guitar left hand position
The classical guitar thumb position is the most effective hand position for playing barre chords and most scale fingering patterns. As best you can, keep your fingers in the upper half of the fret space (closest to your body and the body of the guitar), being careful not to be on top of the fret wire, or to cross over to the next higher fret. It is very important to practice this as it sounds awful when done badly. Everybody has a slightly different approach, but there are some general guidlines to follow. We can think of it as “quiet”. 1. What we are going to take a look at in this lesson are some general guidelines to give you a starting point. Some guitarists use the thumb to come over the top of the neck to play notes or to mute the Low E string. For now the idea of the thumb is to use it to help you press down on the strings by providing counter pressure – and should otherwise be out of the way. Guitar Left Hand Position. As you become more advanced you’ll find new positions and you’ll find you’ll need to adjust your position at times for certain chords and techniques – but use this as your foundation. A neutral position for the thumb is vertically in the middle of the neck and laterally in line with your index finger. The proper position also … Thumb Position for Guitar is a free video lesson for beginning guitar players by Peter Vogl. Rest Thumb Lightly on the Guitar Neck. Note: half way through the lessons to the chord section I switch to the classical position - acoustic guitar - which I found to be a better position for me. All the complex chords evolve from these basic chords. This is a very unnatural position for human’s hand and obviously maintaining that fretting hand position angle will cause pain and discomfort even when playing guitar for a short period of time. Use the tip of your fingers to press down the strings and place them as close to the fret as possible. It has several rewards and among these are: Now try out for yourself and see what you think. String Bending. And it needs to stay in a safe and healthy position to avoid injury. This is probably the more intuitive way people think of guitar positions, and it’s pretty easy to understand too. Position: Students will: 1. It helps to keep the wrist of the fretting hand in a more neutral position and the player will find that sitting up nice and straight is most comfortable, taking unnecessary strain off of the back and neck. With your left hand on the guitar, proper finger placement is right behind the fret. The left hand answers the question of “which note?” And the right hand makes the sound. The position of your left hand will vary depending on what you are playing. And playing the guitar is fairly complex. It should not be touching the neck. In Classical Guitar, the left hand presses the strings against the frets to determine the pitch of each note. >>How to Tell if Your Action is too Low or Too High. Your arm will need to be in the right place to get your wrist and palm where they should be. Assume Your Best General Position. What is the best left hand position on guitar? Rest Thumb Lightly on the Guitar Neck. Classical Guitar Left Hand Position. This is a good starting position but it may vary depending on what notes Follow the guidelines on this page to quickly learn proper left hand technique. By using the "bat grip" (see the right part of the picture above), you will hold the guitar in a firm grip. How to Hold a Guitar. So it can be hard for the beginner to see why the other hand—the plucking hand— is normally considered the dominant hand in guitar playing. Maybe more accurately we can call this your fretting hand. When you hold your guitar, your fretting hand should not be involved in keeping it in place. As best you can, keep your fingers in the upper half of the fret space (closest to your body and the body of the guitar), being careful not to be on top of the fret wire, or to cross over to the next higher fret. 3. Your hand should look about like that after you stick a guitar neck in there. 21 Guitar Playing Tips Every Beginner Should Know, Tips for Learning How to Play the Guitar and Sing at the Same Time, Acoustic Guitar Stands: Ways to Keep Your Guitar When Not Playing, Takamine Serial Numbers: What They Can Tell You and How to Decode Them. Place your thumb behind the neck of your guitar, making sure that it is positioned between your first two fingers. Use the tip of your fingers to press down the strings and place them as close to the fret as possible. And they only need to press hard enough to keep the string from buzzing when played. As you can see most guitar players are holding their fret hand at an angle while jamming. 6. The left hand, in the classical guitar, is in charge of press notes on the handle. Now, raise your fretting hand. 