I'm glad I found this. Several of you have put out very helpful information about this topic. I'm 58. I played bass professionally for a long time and took guitar back up about 23 years ago I've always struggled with pain from being too tense, pressing too hard and using bad posture/technique. Vids like this help me to understand mistakes and though it's like learning to play all over again, it's really helping. LOL, 58 going on 17............

Two things I teach my students: palm up and use the strength of the arm to pull fingers into fretboard particularly while barre chording. My Classical teacher taught me this and it really made a positive difference.

came (back) to this vid for help as i try to figure out barre chords, which apparently i've googled too many times bc i just got an add for a barre aerobic exercise workout program but IT'S THE WRONG KIND OF BARRE 😂

This is helpful. I've been playing guitar for almost two years now, a real beginner. The sore finger tips didn't stop me from practicing, but when the base of my left thumb started hurting that I could no longer play for about a month, I've been searching posts on KZfaq for this specific topic, and thank goodness I found your video. Thanks so much!

Thank you for the video! I feel a lot of good heart behind it and it's both educational and comforting. I've been playing the guitar for about 10 years now, but lousily. I decided to take up lessons - and for all my chord knowledge, my basic technique is all wrong: I can't hold barres properly, however hard I press my finger into the guitar, but the thumb seems to be the biggest problem. I am a short girl and I have tiny hands, so I bought a 2/3 this year, and when I play anything open, my thumb doesn't stay straight but the tip of it bends a little - that's how I can hold the guitar confidently. I was told I am supposed to have my thumb straight and somehow always put pressure through the tip - and I find it hard to move it up or down, or understand how to apply pressure, and the base of my thumb hurts. It's been three weeks and I almost don't practice at all, because I just don't get it and it's stressful to even think about it. It's especially hard to keep it in the middle of the neck - I then have to take my hand all the way front, and my arm front - it's all so uncomfortable it makes me cry! Is it really such a big problem if my thumb bends a little? It doesn't go forward like in the end of the video, just follows the shape of the neck in the behind. Could it be a short arms/small hands problem?

Youre such a great teacher! You really knoq how to teach. Ive been watching viral guitar lessons, and most just felt like showing off,ending each lesson with them saying, you know what I mean. I wish your YT success!

That's pretty much along the lines of how I explain thumb positions. Those of us who have played for about half a century learned through what our bodies have taught us. It's actually more of discovering the ranges of motions needed to get the sounds we're after with as little pain as possible. There will be many epiphanies where we realize something that we have habitually done that makes little sense and then we find a better way. A lot of this can't be taught - it needs to be personally discovered. Tips and pointers can open our eyes to certain things we haven't thought of, but ultimately we will have to go and prove things for ourselves. Enjoy the journey.

Super helpful video!! This has really improved my technique and made a real difference in my playing.

Excellent video thank you although I am really struggling with the pressure I apply in my fret hand, specifically between thumb and fingers. I find myself holding tight and not relaxing, I’m only two weeks in but it’s really annoying me. I am slowly managing to change between 2-3 chords but the the whole fretting hand doesn’t feel right for me at all..help anyone please 😂

Thank you man! had bad pains trying to play the barre chords of Everlong, this should work wonders! Thanks!

Incredibly well explained Tomas. Appreciated.

Thanks for the excellent tips.

omg it was MAGIC when I tried fitting my arm into my side and fitting the guitar neck where my hand reaches. I was able to play my Cm, Bm, and A#m chord way more clearly (: thank you!

Oh...this was my query.I can't express my gratitude in words;thus saying only thank you and regards.May God bless you.From India.

Thank you Tom!

Thank you please make more this Kind of video

Thank you!❤

Very helpful. The right way to hold the left hand/wrist/thumb matters and I need to be more conscious of that.

Excellent ! Merci beaucoup,

Thanks!

Thanks Thomas

Found this really useful. Thank you so much.

Thank you

Very helpful video. I have long fingers and my thumb tended to wrap around the guitar neck. I need to rework all my chords with a new thumb position.

Very very helpful, thank you so much!!! Stay safe and happy.

Very informative. Thank you. Sir.

Your a great teacher, I loved the video. Thank you!

That was so helpful!! Thanks grandpa 💙💙

Greetings sir! Thank you for this video it really helped me. I have struggled with my guitar journey for various reasons but now I am going to be really more patient, if it takes me half a year to really learn the open chords again with the right technique, then why not. I will be more patient and consistent. Also I was always giving up because there is just so much things to focus on, what might be wrong and you just don´t know. Maybe my guitar doesn´t suits me, well don´t give up, try buying a strip it will be easier or something you know? Anyway I want to ask how to find the right technique with these chords, thumb positioning? Should I practice one chord for a week with one placement and if it´s okay I move to next chord. If there is a pain or discomfort then I try playing with different placement for another week, or what would you recommend? Thank you very much!

man..Thank you so so much

My thumb doesn't work right it doesn't stay straight it kinda gets cockeyed the hole pad doesn't stay against the gutair unless my thumb is over the top. My hands are smaller but it's like my thumb won't sit that way, but my thumb behind my nail on the pad gets pretty sore, is there thumb stretches or something after 6 months of playing I figured my fingers and stuff would stretch but it's not looking like it .

Really really great video💯💯💯❤❤❤. Thank you❤

thanks Dad

How would you mute the 6th string when your thumb is behind the neck for open chords eg c chord , a chord

👏👏👏

I have a question I can't find the answer to. It's about hand morphology and how that affects how you hold the neck. I'm looking at the three minute mark and your thumb is shaped so that the tip arcs back and your pad is on the neck. My thumb doesn't curve like that. It won't curve like that so I have to have the actual tip of my finger just under the nail up against the back of the neck. This feel horrible and painful. I'd imagine that some people's hands are just perfectly formed to hold a bass or a guitar neck while other less so. I can't help but wonder if I fall into the less so category. Do you or does anyone have an insight into this?

Explain about Barre chords..tricks...

What if you have double jointed thumb. Which bends 90 degree backward

I can't get over the tiny fleur de lis 😂

Awful example to be taught. Your shoulders aren't level, hips aren't level and you're right handed resting the guitar on the left leg. Is this a joke video?