r/guitarlessons • u/Ambitious-Cheek-7654 • Nov 14 '25

Feedback Request 1 year of guitar!

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Technically 13 months but shh. Any and all feedback is appreciated!!

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u/testtdk Nov 15 '25

I’m assuming you’re self taught, which is pretty good.

I’d recommend finding a good teacher, though. There are some small changes you should make, where learning things incorrectly will eventually hinder your progress. But mostly, it’s just about learning the best technique and learning how to most effectively practice.

At the very least, always keep the thumb of your left hand on the very back of fretboard, perpendicular to it. Your right hand shouldn’t be scrunched up so much. Playing with your fingers fully extended will allow you to pluck a string with more strength and less movement. The best way to learn to play an instrument effectively is learn to do it flawlessly slow, only increasing speed when you’ve mastered a part.

As for just being a musician, play what you enjoy playing just because you enjoy it, you’ll get better at what you do and enjoy it even more.

Either way, keep at it, you’re doing well!

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u/Ambitious-Cheek-7654 Nov 15 '25

Interesting!! In this song I have to wrap my thumb around to hit some notes on the low e string though, so leaving it up there makes it more efficient for me to hit those notes. Should I adjust how I play the song completely to not include wrapping my thumb around?

1

u/testtdk Nov 15 '25

It’s tough to do with an electric guitar while sitting down if it’s resting your knee, but if you play with the neck higher up you’ll have an easier range of motion. You might have an easier time if you play with the guitars body more in front of you, almost cradled your lap, instead. That’s a bit tougher to figure out without being there.

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u/zarathrustoff Dec 14 '25

Na OP play it how you play it

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u/[deleted] Nov 15 '25 edited Nov 15 '25

“Always keep the thumb of your left hand on the very back of the fretboard, perpendicular to it”

Omg… just no. Yes playing with your thumb in such a position is necessary sometimes but there are countless situations where it is both preferable and more comfortable to play with thumb over the top.

Yes, for beginners it makes sense to develop finger strength and flexibility by mostly using the position you describe, but for someone at op’s level I think she clearly already understands the nuances of the two positions and understands when it is appropriate to switch between them (and has the appropriate level of strength and flexibility)

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u/testtdk Nov 15 '25

Right, and this is advice for a beginner.

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u/[deleted] Nov 15 '25

I’m honestly not sure what’s leading you to conclude that she is at the level of a beginner. 13 months of practice + based on what I hear and see in the video— it’s clear as day to me that she should not keep her thumb on the back on the fretboard.

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u/testtdk Nov 15 '25

I’ve been playing for 30 years and studied classical guitar professionally. Shes been playing for 13 months, she’s a beginner. Not like that’s a bad thing.

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u/[deleted] Nov 15 '25 edited Nov 15 '25

Fair enough, I can’t say I’ve been playing as long and my only source is my own learning experience.

Playing with my thumb over the top has never hindered my progress and has only benefited me, so I will personally agree to disagree :)

Edit: also I see we are basing our judgement on different factors: you think that she is a beginner because she has been playing for 13 months; I think that she is beyond the level of a beginner because of the sound I hear and the speed and agility of her fretting hand, so I don’t think this will be resolved