Which Hand Position Is Better? - ROCK VS CLASSICAL - Guitar Lesson

[@patrickhobbs2915]

Literally one of the most helpful videos I've watch on KZbin as a beginner player.

[@MaxRichMusic]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@PE-vo7iq]

Thx, great info. I did play with my fingers at an angle, felt more natural, but for some reason thought I needed to straighten them. Won't bother trying to straighten any more. If it's not broke, don't fix it.

[@STBRetired1]

Oh FINALLY I found someone to explain why the difference in left hand positioning between "rock" and classical/acoustic guitarists. I wondered how "rock" guitarists could have their fingers laying all over the fretboard in such a "sloppy" manner. As you demonstrated, something popped into my head. Classical and acoustic players play a lot of chords or do strumming. Therefore, they can't be touching the strings with their left hand or it will mute the "ring". But rock guitarists seem to mainly play single strings at a time (very fast) so it doesn't matter if the unused strings are touched or muted as long as the string being played is free and clear. THAT'S why rock guitarists have such a different left hand style. Now if I could only find a video to explain about tapping and setting up the amp to do it.

[@MaxRichMusic]

Yes! You pretty much got it right...but it also has to do with the width of the neck and the construction of the guitar varying from classical to electric. What issue are you having with tapping?

[@STBRetired1]

@@MaxRichMusic Oh my issues extend far beyond tapping. For years - YEARS - I've wanted to play a musical instrument. And for years, I've failed. I'm somewhat intelligent. I have two Associate degrees - one in Computer Science. But no matter what book I read nor what video I watch, I just cannot grasp music theory, memorizing the fretboard nor achieve physical dexterity to play the guitar. I've recently picked it up again. I figured that at 78 years of age that I had nothing better to do so I might as well plod along and see if anything blossoms. What motivated me this time was seeing a KZbin video of Tina S playing Beethoven on the electric guitar. Her tapping borders on the insane. Reminded me of Ralph Macchio playing Paganini's Caprice #5 in the movie "Crossroads". Actually, Steve Vai was playing it. But it was just beautiful. I always wondered about those hand position differences and no one else explained them except you. So, thank you for that.

[@MaxRichMusic]

Well thanks for the comment! I'm glad I was able to explain something that helped you out. And age is truly of no concern...I've taught people well past youre age how to play guitar. Music theory must be learned in a linear fashion. It's like learning math. You can't learn algebra without learning division, and you can't learn division without subtraction etc. Here's the very first thing you have to understand when learning theory maxrichmusic.com/newsletter-15 Feel free to shoot me an email and we can discuss things in more detail.

[@bucktv254]

Thank you sir, very few YT channels explain this technique or even talk about it at all!

[@MaxRichMusic]

My pleasure! If you enjoyed this, please check out the Weekly Newsletter, it's full of lessons like this and much more. maxrichmusic.com/newsletter

[@abrahamlife]

Really helpful tip on the hand support!

[@MaxRichMusic]

That's great to hear Avraham. I hope your playing is going well

[@edmundddilworth9983]

Just found your site today and watched this video. Found it very instructive and helpful. I'll be looking at your other ones !!! Thanks.

[@MaxRichMusic]

Thank you very much! Please take a look at my weekly newsletter, and consider signing up! It's a free weekly email that includes in depth video lessons, as well as theory, songs, and technique lessons. The members of my newsletter are free to send me questions and videos/pics of their playing for personalized help with their playing. Hope you like it! maxrichmusic.com/newsletter

[@slow_p]

Thank you for your lessons. I m just learning and will try this method.

[@MaxRichMusic]

Right on! Thanks for watching, and please subscribe to the newsletter if you find this stuff useful. Much appreciated!

[@GregerKlockare]

Thanks. This was really helpful! I have struggled with my pinky pointing towards the headstock.

[@MaxRichMusic]

Glad it helped! Thanks for watching

[@henrikduende]

The pinky is a natural curve. Does not ruin your reach. It’s all situational. It all depends on What you play. Practice should make you free, not stuck in doing stuff one way.

[@RickyGA1985]

Max, What about finger exercises on the guitar, such as the chromatic walk up and down. Would you use the classical position, or the angle? Great Video! Thanks!

[@MaxRichMusic]

I'd always use the angled position when possible. That might not work all the time (chromatic on 6th string only is usually better suited for a more vertical position.) As I transition from the 6th string to the 1st (like in a pentatonic box, or chrom scale) I go from vertical at the 6th to angled as I ascend. I hope that helps.

[@RickyGA1985]

@@MaxRichMusic Sure does. Awesome.

[@SasquatchLovesMe]

Hello, Interesting video. I consider myself a beginner player. I messed around with the guitar in my 20s, but didn't take it seriously. Now I have the time to properly learn to play. You're the only instructor on youtube who I've seen advise the contrary to all the other instructors I've watched about fretting hand position. That said, your positioning is definitely more natural feeling and has a lot of stability right from the start. I have to choose one of these methods so I can learn using a consistent technique. I just have a few questions: -Are you still playing on your finger tips? It looks like you are. -Do you feel that this hand positioning places your wrist in a weak position? It looks like your wrist is still straight, just at a slight angle. -When you play the B or high E string, for example, I'm assuming you have to move hand off the neck a little to reach those strings? Honestly, I was just about to commit to learning the classical approach because all other professionals on here are firm about do this as a mark of proper guitar playing, but you have me rethinking that mantra.

