the freedom and flexibility though, to use your thumb where required. It's also an important part of muting the strings for that (strum all 6 strings) SRV approach. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Angry Tele Posted August 4, 2012 Members Share Posted August 4, 2012 wtf? thats alien technique. Govan should be a hypnotist, with that soothing voice of his. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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