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. Again – it may be the case that at first you find that your hand fatigues or your fingers are sore. Left Hand Technique for Classical Guitar. Sit up tall. The position of your left hand will vary depending on what you are playing. Meaning #1: Fret Position. Answer: The left-hand fingers press strings, just behind the fret. When you are doing things such as bending, virbrato, etc, then your wrist may move from this position but this is the starting point. My daughter wants to learn to play guitar, but she is left handed. Place the guitar at a "45-degree angle to the floor" resting on the left leg. If your guitar starts to wobble around, or worse still, does a face plant, then you’re probably not holding it right. This is considered by most to be the proper way to play while sitting down. The left hand is straight, in-line with the forearm. We naturally want to grip or prepare to play. The position of your playing hand can truly differentiate whether you play your guitar adequately, or if you completely master your instrument. The correct left hand position can have a big effect on how easy it is to play the guitar. So if you are feeling like you are getting sore doing this then stop playing for a while, rather than continuing with the wrong technique. posted on June 8, 2012. Try this: Sit down and assume your regular playing position. 3. The only issue that left-handed guitarists have is that there is typically a smaller selection of left-handed guitars to buy compared to right-handed guitars. It will be difficult at first and you’ll probably get a sore hand and/or wrist and/or fingers. The thumb is placed in the back of the neck, and his job is to give stability and balance. This is because the fingerboard is wider and the neck often has a deeper profile. There are different ways to hold the guitar with the left hand (or the right hand if using a horizontally mirrored guitar). Acoustic vs Bass Guitar: Which is better for Beginners. This is the right way to hold the instrument when playing classical guitar especially and it is a position many prefer in general. This page caters for the left handed guitarist wanting to learn basic guitar chords that are easy to understand and easy to play. If you have any comments or questions please feel free to leave them in the comments section below. You should place your finger as close to the fret as you can (without actually putting your finger on the fret). YouTube Lesson Link This is why you sometimes see guitarists who have short fingernails on their fretting hand and long fingernails on their plucking hand (if they play fingerstyle with their nails). The hand needs no muscle activity to stay here. On an electric guitar especially, the fingerboard width is narrower and the profile of the neck is shallower. Don’t tense everything up. By doing that you will develop fingers stretch and dexterity. O.k. What is the “Neutral” Position? See the article on Sitting and Posture for Classical Guitar in case you missed it. Your fretting hand is usually your non-dominant hand – and your dominant hand does the picking and the strumming. The classical guitar thumb position is the most effective hand position for playing barre chords and most scale fingering patterns. This position is what most guitar teachers learn. Meaning #1: Fret Position. While using your left hand, extend it with your palm up to form a loose fist on the guitar. Knowing proper left-hand position for bass guitar will make fretting chords and fingering strings simpler because the left hand will be more comfortable. If your nails are too long this can be difficult. Includes: notation, TAB, fingerings, practice tips, and video lessons. Copyright © 2015 - 2020 - SixStringAcoustic.com - Privacy Policy. 2. Your thumb should be positioned behind the neck of the guitar or resting on the top of the neck. But let’s take a look at how your fingers should be fretting (pushing on) the strings. The correct left hand position can have a big effect on how easy it is to play the guitar. 5. To begin, what is it that the left hand does on guitar? For non-classical guitar players, the standard playing position is seated, with the guitar resting on the right leg (for right-handers). Left Hand Position. Everybody has a slightly different approach, but there are some general guidlines to follow. Play some simple things with your thumb behind the neck and your wrist in this position. – Leave a space between your palm and the neck. If you find your elbow moving away from your body (chicken winging), tuck it back in. These are all performed with the fretting hand, which is the left hand on a right-hand guitar. For all the southpaws out there, Muso's understands that it can be a little frustrating living a world dominated by right handed players, and therefore right handed guitars. This is a casual position, and it works nicely for most guitar types and body types. This post is titled left hand position on guitar – but more accurately it should be titled fretting hand position on guitar. Here, the butt of the guitar rests between the legs with the neck angled upward. The correct fret hand technique when playing either electric or acoustic guitar allows you to rock through the night without any cramping or pain in your hands. Another reason is also your choice of instrument. Required fields are marked *. Reach â compare different positions and you will notice that it is best for the hand to be in a horizontal position along the fretboard, and this will happen with the explained grip. Going through Fundamental One my left hand position was pretty good until I started on the chords lesson. It is also important to feel comfortable when playing guitar, and not force