Position of thumb on fretboard....

[HvyMtlClickWitch]

I've been playing for a little while now, and i still can't seem to find a comfortable routine for my thumb. I find that placing it opposite my middle finger gives me the most reach but is generally uncomfortable.....placing it flat across the fretboard gives me problems on the A and E6 strings....

i can't settle on something practical. So any suggestions on what works for everyone else and would be the most optimal position to train myself into?

[Twilight Legionnaire]

The same happens here... placing the thumb opposite the middle finger is without a doubt the position in which I can play best, especially for solos and harder riffs, but I can't keep the thumb in that position for long, and I tend to bend it around the fretboard (just like you do for full tone bends).. it's not a very good position, and I try to fix it every time I see myself doing it.. I generally keep my thumb horizontally on the back of the fretboard though, and slide it into the "correct" position when there's a harder part to play.. but that's me.

[Electric Eye]

It depends on position and what you play - chords, riffs or solos, place it as you like, to have the best comfort during play. There's no theory here.

[Jaakko]

Yeah that's how I feel too, I've never actually thought about it. My thumb goes wherever it feels best for the current position and style I'm playing.

[Veripalttu]

I have never thought of that. My hands are so big that it really doesn't matter where my thumb is, a wider fretboard would be nice.

[Jack]

Wherever it's most comfortable. usually directly opposite my index finger.

[DougieHammett]

Oh my gosh this is reminding me of a teacher i had at one stage. He was like what do you wanna play and i go rock and metala and he goes that is like classical. Your thumb has to remain straight all the time like this. I just felt like saying you "You know so much about rock aye you odl fart, did Jimmy Page play like that? Are you as good as him. SHUT YOUR MOUTH AND LET ME PLAY HOW I WANT!" This fag wanted me to forget 2 years of playing and play mary had a little lamb.

[Sknight2112]

I usualy play with my thumb sorta inbetween where my index and middle finger sit on the fret board and bend it over so its just above the E. Real comforatable for me and makes it easier for me to jump from notes to chords. for bar chords I have it at about the middle of the fretboard aligned with my index finger.
dont know if that will help at all, ive got big hands so maybe it just works for me.

[HvyMtlClickWitch]

Haha, i have small hands, which makes things really difficult. The 5th and 6th strings kill me.

I'm told i have "musician's hands", though. Apparently i descend from a long line of accordion players. Christ.

[Sknight2112]

I'm told i have "musician's hands", though. Apparently i descend from a long line of accordion players. Christ.

up for some polka, hey?

[Veripalttu]

Haha, i have small hands, which makes things really difficult. The 5th and 6th strings kill me.
:

I have Tolkki type of frying pans for hands.

[HvyMtlClickWitch]

hehehe, frying pans. hadn't thought of it quite like that.

[Benphu]

Well, I don't care about comfort when I play. I'm literally killing my hands.

So that's my advice: if you play more and more in an uncomfortable position of the thumb, I almost can fully asure you, that you will get used to it.

I'm a maniac of training my hands, so I make always these stupid-looking stretchings and picking-movements while sitting in the school or just having myself bored.

[TardOnPC]

I never really thought about it but id say to get comfortable when you play, i keep mine across from my index and for solos have it further back but i sometimes bring it around the fretboard to my other fingers when i play acoustic to get some reach, just develope your own style. and just a note jimmy page wasnt all that great...

[Leo]

Your fingers has not much with your playing, look on Malmsteen and TT they don't have very long and thin fingers. But I don't have some problems with that because I have long fingers.