[@MaxRichMusic]

Hi Mark, thanks for the comment and questions. The angled finger position is superior in all forms of playing other than classical, I stand firmly behind that. As I explain, it actually puts your wrist in a stronger position, not a weaker one because of the added anchor points and the fact that you can keep your fingers closer together (very often touching each other). Depending on what I'm doing I'll either play on the tips or pads of my fingers, but most of the time on the tips (but not the extreme fingertips near the nail). The classical position forces you to play as far on the fingertip as possible, which is highly effective for nylon guitars, but for anything blues/rock/jazz based it isn't. Playing that way forces your small knuckle to bend which imparts undue strain on your finger tendons and most often creates added muscle energy which results in fatigue and eventually poor hand position. As far as the high strings go, I don't really move my hand off the fretboard, but I pivot off of my index finger anchor at the bottom of the neck. I bend my fingers slightly more to get closer to the tips of the finger but I pretty much always have that anchor in place. It's what allows fast accurate movement and the fewest mistakes. If you'd like I'd be happy to take a look at your hand position and offer some tips. We can also certainly continue this conversation some more if you'd like, I'm always happy to help. Feel free to email me at: [e-mail]

[@libertymedicalcommunicatio4908]

Good stuff!

[@MaxRichMusic]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@ojsojs6004]

How about if you are doing scales like pentatonic? ?

[@MaxRichMusic]

If you're playing most pentatonic stuff (not classical or prog/shred metal) then you probably want to be angled. As you get closer to the 6th string you necessarily have to have less of an angle though, The higher string you're on, the more angle you should have.

[@ojsojs6004]

@@MaxRichMusic Thanks. You deserved more subscribers. Your videos are straight to the point and offers good advice.

[@hillers54]

I'm off to try out that point of contact 👌👌👌

[@MaxRichMusic]

Thank you....if you enjoy the videos please check out the free weekly newsletter and consider subscribingmaxrichmusic.com/newsletter

[@neil8964]

thank you Sir, that was very helpful. Just one question, if i reach the high e string I am not sure wheter to continue pressing my left index against the fretboard or not. Since reaching the string is so easy there

[@MaxRichMusic]

Hi there...I believe i answered your email about this same thing...but so other people can see it: yes. You keep the index finger knuckle against the bottom of the neck. It creates another anchor point and is easier to stabilize and move your hand as a whole unit.

[@neil8964]

@@MaxRichMusic thx a lot man. Just answered to your mail :)

[@binodtharu9191]

Thanks for the video sir I just found you today Actually while I was playing I had problem in lifting my ring finger ..like I had to life the ring finger up but I was lifting the Pinky finger even after focusing it was happening so I searched and found your finger independence video..

[@MaxRichMusic]

Thanks so much for reaching out! I'm glad you found my videos. Were they helpful? Have you been able to fix the problem?

[@darthvader0510]

but what if you have short fingers? Generally, my fingers are at an angle, but it's kinda hard to reach low strings with the pinky, even harder to do some hammer-on or pull-off.

[@MaxRichMusic]

Well, generally everyone has to somewhat rotate from an angled position for the high strings to a somewhat straighter position when playing the pinky on the low strings...that's fairly normal. If you'd like some help with your hand position and/or hammer-ons and pull-offs, feel free to send me an email at [e-mail] I'd be happy to help you out

[@Andreorsel]

Agree and disagree. The extra contact point and slight angeled fingers is good but it actually gives you less reach. Placing with your thumb more down on the neck and have your fingers straight gives you more reach. If you have shorter fingers, and especially a shorter pinky, this is not such a good position all the time. If you just play some blues penta stuff it is ok, but for playing more advanced stuff where you also need more reach this is not such a good position; better use a combination of both techniques. As you said classical players will have their fingers straight most of the time, they play the most difficult stuff their is and can do this for hours and hours.

[@GusVenditto]

Interesting and it feels good. Except for barre chords: there's no way I could barre with my first finger in this position. Is that the exception?

[@MaxRichMusic]

Haha, yeah that's the exception for sure! I even mention that toward the end of the video. Glad it worked for you! Was it the first time you experimented with this hand position?

[@GusVenditto]

@@MaxRichMusic I had used it before I became convinced it was bad technique. I started thinking that positioning the thumb in the middle of the fretboard was best. Now I realize one is good for chords and one is better for picking.

[@MaxRichMusic]

Well, that's close, but it's not entirely accurate. There are many chords for which the rock position is superior. Take a look at Hendrix or Stevie Ray Vaughn, they use the rock position almost exclusively, including for chords. It's quite situational and depends a lot on the style of music you play and your position when playing (standing/sitting, how high is the guitar relative to your torso etc.)

[@henrikduende]

Funny stuff is that ”your” method locks the finger up, and you need more energy to move. The neck should not your hand (index finger) actually gives you less reach. Not im not a classical guitarist at all. Steel and electric guitars have thinner neck that’s Why lots of ” home school” players hold the way they do. I hold my hand realy diffrent when i play electric from when i play nylon. It’s 2 diffrent instruments.

[@pugman1543]

And angle your hand the other way you have even more reach