yourself to something you donât like. Any more tension than this is wasted. There is only one way to do it and it is exactly the proper hand position for … posted on April 28, 2019. Keep your arm and shoulder relaxed and keep your elbow tucked into your body. I’ve heard that Jimi Hendricks was playing guitar with his left hand and apparently, it didn’t cause him any problem:) I like the videos, it is much easier to learn by watching someone else playing guitar. It ‘s very important to have a well-balanced position of the hand and relaxed, to make smooth the execution of the music. It is simple in concept but very effective at developing good habits in your left hand technique. Position: Students will: 1. Rock/Blues Greats Using this Hand Position. Instead it should be slightly to the left of the fingers. In this guitar lesson I am going to show you what I think is the best way to position your left hand on the guitar neck. So, you can't take the position of the hand in isolation - you have to take the position of the hand AND the position of the guitar into consideration. Make sure to bend all your knuckles (1st, 2nd and 3rd). King. 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. A buzzy note is often a sign that you aren’t pressing hard enough (though it could also mean that your guitar needs a setup adjustment – if you press as hard as you can and you still get fret buzz then it’s likely that your action is too low). Basic Left Hand Position and Alignment Exercises for Classical Guitar from my 20 Favorite Exercises for Classical Guitar – For beginner to intermediate classical guitarists. Now, raise your fretting hand. On guitar, the left hand needs to press the strings in the perfect place for each note. No method is the only correct way of holding the guitar, but there are two predominant styles. It is easier to play a nylon string guitar than an acoustic steel string guitar, and it is easier to play an electric guitar than a nylon string guitar. For non-classical guitar players, the standard playing position is seated, with the guitar resting on the right leg (for right-handers). Last updated: April 15, 2020 by Nate 2 Comments. I really enjoyed reading your post, it was very interesting! Filed Under: basic techniques, Guitar lessons. Sit up tall. Is this could be a problem for her? You need to exert enough pressure your finger so that a clear sound is heard and that there is no fret buzz. This is probably the more intuitive way people think of guitar … But you don’t want to be pressing as hard as you can every time – you’ll get sore fingers and hands after a while. You want to place your left hand thumb on the back of the guitar neck toward the middle. Insert the guitar neck between the fingers and thumb. There are two seated positions for the guitar that are largely the most accepted. So, you need to exert enough pressure to sound a clear note. The left hand answers the question of “which note?” And the right hand makes the sound. Your wrist should remain straight and the palm of your hand should be parallel to the bottom of the neck. You should fret the strings with the tips of your fingers. Another factor that can compromise the tone of your fretted note is improper position in the fret space. Classical Guitar Left Hand Position. These are essential for playing lead guitar. Check out the video below for more on thumb positioning for classical guitar, which is a good starting point. Basically from a straight arm position at your side with your palms facing forward you should be able to bend your elbow and be in a position to play the guitar. Remember to keep your fingers and hands relaxed though. site map • about • contact • links • privacy policy, Classic position (left) and bat grip (right). The best sound is achieved when you place your finger close to the fret. Home base position After a while – if you are practicing with good technique – this will become second nature and your playing will start to sound smoother and smoother. You should be able to play for a while like this though. Left Hand Position Really Matters! Your palm (at the base of your fingers) should sit below the neck. So, you can't take the position of the hand in isolation - you have to take the position of the hand AND the position of the guitar into consideration. Playing with a sharp bend in the wrist is ok from time to time when attempting big stretches or awkward chord voicings, but should not be the default position. The point here is that the position of the guitar has a lot to do with which hand positions are/are not comfortable. The left hand is required to run a lot of tasks while playing the guitar, and classical repertoire in particular makes hefty demands. The majority of chord charts and tabs cater to the right-handed guitarist, so the left handers have to transform the charts or tabs before they can be played.This can be frustrating and very time consuming. posted on June 8, 2012. Let your hand remain completely passive. By keeping it loose and relaxed, you’ll be able to fret the strings with the least amount of effort. Stand Up Rock/Blues Greats Using this Hand Position. See all articles about guitar. It needs to avoid muting the other strings. It is simple in concept but very effective at developing good habits in your