Video Question: Barre Chords

November 28th, 2007 - Louis Aves asks: "Hi Steve- What is the correct position of the thumb when making a barre chord ? I have tried putting my thumb in line with my first finger and also running my thumb along the neck pointing toward the nut but both cause a lot of pain around the base of my thumb when I move position.The only way I can kind of do it is by bending my thumb in almost a right angle shape and using the tip, not the pad,to press on the back of the neck but this makes for quite a lot of movement and time to get from open to barre chords and vice versa. Any suggestions? (Apart from sell my guitar ! ) Love the lessons Steve." Return to Video Q&A Listing


Length: 3.58 | Instructor: Steve Eulberg Another benefit of being a member of JamPlay is the video response section. Our expert staff fields questions from our members and provides video responses each week.

Other Video Responses:

PRS guitars - November 19th, 2007 (5 minutes, 90 seconds)

Mathias76 asks "I have noticed that Brad and Matt play PRS. It's a very open question, but why did you choose them? I am in the market to buy a top quality guitar, and I keep flip-flopping between a PRS Custom 22/24 and a Les Paul Standard. I know the textbook answer is to "play both of them and see which one you like more," but I was wondering why YOU chose them. Thanks- Nathan" View Response

Vibrato - October 31st, 2007 (4 minutes, 20 seconds)

Robearle asks ": I'm not doing too badly with vibrato with the 2nd & 3rd finger because I can use the 1st as some sort of anchor point or brace. But I'm having real problems with the 1st finger. I've watched brad playing, and he does it perfectly, he makes it look real easy, but I just don't seem to able to get the hang of it. Any suggestions that might help? Cheers, Rob. " View Response

Right Hand Hammer-Ons, Tapping Question - June 9th, 2008 (6 minutes, 00 seconds)

bator82 asks, "Hey guys, thanks for the lessons. I was just wondering if any of the instructors knew how to do hammer ons with both hands. It seems like even when I know the notes, I have a hard time getting the sustain I want when I have to hammer on with my right hand. Does it have to do with the amp's gain, the guitar's natural sustain, pickup volume and tone, or do I need a compressor, or again, is it all in the technique. If so, are there exercises I can do to help out with right hand hammer ons and even slides? Thanks in advance." View Response

Tremolo Picking - December 14th, 2007 (3 minutes, 30 seconds)

dllfiles asks "Just was curious on whats the easiest way to do tremolo picking. Im learning Knights of Cydonia right now, and some of the song is temolo picked. I have a hard time doing that or will I just get better by practicing more? I have a Fender thin pick so that seems to help. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks!" View Response

Zoom G1X - May 26th, 2008 (1 minutes, 19 seconds)

Ndjordjevic asks, "Hi, I got a ZOOM G1X guitar effect and I will appritiate if someone can give some tips and advice how to setup this pedal and get common sounds like for example in Brad's H. Leeson 1, Phase 2, Chapter 6 Chorus, Delay effect, very nice sound.... I wasn't able to setup this pedal to sound like Brad's. I have Squire Strat guitar and Fender Frontman 15g amp + mentioned ZOOM G1X" View Response