Left hand thumb

[dividednomore]

When you play a G chop in first position, or play up the neck, where is your left thumb? Do you drop your wrist down and place your thumb more in the center of the neck(directly behind fretboard)?

[August Watters]

Most of us use a "violin grip" -- close your thumb partway toward the first finger, and use that as a platform on the back of the neck, so the neck falls into, but not all the way to the bottom of, the v-shape between thumb and first finger. The thumb points up, somewhere in the general direction of the nut. Especially for chop chords, this is usually the best way.

Some folks use the thumb on the back of the neck #(as you are describing) at least part of the time. Some use it a lot. The photo of "correct" hand placement in the Mel Bay mandolin method shows this! To me, there's an occasional chord that is easier to play with thumb on back of neck -- but usually the violin grip works better with less hand tension (since it doesn't require opposing force from the thumb). Many mandolin players use the violin grip exclusively. I think we all have to experiment to find what works best for our own size and shape of hands.

August W
http://www.augustwatters.com

[Jasper]

I started to reply to this yesterday, but really wasn't sure what I do with my left thumb concerning the chop chord...well, concur with August, the neck is cradled in the "V" between thumb and index finger with thumb pointing up along the neck somewhat. When I first started playing, I tried the thumb against the back of the neck, but my thumb always got very tired after 20 minutes or so.

Jasper[B]

[Lee]

Accomplished violinists using vibrato will not generally rest the violin neck against the base of their first finger. Yes, the thumb will become very tired. This may be alleviated by practice. Or, by switching to a mandolin family instrument in which case other pains may develop. These too may also be alleviated by practice.

[dividednomore]

Thanks for your reply. I have been using the violin grip, but I think I was letting the neck get too far down in the v-shape between the thumb and first finger. I have experimented some with the other method, but I am more comfortable with the violin grip. Thanks again for your responses.