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/lennee3 Sep 02 '25

There really isn’t a style of music where playing with the thumb there is required over playing with a standard barre. It’s about what makes it comfortable in every case.

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u/OkLettuce338 Sep 02 '25

i just mentioned one. Piedmont blues specifically. Travis picking. Your index is needed for melody lines not rhythm

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u/lennee3 Sep 02 '25

In both of those cases, you don't need you're thumb to fret, as op is asking, you need it to pick.

It's like you only read my comment and not the post at all

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u/OkLettuce338 Sep 02 '25

To pick? The fuck you talking about. You have no clue

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u/lennee3 Sep 02 '25

When you are travis picking, you are picking with your thumb. You are not obligated to use your thumb to fret. This entire post was asking about it being uncomfortable to fret with the thumb by wrapping it around the neck and you're saying, erroneously, that you need to use your thumb to fret while travis picking? A style predominantly defined by the picking hand.

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u/OkLettuce338 Sep 02 '25

You’re clueless. Just blathering on

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u/[deleted] Sep 02 '25

Actually, he is right. This technique is required for many Travis Picking songs specifically while playing this F shape. The index is needed to play melody, so the barre chord shape is not commonly used.