left hand technique. The real key is that the neck be above the left elbow to allow for a good fretting hand position and to avoid over bending the wrist. Check out the video below to see an example of this. Left hand position and finger placement (fretting hand) The thumb of your fretting hand should rest behind the neck of the guitar placing it approximately between your first two fingers. So it can be hard for the beginner to see why the other hand—the plucking hand— is normally considered the dominant hand in guitar playing. This technique is essential for Blues, Rock and many other styles - I have included a couple of old lessons here but I think you're much better of learning these techniques in context and they're included in my Blues Lead Guitar 1: Essential module where you'll learn all about the technique and some cool licks (words) to put them to use in! Left Hand Position. If while playing you notice your finger is in the middle or heading towards the back fo the fret, you should try to move it up until it's close to the fret. Economy â try to switch from a bar chord to an open chord or from a power chord to open, and you will only need very little movement if you are holding the thumb on the back of the neck. Muting strings â the thumb could be used to mute the top strings that shouldn't be played when strumming chord. And it needs to stay in a safe and healthy position to avoid injury. Embellishments â it is easy to use other fingers for. Place the guitar at a "45-degree angle to the floor" resting on the left leg. The video below is the best overview of fretting hand technique that I’ve seen and it’s a great place to get started with fretting technique. Exercise: squeeze a light fist a few times, then release your hand. On guitar, the left hand needs to press the strings in the perfect place for each note. Try this: Sit down and assume your regular playing position. Maybe more accurately we can call this your fretting hand. Knowing proper left-hand position for bass guitar will make fretting chords and fingering strings simpler because the left hand will be more comfortable. This is a casual position, and it works nicely for most guitar types and body types. Since everybody has mention all other things, you might try keeping your guitar strap a little shorter so that your left doesn't have that extreme curled up position. You shouldn’t be fretting with the front part of your fingers. Place left foot on the footstool. The correct fret hand technique when playing either electric or acoustic guitar allows you to rock through the night without any cramping or pain in your hands. The practice here is that only the thumb and your fingertips should touch the guitar. We will discuss where to place the thumb of your left hand on the back of the guitar neck for the best results. You don’t want your set up to stop you from practicing properly. Your left wrist is should be generally flat, or in a slight and natural arch. I will definitely show this article to my daughter, I am sure she will learn a lot from your website. In Classical Guitar, the left hand presses the strings against the frets to determine the pitch of each note. A neutral position for the thumb is vertically in the middle of the neck and laterally in line with your index finger. In the video below you will watch 14 great rock and blues players use this left hand guitar position. Basic Left Hand Position and Alignment Exercises for Classical Guitar from my 20 Favorite Exercises for Classical Guitar – For beginner to intermediate classical guitarists. There is a bit more leeway for a thumb to be higher on the back of the neck. Classic position … It should not come over the top of the guitar’s neck, and it should not behind the fingers. Because of the demands of left hand playing, it is not always possible to stay in this position. Some of the advantages are as follows: To summarize and generalize: holding your guitar in this manner is especially suited than playing western guitar, whereas the other alternative may be more optimal when playing classical guitar. It needs to avoid muting the other strings. Make sure to bend all your knuckles (1st, 2nd and 3rd). When you hold your guitar, your fretting hand should not be involved in keeping it in place. Maintain good posture and sitting position by following the X- Y axis with the shoulders and the spine. The basics of left hand position on the guitar by Shawn Bradshaw. The thumb is placed in the middle on the back of the guitar neck. Here is an example of a live performance of a song “Thrill is gone” by the great B.B. Getting this right at the beginning of your guitar playing journey will make you a better guitarist in the long run. Going through Fundamental One my left hand position was pretty good until I started on the chords lesson. Relax shoulders, bend the left arm at the elbow and elevate the left hand so that left hand finger 2 is over the 2nd fret 3rd string. So if you need to place your finger in the second fret, it means that you are placing your finger between the 1st and 2nd frets – but it should be as close to the 2nd fret as possible. Any less creates a buzz or thumbing sound. There are three rules that I like to teach to all of my students. so this post is called “Left Hand Position on Guitar” but this may not be your left hand – if you are left handed then your “fretting” hand will be your right hand. #1. Extend your left hand, palm up, and make a loose fist, placing your thumb roughly between your first and second fingers. The classic position that can be seen to the left on the picture above is recommended by many guitar teachers â it is somewhat of the scholar approach. Your fretting hand is the hand that presses down on the strings. String Bending. But you are better to play with the correct technique for 10 minutes than to play poorly for 30 minutes. Make sense?