Video Question: Thumb Independence

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Date: April 21st, 2008 | Length: 3.02 | Instructor: Matt Brown

Kenstyle asks, "How much is the thumb really independent during finger style and how much of it is super coordination with the right hand? thanks in advance!!! Love the lessons" 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:

Acoustic Guitar Strumming Patterns - October 10th, 2007 (1 minutes, 59 seconds)

John Oconnor59 says, "Hi i have just joined jamplay its fabulous lessons thank you i am doing them with steve eulberg he is a great teacher so laid back and makes it easy to understand now i must admit i have been playing for a year but i went back to the basics i enjoyed it i have done lesson 3 the strumming technique it was brilliant cos i have had problems with my strumming... he showed me the different patterns thank you so much to steve and all you folk a marvelous site indeed when Steve show the strumming patterns how it was made easy to me when you got the proper teacher to explain it to you i am from Ireland so i have taken 4 lessons so far as i want spend a bit a time on me strumming no point going next lesson till i get that one right..the question i want to ask hope its not a silly question when it says its best to master phase one before you move to phase 2..does that mean you have to master all the lessons from all the teachers before i move on ? also as i am not that great on my computer skills still learning that as well how do i post a reply so the teacher can see my reply and the other members too ? and if a friend sends me a message how do i reply to that sorry if i seem a bit silly with these questions its just i am learning this computer too kind regards johnny.." View Response

Left Hand Position - December 4th, 2008 (3 minutes, 12 seconds)

Lucasholland asked "Hello JamPlay, I just got an electric guitar and I'm 100% comitted to making this thing talk. Now the problem is my left hand. I can play chords just fine but doing my finger exercises on the lower 3-4 strings (E,A,D, sometimes even G) hurts my hand, my wrist and my entire forearm to the point where I have to stop playing. This happens after a couple of seconds. I know that this is a sign that my left hand technique is severely flawed. Here's what I've tried to do so far: - I have tried using a strap to put the guitar at an angle. Doesn't help. - I have tried different thumb positions behind the neck. No luck. - I know not being relaxed is a part of the problem but surely something else must be wrong. I really want to learn how to play guitar but I'm starting to think about giving up on it because of my problems. If I had any good teachers near me I would've started taking private lessons by now but that's not an option. PLEASE help! Lucas." View Response

Chicks - June 18th, 2008 (2 minutes, 22 seconds)

Nachob asks, "Hey, i know this has nothig to do with guitar learning, but it's like the main reason any young boy like me want to play guitar like a master, so here i come: I have like four months learning guitar, and i just can't wait to get chicks all around me, how much time do you think i must practice to start getting sweet love? Wich one is a better chick magnet, the acoustic guitar or the electric one? Thanks!" View Response

Hand Cramps - February 19th, 2008 (2 minutes, 40 seconds)

Reverb75 asked, "Hi matt I have a two handed problem here, When playing rhythm with barr chords, Hand cramps up severely in the palm, to the point I can`t even finish the song. also with the right hand, if I am struming rhythm to say an upbeat tune, the right hand tires. this is very annoying. maybe rhythm playing is just not my bag lol, THANKS MATT." View Response

Wah Wah Pedal - February 19th, 2008 (1 minutes, 30 seconds)

Todd asked, "My friend gave me this wah wah pedal and wandering if there is any lessons with them maybe a lesson of a voodoo child slight return by Hendrix would be sweet?" View Response