a 20 min video about the left thumb

Welcome to my new video! Today I wanted to tell you everything I figured out about my left hand thumb or fretting hand thumb in relation to classical guitar mostly. But this will be helpful for you if you hold the guitar a bit more angled like I do. Hope this video will help you to improve your guitar technique!

Honestly, I just fel a little bit overwhelmed by the YouTube landscape these days. Videos are perfectly edited with lots of visual and sound effects, and keeping up with YouTube trends is super exhausting. I recorded and edited this video just the way I wanted to. There are many little things in this video I normally would trim or delete, but I felt that they give personality to my videos, and I think it's better to show you that I'm a real person if I want to teach something as personal and meaningful as music is.

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Don't forget to like and subscribe!
Thank you for your attention, have a nice one!

0:00 setting up the problem
3:33 quick left hand summary
5:06 actual start of the video

[beatrixguitar]

Honestly, I just fel a little bit overwhelmed by the YouTube landscape these days. Videos are perfectly edited with lots of visual and sound effects, and keeping up with YouTube trends is super exhausting. It's enough.

I recorded and edited this video just the way I wanted to. There are many little things in this video I normally would trim or delete, but I felt that they give personality to my videos, and I think it's better to show you that I'm a real person if I want to teach something as personal and meaningful as music is.

What do you think?

As always, please consider supporting me on patreon, and don't forget to check the description for extra links and helpful infos!

[TheErinY]

“What you see is you don’t see sh*t.” 😂❤
I appreciate the extremely precise, real, and in-depth instruction and theory regarding the thumb position.

[Swamp]

2:10 “I really don’t want to have a real job” has got to be the most relatable thing I’ve heard

[NMGH]

Just want to add a compliment. I've been concentrating on the left thumb for a couple of days now and have noticed much more relaxation in my shoulder and back. My thumb has always been in some tension because I've held it out from the hand without realizing it. Thinking of it as an extension of the arm is helping to relax the whole arm and back. I'm very grateful for this thoughtful video!

[carlwhite]

What a breathe of fresh air. Compared to most all other youtube guitar instruction videos, this one is over the top great. You have a gift, thank you for sharing it. I wish you all the best.

[mileszd]

I was laughing this whole video. It's super informative and your way about talking through things is absolutely adorable. It's great to have such a great source without the standard snobbery that comes unfortunately from the classical community. Thank you and keep it up!

[zachvalencia]

I just have to say this is amazing and thank you!!! As a self-taught acoustic guitarist that transitioned into more of a classical guitarist, I relied a lot on books and videos and still sometimes had excess strain on my thumb that I was not able to figure out. After watching this video I feel like a new path has opened for my playing. Definitely loved this video and I am now subscribed for more!

[montodorova]

You're amazing! You're one of the calmest people out there! Thank you!❤

[ToddBrooks-gmhy]

I used to use the very tips of my fingers but eventually realized that doing so creates a significant amount of tension through out all digits, especially the thumb. I find much more relaxed and easier technique in the upper part of the pads or at least the " meeting point" between tips and pads.
Really good video, thanks for making and posting.

[Aaron-hrbb]

I discovered your channel a few days ago and love it. I have been playing guitar for 67 years and started with Merle Travis and the thumb over the top of the neck fretting the 6th string and sometimes even the 5th. For the past 10 years I have been primarily playing a classical guitar and trying to teach my thumb to stay on the back of the neck, not over the top. For me, the position of the left thumb is the most interesting and complex change in my technique. Playing at my best, my thumb constantly dances to different positions depending on the support my fingers need to fret the notes. My thumb controls my left hand. I have never seen another video on the left hand thumb in classical technique, but it is definitely the key element in my improvement. By the way, the American pronunciation of the word "sterile" is with a short "i". I love your accent, it reminds me of listening to Paola Hermosin with her Andalusian accented Spanish. Two wonderfully relaxed and positive people who are also delightful guitarists.

[HecmarJayam]

This is a very important video. Not only for proper technique but health and longevity. After years of playing overstressing my thumb I developed severe pain and is limiting my growth as player. Thank you for this information.

[timothymills]

This is great content and the type of detail that is commonly focused on in other instruments but is often neglected in guitar teaching. Well done👍

[zathrasnotzathras]

This is my favorite video of yours now. So funny and educational. I used your Slapiton method and slapped my thumb on that like button.

[hotbutterwell]

Glad someone is finally covering this. My thumb is always getting dragged behind and ends up way behind the index finger in a very suboptimal position. Thanks for creating this video.

[adrianbryttanmaestro]

Bravo for this video! Your explanation was great, and i certainly can relate. I have been a professional violinist all my life and am now starting to learn guitar. We violinists must be VERY aware of our thumb position all the time, whether in shifting, or playing 10ths and other stretches, or awkward chords. So good that you talked about this topic!!

[alchemist]

Beatrix, I have been a serious hobbyist for 15 years with 10 years of that study with a teacher and you are the first one I've seen talk about this. I think you have just helped me discover the main problem with my technique, thanks!

[dominikprauseguitar]

At around 4:39 you say, that you like thinking of pulling down the strings, more than pressing them down.
I think exactly the same and teach the same to my students.

I made the experience though, that using the thumb as a counterpart to the rest of your fingers to press/hold against the neck should only be used when needed and organically float with the movement of your hand, anticipating where you move next. For a "relaxed" hand position, almost without any energy needed, i like to hug the neck with my hand, to avoid tension/pain/injury to my hand/palm at the thumb area.

You can test this, hold you arm elbow down and just make a relaxed holding fist with your hand -> there is no tension. Now try the same but with the fingers in position but the thumb as a counterweight -> there is tension in you wrist and the palm area of your thumb. Because of this i am very critical of a "hold your hand always in this position" statement. Do what fits your need the most and what is comfortable for you.

[davirossirosa]

Extremely happy to have found your channel. YouTube is full of well-edited videos with high production costs, but excessive content on the same subject to the point of mental fatigue. On your channel, I found sincerity and peace of mind to start learning the guitar, even though I'm already 46 years old. Thank you for this beautiful work! May your life be prosperous, full of achievements and joy!

[silphv]

This is a good topic to talk about for sure, for the reasons you said. I've been playing (off and on) for 20 years and I have only really started paying attention to my thumb very recently. Now that I've started paying attention I can see that it's by far the biggest source of problems for my left hand and severely limits how accurately I can play. It's hard to retrain it but it's worth it.

The hardest part for me is actually just letting my thumb move with the rest of my hand. In my self-taught way I always used the thumb as the anchor for chord/position changes and all the muscle memory is based on that. I'm trying to learn to anchor more with my fingers.

[fuffy]

Fantastic lesson. It's nice to see more of your sense of humor. I am lucky enough to be studying with a very significant member of the guitar community, and he is always reminding me to maintain the "C" shape in my left hand. My particular habit is squeezing too hard. It's annoyingly difficult for me to stop but, as with everything on this damned difficult instrument, I am making progress. Every bit of information people absorb is something that may help them in unexpected ways. Keep doing what you are doing. I think you are a fantastic teacher, and you present valuable information and concepts in your lessons. 🙂