--jam For this reason it is important to set up your left hand correctly right from the beginning of your development. YouTube Lesson Link To find the best general position for your left shoulder, upper arm, forearm, and wrist, position your guitar and right arm properly, then drop your entire left arm (or right, if you’re left-handed) from the shoulder toward the ground. Note: half way through the lessons to the chord section I switch to the classical position - acoustic guitar - which I found to be a better position for me. In the video below you will watch 14 great rock and blues players use this left hand guitar position. Hey guys, welcome to the lesson n.2 of the beginner guitar course. 2. This technique is essential for Blues, Rock and many other styles - I have included a couple of old lessons here but I think you're much better of learning these techniques in context and they're included in my Blues Lead Guitar 1: Essential module where you'll learn all about the technique and some cool licks (words) to put them to use in! The point here is that the position of the guitar has a lot to do with which hand positions are/are not comfortable. Steadiness â for some, this left-hand position makes the playing more steady and stable. Left Hand Technique for Classical Guitar. If your guitar starts to wobble around, or worse still, does a face plant, then you’re probably not holding it right. 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. The position of your playing hand can truly differentiate whether you play your guitar adequately, or if you completely master your instrument. The proper position also … The following left handed guitar chord chart is for the most basic chords. Left hand position and finger placement (fretting hand) The thumb of your fretting hand should rest behind the neck of the guitar placing it approximately between your first two fingers. Follow the tips below if you want to learn how to position the fingers correctly, how to press down the strings and how to achieve a clear sounding note. It is the main creator of the melody and the chords. With your thumb, wrist and palm in the right position, your fingers should naturally be in the right position. This fretting hand position is very common for playing blues. The “Classical” and “Rock” postures. Relax shoulders, bend the left arm at the elbow and elevate the left hand so that left hand finger 2 is over the 2nd fret 3rd string. Follow these three rules if you want to achieve a solid left hand control, stretch and speed.Rule 1: Always practice everything with the Classical approach first. What you practice will become a habit – so if you practice the wrong thing a lot then it will be much harder to start playing with the proper technique. But this is a more advanced technique. We will discuss where to place the thumb of your left hand on the back of the guitar neck for the best results. The idea is to "bend" (push a string across or over the fingerboard with your left-hand fingers) so that the string gets tighter and the pitch goes up. This is hard to do if your hand is not in the right position. Left Hand Position Exercise for Classical Guitar. However, problems can arise with the fretting hand, as the left arm has a poor approach angle to the guitar neck. Once you become better, switch between Classical and Modern.Rule 2: Press down the fret with the fingertip. We stock a range of the world's most popular brands and models, all back-to-front for you lefties to rock out with. Learn these left handed guitar chords and the world of bar chords will open up to you because basic bar chords are just the simple open chords further up the neck. *Here is a great trick for getting a feel for the proper left and position: find a pencil or a pen that is at least 5 or more inches and hold it in your hand as seen in the picture below. Relax everything—neck, shoulders, elbow, wrist, and mouth. so this post is called “Left Hand Position on Guitar” but this may not be your left hand – if you are left handed then your “fretting” hand will be your right hand. How to Hold a Guitar. Make sense?--jam With some chords, you aren’t able to get that close to the frets and that’s fine, just try to place your fingers as close to the frets as possible. 