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Question: Pentatonic Scale on guitar!?
In the lowest position, in A, the one that starts on the 5th fret of the low E string, then 3rd fret of A string, then 5th fret on a string, then 2nd fret on D string!.!.!.!.!. you know the rest!. In that position, I can play the whole thing with my thumb wrapped around the neck and hanging over the top, which is what my teachers always telling me to do, but when I do that i cant play the middle to strings as fluently, I have to take my index finger off of the 2nd fret to put my pinkie on the 5th fret, I can barely hear the gap when I play it, but its probably coz im focusing on what im playing, instead of really listening to whats coming out of the amp!. the notes aren't as clear with my thumb over either, theres more fret buzz!. I'm more comfortable putting my thumb behind the neck for a few notes, but my teachers said that i need to use my thumb later, he mentioned bends but cant you do them with your other fingers!? so should i do what hes said, which doesnt sound as good and its less comfortable, or do what i prefer, which might make it harder later on!?Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
You musn't have a properly trained teacher because using your thumb to fret notes on guitar is considered unorthodox!. Classic guitarists look down on using your thumb, that's something reserved for banjo!.

Your teacher must be a Hendrix fan, because he always had his thumb hanging over!. This was probably because he was self-taught and had big hands!.

Now you can play some pretty cool stuff if you fret with your thumb, and certain songs (by hendrix, frusciante etc!.) require you to do so; however, while you are learning it is better to stick to a more conventional style!. Then once you get a good understanding of playing 'normally' and technically correct you can allow yourself to try different things, do some 'wrong' pick strokes and let your thumb loose every now and then!. In the mean time, I would keep that bad boy way behind the neck like all the books tell you to do!.

Oh yeah and after you get used to using your thumb (and an other sorts of weird one finger barres) your appendages soon get more flexible!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

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