The majority of guitar players are right handed, since statistically more people are right handed than left handed. For this reason many of the books and manuals for helping beginners learn how to play the guitar assume that the right hand will be the dominant hand.

For left handed players, of which there are many, these techniques need to be reversed in most cases. This is important since the dominant hand is used for plucking the strings, and this is what gives the music its overall quality and tone.

For a left handed player to use the right hand for plucking strings, it may well be the case that the overall tone of the music suffers as a result. But as with so many aspects of playing guitar, this is a personal choice, and whether you are right handed or left handed, it will be important for you to experiment and listen to the sounds you make. The quality and variation of these sounds will assist you in judging which hand, and which technique, works best for you.

One of the methods described in many books and manuals is referred to as the right hand technique, although in many cases this will need to be reversed and thought of equally as the left hand technique. This is the assumed method for playing guitar, whether electric guitar or acoustic, although the method is usually associated with classical guitar techniques. This method encourages the use of the thumb and the three largest fingers in plucking the strings, with the whole hand relaxed.

It is important that, whatever playing technique you choose to use, your hand is not tense or uncomfortable. A tense or uncomfortable hand will only result in a poorer quality of sound, reduced playing time, and possibly long term damage or soreness. The ideal position for the hand is to imagine holding an apple in the hand plucking the strings, but only very gently. Perhaps even better is to imagine holding an egg, that happens to be about the same size as an apple!

With the right hand technique, or whichever hand you are using for plucking the strings, as well as using the thumb and three largest fingers, and holding the hand loosely round an imaginary apple or large egg, the wrist should be very slightly bent, and the lower part of the arm or forearm will be able to rest lightly on the body of the guitar itself. This position should feel comfortable, and relaxed. With no strain, twisting or noticeable discomfort. It is important to experiment, and find a position which feels comfortable to you, since all body shapes vary, and even the shape and size of your guitar may vary slightly.

When using the right hand technique it is usually the case that the thumb is held loosely to the side of the fingers, since this tends to need independence from the work being done by the fingers. Depending on how long your thumb is, and how flexible, the position held should allow for flexibility of the fingers and comfortable movement, without the need to bend the wrist too much. If, after a while of playing, you start to feel tension or discomfort, stop, and try a different position. Do not be afraid to vary your playing style or adapt the right hand technique to suit your own purposes.

By Victor Epand

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