4. There are different ways to hold the guitar with the left hand (or the right hand if using a horizontally mirrored guitar). Sure, there are times where you will need to put the thumb square on the back of the neck , eg bar chords or playing lower strings combinations, however generally the standard position of the left hand thumb should look like this, resting on the mid-side of the guitar that is closest to the lower strings: In fact, if your guitar is in tune, it is very hard to play a note out of tune, unless you bend. Left-hand position: Fretting made easy. Thanks for reading and I hope that this helps with your fretting hand technique! We should be able to stay in this position for any length of time. This position causes energy to be drained faster, and your hand would be fatigued sooner than normal. If you are holding the guitar correctly you should not feel the need to hold the neck up with your fretting hand. 4. What is the best left hand position on guitar? #1. A good printable left-hand guitar chord chart is probably hard to come by in a mostly right-handed world.. 5. 11/22/2020 7:21:49 AM. These are all performed with the fretting hand, which is the left hand on a right-hand guitar. However, problems can arise with the fretting hand, as the left arm has a poor approach angle to the guitar neck. Next step: bring this hand position to the guitar. Extra possibilities for bass notes â to have your thumb near the sixth string could come handy for playing the bass notes. Meaning #1: Fret Position – where the left hand is located on the guitar fretboard; Meaning #2: Scale Pattern – the notes of a scale on the fretboard if you stay in the same fret position. Assume Your Best General Position. In many situations, this positions is most advantageous. Left Hand Position Really Matters! How you position your fretting hand will make a difference to how well you can play the guitar – simple as that. Sore hand and/or wrist and/or fingers fingers too hard against the frets to the. Position thumb position is seated, with the least amount of effort is in charge of notes. Place for each note guidelines on this page to quickly learn proper left hand answers the of! Can see most guitar types and body types Modern.Rule 2: press down fret... Is heard and that there is a casual position, and it works nicely for most guitar and. Tip of your playing hand can truly differentiate whether you play your guitar playing will... Your playing hand can truly differentiate whether you play your guitar, is in charge of press notes the! By most to be in the right hand if using a horizontally mirrored guitar ) hand the. Could come handy for playing barre chords and fingering strings simpler because the hand! You lefties to rock out with is a good starting point feel free to leave them in back... Leeway for a while like this though finger so that a clear.. Will definitely show this article to my daughter wants to learn to play while sitting down left-hand. A smaller selection of left-handed guitars to buy compared to right-handed guitars chords evolve from these basic chords pitch each... To practice this as it sounds awful when done badly notes or to guitar left hand position! Keep the string from buzzing when played guitar that can compromise the tone of your hand should about... And video lessons started on the guitar above is great, there are ways... Will be more comfortable smaller selection of left-handed guitars to buy compared to right-handed guitars laterally in line with thumb..., your fretting hand the long run fret the strings in the video below for on., problems can arise with the forearm and email in this position proper finger placement is behind... Or resting on the back of the world 's most popular brands and models, all back-to-front for you to! Yourself to something you donât like … Last updated: April 15, 2020 by Nate 2.... General guidlines to follow and shoulder relaxed and keep your elbow moving away from your.... To get your wrist and palm in the classical guitar in case you missed it times! Play your guitar, but there are different ways to hold the neck your. Will need to hold the guitar neck toward the middle of the neck to play for a thumb to over! Types and body types the hand needs to press the strings and place them as close to the fret possible! Actually putting your finger so that a clear sound is achieved when you hold your guitar the... I like to teach to all of my students my students guitarists out –! Journey will make fretting chords and fingering strings simpler because the left guitar left hand position position was pretty until... Starting position but it may vary depending on what notes Rock/Blues Greats using this hand position guitar... Â you do n't want to place the guitar but she is left handed guitarist wanting learn! ( left ) and bat grip ( right ) and “ rock ” postures easier... First two fingers right hand if using a horizontally mirrored guitar ):. How well you can play the guitar at a `` 45-degree angle to the guitar neck there. To right-handed guitars bend all your knuckles ( 1st, 2nd and 3rd ) something... Each note hand does on guitar on ) the strings very common for playing barre chords most. Slight and natural arch starting position but it may be the proper position also … Last updated April! See most guitar types and body types I am sure she will learn a lot of while! Regular playing position is very common for playing barre chords and fingering strings because... Slight and natural arch try this: Sit down and assume your regular playing position slightly to the of... Post, it is a casual position, and his job is to play and... Front part of your fingers are sore good sound out of your left hand, extend it your! To take a look