This is a technique I've never used as in my youth as I was a very dedicated bass player whose hero was Percy Jones..so it was all about thumb on the back of the neck etc. As I moved towards guitar this technique stayed with me. However I do sometimes regret never having learnt using the thumb over the neck technique.. and thus it has always interested me..especially when I see sublime players like Chris Buck using it in the recent video that
@ThorpyFX put up for his superb Gunshot overdrive :
http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/131677/chris-buck-of-buck-and-evans-did-this-cracking-video
I've tried to use it but my 59 year old thumb refuses to comply... (bastard thing)
I wondered how many of you folks use the thumb technique?
I would imagine it's more for blues/classic rock style players i.e. old school.
It would be interesting to see if any younger players (still?) use this style.
(pronounced: equal-sequel) "I suffered for my art.. now it's your turn"
Comments
Supportact said: [my style is] probably more an accumulation of limitations and bad habits than a 'style'.
And I started off as a classical guitarist, and still usually play with a dropped left wrist.
I've also had classical guitar training, so I'm comfortable the other way, too. But for some jazz type things, it really helps with being able to play certain voicings, or play a chord and embellish it.
like jake does at 1.20
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Many guitars have a re-sale value. Some you'll never want to sell.
Stockist of: Earvana & Graphtech nuts, Faber Tonepros & Gotoh hardware, Fatcat bridges. Highwood Saddles.
Pickups from BKP, Oil City & Monty's pickups.
Expert guitar repairs and upgrades - fretwork our speciality! www.felineguitars.com. Facebook too!
Doubt if I fall into the younger player category any more (though by standards on here... ), but yes, I got into doing it with this Fsus2, which should be in @bigjon's thread, if it isn't already:
133011
I found it in the tab book transcription of
from Mr. Big's Bump Ahead album.
After that, I discovered that thumb over worked nicely for adding a low F whatever to D-shape cowboy chords:
maj 200232
min 100231
sus2 200230
etc.
and that one can get in and out of a G chord from there nicely, too.
Speaking of which, doubling up the G in the middle of a pseudo barre chord voicing is YUGE [/Trumpcaps] with a crunch tone:
355033
I think that one was in a guitar mag article on Blackmore.
An interview with Mr Facehugger Hands himself, Paul Gilbert, also made me wise to what he himself had filched from Mr Tall Thumb Hendrix: fret the bass note on the low string with the thumb and play fills on top.
Also great for comping in three-pieces, as I noticed from ZZ Top's Tush when the Hamsters did their Top tunes tour.
The only time I can think of doing it on electric is playing Yellow Ledbetter - learned from the Marty Schwartz tuition video on YouTube. Choon!
Couldn't live without it - all my best chords use it.
https://www.patreon.com/leviclay | https://www.youtube.com/c/leviclay
But if I play bass that's strictly thumb behind and my right hand technique is completely different too.
Good info! Similarly, 557055 makes a nice A7.