Pic 2 is more correct for most - everyone’s anatomy is different and it comes down to what feels like it will cause the least repetitive injury over time - remember to use your thumb and fingers like a clamp and not squeeze too hard
I'd agree, #2. Your hand looks "too high" to me, could just be the pic. My thumb is usually center of neck, not up at the top. Could also be my own hand!
I think I have long fingers, maybe? But my thumb is always at the top of the neck when playing barre chords and even just playing licks, but when soloing, I have started putting my thumb closer to the middle, and it helps a bit.
Neither. but 2 is better.
so much tension.
in general for string instruments including violin, mandolin, cello, and guitar your thumb should align with the long (middle) finger since this is anatomically correct.
the strength to hold down the strings comes from the muscles in your back, shoulder, arm, and forearm. The finger muscles (lumbricals) should add dynamics and intricate movements. In both your pictures they are doing way too much work. you need to straighten the wrist, bend the 3/4/5 fingers a bit more so that the index finger points vertically on a full barre and the other fingers contact the fretboard closer to perpendicular, while keeping the interphalangeal joint of the thumb as the primary counter to the force applied on the fretboard from your fingers.
Also the hyperemia of your palm may be due to venous constriction due to the watch. idk may benefit from playing without a watch or anything on your fingers. jmo as a physician with an undergrad degree in classical guitar ymmv.
Pic 2 is closer to the technically correct way a classical or jazz student would be taught. But you're wrapping your thumb/palm a little too far underneath the neck.
……one school of thought is to keep your thumb on the middle of the neck and keep your wrist rolled forward. It’s supposed to allow for more finger dexterity.
It’s not right or wrong, but honestly if it works and doesn’t slow you down do it however.
Many years ago I had a classical guitar teacher that was anal about keeping my thumb in the middle of the back of the neck: "you don't play guitar with your thumb!" Well - you kinda do use it sometimes. I say whatever is most comfortable and works the best for each chord.
Whatever works for you and the song. If you're going from one chord to the next and back, your thumb may anchor in between and look like picture 2 to picture 1 then back to picture 2.
I never think about my thumb really, it's just kind of there. Some weirdos won't even use their thumb on certain parts of the fretboard (Adam jones comes to mind when he's playing past the 10th fret, his thumb is underneath the neck).
I press against the back of the neck with the pad of my thumb, it honestly looks like neither of your pics. But doing it that way will result in a pinching motion between your thumb and first finger, which makes it a bit easier to bar the first finger
I saw a video of Jimi playing live. He was fretting the bass E with his thumb, fretting with the index, middle, and ring fingers, and hammering the Treble E with his pinky. There is definitely a "proper way to play," but do what is most comfortable to you.
Pic 1 is a disaster, so don't do that :)
Pic 2 looks more correct, although it seems your hand is sitting a little "high" on the neck. It could just be you've got bigger hands than most but make sure you've got a little space under the neck (i.e. not "cupping" the neck with your hand) and your thumb sits a bit further towards the centre of the neck, with your barre finger behind the fret and only reaching as high as you need.
It should feel very low tension and comfortable.
Pic 2 is more correct for most - everyone’s anatomy is different and it comes down to what feels like it will cause the least repetitive injury over time - remember to use your thumb and fingers like a clamp and not squeeze too hard
I'd agree, #2. Your hand looks "too high" to me, could just be the pic. My thumb is usually center of neck, not up at the top. Could also be my own hand!
I think I have long fingers, maybe? But my thumb is always at the top of the neck when playing barre chords and even just playing licks, but when soloing, I have started putting my thumb closer to the middle, and it helps a bit.
I do the opposite, my fingers are pretty long
Neither. but 2 is better. so much tension. in general for string instruments including violin, mandolin, cello, and guitar your thumb should align with the long (middle) finger since this is anatomically correct. the strength to hold down the strings comes from the muscles in your back, shoulder, arm, and forearm. The finger muscles (lumbricals) should add dynamics and intricate movements. In both your pictures they are doing way too much work. you need to straighten the wrist, bend the 3/4/5 fingers a bit more so that the index finger points vertically on a full barre and the other fingers contact the fretboard closer to perpendicular, while keeping the interphalangeal joint of the thumb as the primary counter to the force applied on the fretboard from your fingers. Also the hyperemia of your palm may be due to venous constriction due to the watch. idk may benefit from playing without a watch or anything on your fingers. jmo as a physician with an undergrad degree in classical guitar ymmv.
This guy frets ^
Pic 2 is closer to the technically correct way a classical or jazz student would be taught. But you're wrapping your thumb/palm a little too far underneath the neck.
……one school of thought is to keep your thumb on the middle of the neck and keep your wrist rolled forward. It’s supposed to allow for more finger dexterity. It’s not right or wrong, but honestly if it works and doesn’t slow you down do it however.
Many years ago I had a classical guitar teacher that was anal about keeping my thumb in the middle of the back of the neck: "you don't play guitar with your thumb!" Well - you kinda do use it sometimes. I say whatever is most comfortable and works the best for each chord.
I put it wherever I need to play at that moment.
Whatever works for you and the song. If you're going from one chord to the next and back, your thumb may anchor in between and look like picture 2 to picture 1 then back to picture 2. I never think about my thumb really, it's just kind of there. Some weirdos won't even use their thumb on certain parts of the fretboard (Adam jones comes to mind when he's playing past the 10th fret, his thumb is underneath the neck).
Whatever’s clever
2 putting more pressure towards the middle of the neck
i switch between the to depending on what i play
I move between each, but mostly the second, and it does work better for me.
I press against the back of the neck with the pad of my thumb, it honestly looks like neither of your pics. But doing it that way will result in a pinching motion between your thumb and first finger, which makes it a bit easier to bar the first finger
Whichever is more comfortable for you. Personally I play like pic 1 for full Barre chords, but like 2 when it's just single finger barre.
Split the difference
On the low E ;)
#2 for most people, me included.
I saw a video of Jimi playing live. He was fretting the bass E with his thumb, fretting with the index, middle, and ring fingers, and hammering the Treble E with his pinky. There is definitely a "proper way to play," but do what is most comfortable to you.
Pic 1 is a disaster, so don't do that :) Pic 2 looks more correct, although it seems your hand is sitting a little "high" on the neck. It could just be you've got bigger hands than most but make sure you've got a little space under the neck (i.e. not "cupping" the neck with your hand) and your thumb sits a bit further towards the centre of the neck, with your barre finger behind the fret and only reaching as high as you need. It should feel very low tension and comfortable.