| When learning the guitar, left hand technique is half of | | | | music stores will have someone on staff who can do |
| the job. The clearness or cleanness of your notes | | | | the job for you. |
| depends a lot on how good your technique is. So, if | | | | Assuming that you have reasonable action, it is |
| you are a beginner and want beautiful clear, clean | | | | important to press only as hard as necessary. |
| chords, these guidelines will give you a good start. | | | | Beginners often press much harder than they need to. |
| Thumb placement | | | | Using more force than necessary, besides slowing you |
| Though the thumb is not used in playing notes, it is, | | | | down and causing discomfort, can actually cause injury |
| however, very important. The thumb serves two | | | | to your fingers. So, just use adequate pressure. |
| purposes. The first purpose is to mark the spot for the | | | | Buzzing test |
| hand. Much like a home plate in a ball diamond, once | | | | To find the adequate pressure, start by pressing the |
| you know where the home plate is, then you know | | | | string down so that you get a good, clear tone. |
| where all the bases are. So, by being meticulous about | | | | Continue playing the note as you very gradually |
| thumb placement, you ensure that your fingers are | | | | release pressure with the left hand. Continue to do this |
| accurate at finding their spot. | | | | until you hear a buzzing sound from the note. This is |
| Place the thumb at the back of the neck of the guitar | | | | the point where you have just crossed over the |
| between the first and second frets (metal bars on the | | | | adequate pressure point. |
| neck). Make sure that the thumb joints are flat, causing | | | | Practice this exercise a few times, until you have a |
| the wrist to hang down. The fingers of the left hand | | | | real feel for what is 'just hard enough.' It will gain you |
| should be able to move freely in front of the guitar. It is | | | | speed and much less wear and tear on your fingers. |
| very important that the wrist hang down and not | | | | Left hand wrist |
| support the guitar! There should be a gap between | | | | The left hand wrist should be as straight as possible, in |
| your hand and the bottom of the neck. | | | | line with your arm. Make sure the tilt of your guitar |
| Thumb placement cannot be overstressed. In the | | | | (should be almost right angles with the floor), the height |
| beginning it will move and slide around. You need to be | | | | of the neck (slightly up) and the lower wrist (as |
| diligent. Always check your thumb position before you | | | | described earlier) all lend to your wrist being flat and |
| begin playing. Keep correcting yourself until it becomes | | | | not bent. |
| a habit. | | | | Your wrist supports your fingers as you play more |
| The second purpose of the thumb is to support the | | | | and more complex chords, and it is very important not |
| pressure exerted by the fingers. When the fingers | | | | to cause undue strain upon your wrist. Keeping your |
| press to make notes, it should feel like a gentle | | | | wrist as straight as possible is the best way to |
| squeezing between the thumb and fingers. | | | | achieve this. |
| When playing individual notes, the thumb should always | | | | Angle of fingers to the neck |
| remain in contact with the neck. Even when you are | | | | The fingers play at almost right angles to the neck. |
| playing open strings, the thumb stays in contact with | | | | They do have to adjust slightly depending on where on |
| the neck. It helps to both mark your position and | | | | the guitar you are playing. To get the proper angle, I |
| steady the neck of the guitar. | | | | suggest playing at the fifth fret, centrally located. |
| Finger tips | | | | Place fingers one, two, three and four respectively on |
| It's important to remember that in most cases you are | | | | frets five, six, seven and eight. The thumb should be |
| playing on your finger tips. Just like standing on your tip | | | | behind fret six or behind the second finger. Knuckles |
| toes. It must be on the very tip. When pressing down, | | | | should all be bent. Fingers should all be on their tips, in a |
| for instance the second string on the first fret with the | | | | nice row. |
| first finger, you must make sure that that finger does | | | | Practice there for awhile and then gradually move |
| not touch the first string or the third string. This is crucial | | | | more towards the head of the guitar. You will find that |
| for clean, beautiful playing. If you touch one of the | | | | with the different angle of your arm, a bit of an |
| other strings, they are then muted and make an | | | | adjustment is required, but it is basically the same |
| unpleasant sound. | | | | angle. |
| Adequate pressure | | | | To summarize, remember to use the tip, watch your |
| Very important is adequate pressure. This varies very | | | | thumb, don't use more pressure than necessary and |
| much according to the condition of your guitar's action | | | | keep that wrist straight. Developing good habits right |
| (how far the strings are from the neck). If your action | | | | from the beginning will pay off handsomely. As you |
| is very high, then you have to press very hard. In that | | | | learn the guitar you will develop better and better left |
| case, I would suggest that you have it adjusted. Most | | | | hand technique. |