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Issue with thumb sticking


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On the exercise starting at the 5th fret on B and E to the 12th fret. I have an issue with my thumb sticking to the neck that started when I reacted 90 8th notes. I literally have to pick the thumb up to make it move, then it throws me off on my fingers. What are solutions? 

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My pinky still doesn't behave walking backwards 4 3 2 1, 

Only thing I can think of is you start tensing up fast you go.

Try to concentrate on relaxed

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I don't know what type of guitar of neck finish you are playing on, but some necks are "stickier" to my fingers than others. I prefer satin or no finish ( have one distressed guitar with all the finish sanded off) for a smoother thumb movement up and down the neck.  I don't do anything fast however, physical limitations associated with arthritic fingers. Just a possible thought here....

Greg

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15 minutes ago, gotto said:

I don't know what type of guitar of neck finish you are playing on, but some necks are "stickier" to my fingers than others. I prefer satin or no finish ( have one distressed guitar with all the finish sanded off) for a smoother thumb movement up and down the neck.  I don't do anything fast however, physical limitations associated with arthritic fingers. Just a possible thought here....

Greg

One is satin, squire Strat. The other has a shine, Fender acoustic. Tried sanding the Strat since it was dull. Didn’t help.

poweder on my thumb solves it, but messy and does last long. Maybe my skin just gets sweaty and oily to fast. 

Thanks

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28 minutes ago, Eracer_Team-DougH said:

My pinky still doesn't behave walking backwards 4 3 2 1, 

Only thing I can think of is you start tensing up fast you go.

Try to concentrate on relaxed

Not it. My thumb wo was slide up the neck when I get to these speeds because it’s to sticky on the neck.

 

however I can go faster forward. No doubt.

Edited by Mike
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you shouldn't sand the neck of the guitar unless you're trying to change the profile of the neck.. you'll remove the coating of the guitar.

with this next statement you really need to know what your guitar is made of.. 

guitars usually have 2 finishes.. 

one is Polly urethane and the other is Nitro 

with Polly guitars use standard guitar polish or if you really like car polish to buff them up and make them slippery.

with Nitro guitars.. (usually found on more expensive guitars.) you use Naphtha to clean the oils off and make it slide..

Naphtha will take the coating of a Polly guitar off.. so you really need to know what your guitar is made of..

both my Les Paul and my MIA strat are Nitro guitars... Naphtha is known as liter fluid.

now that you've sanded it.. you may be dealing with  the coating removed.

find out what was covering your guitars and try a guitar polish

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32 minutes ago, Eracer_Team-DougH said:

you shouldn't sand the neck of the guitar unless you're trying to change the profile of the neck.. you'll remove the coating of the guitar.

with this next statement you really need to know what your guitar is made of.. 

guitars usually have 2 finishes.. 

one is Polly urethane and the other is Nitro 

with Polly guitars use standard guitar polish or if you really like car polish to buff them up and make them slippery.

with Nitro guitars.. (usually found on more expensive guitars.) you use Naphtha to clean the oils off and make it slide..

Naphtha will take the coating of a Polly guitar off.. so you really need to know what your guitar is made of..

both my Les Paul and my MIA strat are Nitro guitars... Naphtha is known as liter fluid.

now that you've sanded it.. you may be dealing with  the coating removed.

find out what was covering your guitars and try a guitar polish

Looks like my Strat is Poly. I haven’t taken time to learn must about the finish’s on them. All different than what I use. I have my Strat at work so I’m headed for the polish to try it. It’s a satin finish and I barely grazed it with 800. So never went through. I’m a painter in auto repair.

what little I’ve hard was to never use car polish on any guitar. The net is full of things though. But I definitely need to solve it. Not like it cost $2000.

 

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Polish wasn’t helpful. Wax might be slicker. But not an option since it causes fish eyes in automotive paint. Can’t have it getting on my fingers at work.

may just have to learn how to walk it down the neck someway. Or reposition it. So it doesn’t drag as hard like it is going the opposite direction.

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Ok, a suitable solution. Opening a cabinet I happened to notice the cloth bandage tape. Never been able to move down the neck as freely. It’s wonderful!!!

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I'm on a lot of guitar forums since about 2006.. 

don't think I've ever seen a problem/solution such as this.

I guess what ever works for you

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2 hours ago, Eracer_Team-DougH said:

I'm on a lot of guitar forums since about 2006.. 

don't think I've ever seen a problem/solution such as this.

I guess what ever works for you

I’ll keep investigating. It boils down to shine. The headstock on my Strat is dull. Looks like real wood with a slight wood grain feel. No sticking. But the neck has become shiny where my thumb is. Didn’t have the issue new. Always had the issue on the acoustic. 

I’ll  have to get a real solution if I ever get to the point of needing the thumb for the low E. Which from searching other forums, sanding was a solution for many. Seems it’s common mostly with cheap guitars.

