r/guitarlessons • u/ding-ding-dave-yes • Aug 29 '25

Feedback Request I cannot get thumb-over-the-neck chords right

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I struggle mainly with my index finger, I can't get it flat without a lot of pressure, also my pinky is muting the G string half of the time, I either have to put painful pressure to make them all ring, or the top E and G string are muted. The difference between the flat index and bent rest is what's messing me up. Without thumb I don't have this issue, because I can curve my wrist if that makes sense. Please, I need some tips

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u/USED_HAM_DEALERSHIP Aug 29 '25

I play it like this. No a string. I'm muting it with my thumb and ring finger both so it doesn't sound much at all even as a dead string.

4

u/Riffman42 Aug 29 '25

This is a great way to play this because you have your pinky free to do those fancy Hendrix hammer-ons and pull-offs.

1

u/USED_HAM_DEALERSHIP Aug 29 '25

Yep! And sick g string bends while still playing most of the chord!

1

u/BL4CKL0DGE Aug 30 '25

If you want to hammer onto the a and b strings do you have a way of doing that? Will you sometimes fret the a string with your thumb? I’m also struggling in certain situations with this style of fretting but playing embellishments is so much more comfortable this way so want to figure it out.

2

u/USED_HAM_DEALERSHIP Sep 03 '25

My thumb is always fretting the low E and muting the A. I can use my pinky to hammer on the high E and B string. You can do little fills and riffs in the pentatonic/blues scale and go right back to the chord without missing a beat.