Where should be left hand thumb when playing guitar?

Question

I've been playing guitar for one year now. I almost always wrap my thumb around the neck, but when I need to reach far frets I put it behind neck. Few days ago I read in many web-sites that it's better to hold your thumb behind the neck, because you can reach further frets much more easy and etc. So last few days I practised playing in that position. But it is very uncomfortable to hold my thumb all the time behind neck and my wrist began to hurt. I think I put too much preasure on my thumb, but I have no idea how NOT to put preasure on it and I don't understand how to hold wrist. Fretting strings is much harder in that position. I really feel uneasy about this problem. I'm self-tought guitar player, I practise everyday a lot, and now I found that I probably held guitar not right :(

Answer 1

I was trained as a classical guitarist, and you are taught to keep the thumb behind the neck, but you also hold the guitar differently, your left foot is on a stool, and the guitar is on your left leg, this keeps the neck high, which in turn makes your forearm and wrist pretty straight.

Having said that, when I stand up and play with a strap or put the guitar on my right leg, I keep my thumb higher on the neck like you do, but I move it back behind when I play higher strings or chords with more stretches. You've noticed that the thumb has to change position with certain chords, and that the trick, being aware of it, some people keep the thumb hooked over the neck constantly without being aware they're doing it. You are aware of it, so just keep doing what you're doing and keep the thumb where it's comfortable for you but don't be afraid to move it, to play certain chords or scale passages.

BTW, my college roommate was a jazz guitar player who would sometimes use the thumb to fret notes. He would play basslines with his low string, and chords with his high strings and that was the only way to do it. Like above though, he did it consciously, not because he didn't know any better.

Answer 2

The left thumb can be held in several ways.
1. To support the neck, thereby increasing strength in the hand for a chord.

2. Softly gripping the neck for a casual chord formation.

3. Right on the fretboard catching the 6th and the 5th strings in barre chords or power chords--which is my method and had been the method of guitar greats Merle Travis and Chet Atkins. I never barre a chord with my forefinger, but use my thumb to catch the bass strings.

Answer 3

Classical guitarists say that's the best position to keep your thumb, in the middle of the neck. And of course it's uncomfortable - it's an unnatural position for your thumb. But then your fingertips were also very sore a year ago before theydeveloped 'brain' in them and callouses, right?
Perhaps it's best to 'do what they say',
not as I do. I can't stand that position except for barred chords.
Keep practicing they way it works best dude! I even use my thumb wrap-around style on the low E string sometimes!
.

Answer 4

i would think wherever it is most comfortable for you to put your thumb. I play bass and where my left thumb goes depends on where I am on the fretboard. Just go by comfort and don't worry about what others think is 'right'