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Hand Position When Playing Guitar

When you are playing guitar your fretting (holding the strings down) hand holds the chords and the notes on the guitar neck, while you strumming hand either finger picks or plays with the pick over the body

The Fretting Hand

When you play Barre Chords or need to stretch your fingers try and position your thumb about midway up the back of the guitar neck. When your thumb is in this position it acts as a balancing force to your fingers as you play chords. This is because in effect you are squeezing the neck between your thumb and fingers.

Otherwise it is generally more comfortable to hold the guitar with you palm around the neck. Most beginner guitar books tell you not to do this but if you look at any good guitarists you will see that this is how they hold the guitar.

The Strumming Hand


Having a good strumming hand position will give your arm the freedom of movement needed for great rhythm.

The crook of your strumming arm should catch the corner of the guitar’s body. Your forearm will rest on the guitar. This potion will allow your strumming arm to move freely.

When you are playing on an acoustic guitar try to play over the sound hole. When you are playing an electric guitar try to play above the middle pick ups.

June 23, 2009 at 9:47 am | Learn Acoustic Guitar | 8 comments

8 Responses to “Hand Position When Playing Guitar”

  1. Learning to Play Acoustic Guitar for the Beginner | Buying Your First Guitar, on May 24th, 2009 at 7:11 am Said:

    [...] Hand Position When Playing Guitar Hand Position When Playing Guitar. Posted on May 23rd, 2009 by learn guitar. When you are playing guitar your fretting (holding the strings down) hand holds the chords. [...]

  2. Learning To Play Guitar Methods, on May 25th, 2009 at 12:13 am Said:

    [...] Hand Position When Playing Guitar When you are playing guitar your fretting (holding the strings down) hand holds the chords and the notes on the guitar neck, while you strumming hand either finger picks or plays with the pick over the body. [...]

  3. shane, on June 28th, 2009 at 3:35 am Said:

    another good tip is, the higher the guitar is on your body, the more freely your arms are (Strap length).

  4. How To Guitar Tune, on July 9th, 2009 at 3:40 am Said:

    I really follow the thumb in the middle of the back of the neck tip. I’ve actually read in a guitar tab book about guitarists who purposefully mute notes on the low ‘E’ string with their thumbs, but I still don’t think that that’s right. Good post.

  5. Matt, on July 11th, 2009 at 7:12 pm Said:

    another great learn guitar tip.

  6. Learn Guitar Fun, on August 31st, 2009 at 9:22 am Said:

    Thank you, I’m a beginner, but will learn))

  7. Mark, on September 10th, 2009 at 8:39 pm Said:

    Thanks Shane great tips too !! ;)

  8. Steve, on May 28th, 2010 at 2:41 am Said:

    I really follow the thumb in the middle of the back of the neck tip. I’ve actually read in a guitar tab book about guitarists who purposefully mute notes on the low ‘E’ string with their thumbs, but I still don’t think that that’s right. Good post.

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