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Maybe it's the solvents you use at work are not coming off your hands and are conflicting with the finish of the guitar.

Probably the worst thing I did was put insect repellent on when I was in the back yard, then grabbed my Les Paul to play, I could feel my strumming arm sticking to the top of the guitar.

Btw Steve doesn't use thumb over top to grab low E, 

Many players don't,  many do, great music can be made both ways

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1 hour ago, Eracer_Team-DougH said:

Maybe it's the solvents you use at work are not coming off your hands and are conflicting with the finish of the guitar.

Probably the worst thing I did was put insect repellent on when I was in the back yard, then grabbed my Les Paul to play, I could feel my strumming arm sticking to the top of the guitar.

Btw Steve doesn't use thumb over top to grab low E, 

Many players don't,  many do, great music can be made both ways

Wouldn’t be solvent. I only practice at breaks and lunch. Hands washed. The solvents we use flash quickly anyway. I don’t get them on me very often. And then I’d have to pick up my guitar immediately.

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I use Turtle Wax Express Shine every time I change the strings. I remove all the strings, do a thorough cleaning then apply Express Shine. I can definitely tell the difference after a string change. 

Beyond that it is practice and technique adjustment. 

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I lightly sand the neck on every guitar I get to take the shine off. I really don't like glossy necks. The amount of material you need to remove is negligible and won't change the neck shape unless you go mad.

Edited by Ice9
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1 hour ago, Ice9 said:

I lightly sand the neck on every guitar I get to take the shine off. I really don't like glossy necks. The amount of material you need to remove is negligible and won't change the neck shape unless you go mad.

I’ve done that to make it dull again like it was. But the pad of my thumb must have human glue on it. As light as I can place the pad it has resistance. That’s hands just washed in a cool room starting out.

bought a pair of gardeners gloves today. Cut the thumbs out and the top of the thumb off.so I just have a thumb sleeve.

Works great. Even chords are easier such as C/D where the thumb has to spin slightly. So issue solve unless the glove becomes a problem. Last night I went up 10 bpm with just the cloth on my thumb. And can go backwards as fast as forward now without the extra thumb movement.

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1 hour ago, Randy120 said:

I use Turtle Wax Express Shine every time I change the strings. I remove all the strings, do a thorough cleaning then apply Express Shine. I can definitely tell the difference after a string change. 

Beyond that it is practice and technique adjustment. 

No wax for me. Can’t practice at work with it. It causes fish eyes in auto paint, and I’m applying the paint. Thanks though.

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@Mike Other than cleaning it I think you just need to adjust your attack. The other thing is the guitar neck will naturally age with just your hand moving on it. I have a Gibson Les Paul, and even with waxing it is very clear I made an impression in first position with all my practice. It is subtle, but the cherry finish is noticeably lighter in color.  

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16 minutes ago, Randy120 said:

@Mike Other than cleaning it I think you just need to adjust your attack. The other thing is the guitar neck will naturally age with just your hand moving on it. I have a Gibson Les Paul, and even with waxing it is very clear I made an impression in first position with all my practice. It is subtle, but the cherry finish is noticeably lighter in color.  

Any thoughts appreciated. But I’m out of options other than the cloth on my end. The pad of my thumb rest on the neck slightly above halfway. I can fret strings without my thumb.due to the use of my left arm against the body of the guitar. I’m left handed. I’m not squeezing. Yet the resistance at 120 8th notes per minute is to much to slide the thumb pad down or up the neck easily. Slow speeds are fine. 

Edited by Mike
Word change
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@Mike Well you are struggling at 120 bpm which isn't for light-weights. You have come a long way already. Maybe in a few more weeks or months you will cross that hill. You need to work on releasing the thumb. Practice slow, to play fast. 

If you aren't having fun, you're doing it wrong.  

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11 hours ago, Randy120 said:

@Mike Well you are struggling at 120 bpm which isn't for light-weights. You have come a long way already. Maybe in a few more weeks or months you will cross that hill. You need to work on releasing the thumb. Practice slow, to play fast. 

If you aren't having fun, you're doing it wrong.  

What do you mean by releasing the thumb?

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I just mean relaxing your thumb to lift it slightly off the neck when you move. 

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3 hours ago, Randy120 said:

I just mean relaxing your thumb to lift it slightly off the neck when you move. 

Ok. Maybe it borderline speeds that make it worse. As it is lifting the thumb messes me up without the brace it provides. But as it is. I will continue to use the glove finger I’ve cut out. Everything is just so much easier. Easoecially if I start getting sweaty. And maybe it will help relax. Who knows. But thanks for your time.

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I second Turtle Wax Shine.. I Use it when its time to clean it and can tell a difference even in between string changes. . 

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