Meet your new best friend: Thumb Muting!

This little guitar trick will make you sound so much better.

You've probably noticed that I often have my thumb over the top of my guitar neck. In this lesson, we'll learn why that is and exactly when to do it!

If you're following my Beginner Guitar Course, you know that - up to now - I recommend that you always keep your thumb behind the guitar neck. The reason is that it helps you build up the muscle between your thumb and your first finger. You'll appreciate that when getting into barre chords.

But at this point, as an advancing beginner, your thumb is ready to start exploring and moving around a bit! Your thumb is not there just for grip support but also to play around with the thickest strings. :)

💡 By hanging your thumb over the top of your guitar, you can use it to mute or even fret the string.

Naturally, you'll need some time to get used to this.

How to: Thumb Muting for Beginners

You’ll have to explore your hand’s positioning to find what feels comfortable for you. There’s not really a right place that will work for everyone! It all comes down to your personal anatomy and your guitar.

You will notice that the grip you’ve got on your neck becomes tighter and firmer than it would be with your thumb behind the neck, but that’s generally fine. Also, it will take some time to build up sensitivity in your thumb. Your other fingers are used to interacting with strings and frets by now, but your thumb is only just learning!

Be patient - it’ll come together.

6 Moments When Using Your Thumb Can Help Your Guitar Playing

A Chord Shapes

Use your thumb to play A, Am, A7, Asus, etc. Any open A Chord shapes that you encounter! With most variations on the A chord, you should be able to reach your thumb over to mute the thickest string. You don’t play it anyway! So, this only ensures that you don’t accidentally hit it with your pick. Just the slightest touch here will do the job. After all, you’re not fretting any notes.

Open D Chord Shapes

When playing an open D Chord, you shouldn't hit the thickest two strings. That can be a tricky task when strumming a song, so use your thumb to reduce the chances of hitting the wrong notes. With D Chord Shapes, that 6th string is always terrible. You can get away with the 5th ringing out, but not the 6th. That said, you can attempt to mute the 6th and the 5th strings simultaneously with your thumb, but you run the risk of fretting the 6th string.

But on that note, maybe you want to fret the 6th string! The thumb is great for hitting that 2nd fret for a D/F# chord.

Open G Chord Shape

Some people (who are not me!) use their thumb to fret the thickest string for a G chord. It’s never really worked for me, though, apart from a few exceptional instances. Depending on the song, it can make more sense to utilize the thumb here. Stop This Train by John Mayer, for example, springs to mind.

In other cases, you can use the thumb when, say, changing from a G to an A chord. The thumb can be at the ready, waiting to mute that E string for the A chord.

Open E Chord Shape

For this chord shape, there’s not much need for the thumb, is there? Since that’s the case, this is a good shape to experiment with your thumb placement, paying careful attention to your hand looks and feels like as you adjust the position.

Keep in mind that there won’t be a hard and fast way to play these chords every single time. Your hand placement will depend on several different factors, many of which will be circumstantial and variable. You’ve got to stay adaptable!

Playing Single Note Lines

You’ll be able to use your thumb when you’re playing interesting melody lines. Your thumb will either mute the thickest strings or give yourself something of a bass line. This is a super funky style, and guitarists like Lenny Kravitz & John Frusciante are particularly adept at it. At this stage in the game, though, it’d be best left for later.

E Shape Barre Chords

🚨Grade 4 Alert! You've probably noticed I used my thumb to play the bass note of E Shape Barre Chords, too, such as the F Chord. Depending on how big your hand is in relation to your guitar neck or how long your fingers are, this will come more or less easy for you. Try it and see how it feels for you, but I suspect that 99% of you will be like, What the….?!

Now - who's up for some jamming?