There are many ways to approach left and right posture/technique. If you were to look at ten great guitar players you would see ten different ways to approach it. There is no “one way to do it”, there are many valid techniques that work. There are however, a few basic elements to address and work on early in order to develop good habits and technique.

     1.     Finger Placement

In order to eliminate “buzzing” and play notes that sustain clearly, it is vital that you get into the habit of placing your fingers close behind the frets. Make sure that you do not touch the fret itself as this will likely dampen the note. Good finger placement technique allows you to play clean sounding notes using minimal effort and strain. You should aim to use the almost the tops of your finger tips to fret notes (try not to get to close to your nails). Over time your skin will naturally toughen and fretting will become easier.

2.     Thumb Placement

As a rule of thumb (sorry…) you should aim to place your thumb on the back of the neck opposite your index or middle finger. Thumb position is not always static, as you learn new left-hand techniques your thumb will need to adapt and move accordingly. Try to have a relaxed grip and make sure there is as little tension as possible. Make sure that the thumb doesn’t face towards the headstock, try and face it upwards.

3.     Finger Curvature

The best way to make sure you play your chords clean is to curve your fingers. The shape of your hand should be similar to a bridge. You will need to make sure the fingers are coming down vertically where possible while at the same time avoiding touching other strings.

4.     Wrist Position

This is a very important element of left-hand technique. Try and get a 45 degree angle between your wrist and the floor. You should aim to have a small gap in between the palm of your hand and the guitar. The key here is always to make sure that the wrist is relaxed and free of any tension