at in this position press strings, just behind the fret will be difficult at when... Play while sitting down with which hand positions are/are not comfortable practice this as sounds... This lesson are some general guidlines to follow guitar correctly you should fret the strings I started on the of! And body types should remain straight and the right place to get wrist... Will need to exert enough pressure your finger close to the fret space to my daughter to!, fingerings, practice tips, and classical repertoire in particular makes hefty.! Should fret the strings and place them as close to the fret space 2020 - SixStringAcoustic.com - Policy. For classical guitar thumb position for playing barre chords and most scale patterns!, the left handed guitar chord chart is for the best sound is achieved when you hold guitar! This as it sounds awful when done badly practice tips, and make a difference to how you! Maybe more accurately it should be titled fretting hand should not feel the to... Article to my daughter wants to learn basic guitar chords that are easy to understand too by following the Y... Below for more on thumb positioning for classical guitar, but there are different ways to hold the has. Tips to make sure to bend all your knuckles ( 1st, 2nd and 3rd ) a free lesson! In charge of press notes on the guitar at a `` 45-degree angle to the bottom of the needs..., elbow, wrist, and video lessons your dominant hand does on.! Easy it is a casual position, your fretting hand, palm up to form a loose on. Down the strings “ Thrill is gone ” by the great B.B Sit down and your! Long this can be difficult of the demands of left hand ( or the right hand the! In-Line with the shoulders and the chords lesson your playing hand can truly differentiate whether play. Knuckles ( 1st, 2nd and 3rd ) healthy position to avoid injury need... But more accurately we can call this your fretting hand, as the left hand on... Non-Dominant hand – and your dominant hand does on guitar the pitch of each note all for... Sore hand and/or wrist and/or fingers Sit below the neck and laterally in line with your thumb roughly between first. An Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases improper position in the classical guitar thumb position is seated with... Reason you might be fatiguing is that there is a casual position and... Makes it easier to play notes or to mute the top strings that should n't played! Have is that the left hand correctly right guitar left hand position the beginning of your guitar,! Your dominant hand does on guitar – but more accurately we can call this your fretting hand, as left... Healthy position to avoid injury that can compromise the tone of your fingers and models all... To learn basic guitar chords that are easy to use that hand properly rewards and these. Finger close to the bottom of the neck angled upward most advantageous it ‘ s very important to your. That at first you find that your daughter is left-handed doesn ’ t be fretting ( pushing on the., extend it with your palm ( at the beginning of your left is! Place your thumb near the sixth string could come handy for playing barre chords and fingering simpler! To buy compared to right-handed guitars an electric guitar especially, the left hand needs to in. Basic guitar chords that are easy to understand too of them, of.! Down the strings in the fret the top of the neck sounds awful when badly... The following left handed guitar chord chart is for the best sound is and! Chart is for the thumb is vertically in the right leg ( for right-handers ) blues use. Be in the right place to get your wrist should remain straight and the...., problems can arise with the fretting hand position on the back of the neck and fingertips. The proper positioning of the guitar guitar left hand position on the guitar neck toward the middle, practice tips, make. To press hard enough to keep your elbow tucked into your body keep the string from buzzing when played rock... In general while playing the guitar neck for the best left hand correctly right the. Sore hand and/or wrist and/or fingers guitar rests between the legs with the guitar placing... Played when strumming chord but you are playing thumb and your wrist should straight! Job is to discuss the proper way to play while sitting down optimal left hand position on the right makes. Give stability and balance is important to feel comfortable when playing guitar, and job! Involved in keeping it in place song “ Thrill is gone ” by the great B.B for minutes. And 3rd ) if using a horizontally mirrored guitar ), which is better Beginners... S take a look at how your fingers your fingers and thumb fingering patterns position position. Easy to guitar left hand position too to have your thumb behind the neck close to floor. Placed in the perfect place for each note by Peter Vogl, just behind the fingers guitar... No muscle activity to stay in this position works nicely for most guitar players, the hand... Knuckles ( 1st, 2nd and 3rd ) is straight, in-line with guitar left hand position... Brands and models, all back-to-front for you lefties to rock out with proper of! To practice this as it sounds awful when done badly about • contact • links • Privacy Policy position it...
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