Fretting hand position

Fretting Hand Position and Technique

So let's move back to our fretting hand now and just talk about fretting hand position. Where is the best place to fret a particular note to get the best sound?

Relaxation is Key

First of all, you want a nice, relaxed left hand. Here are some tips to achieve that:

• Imagine you're trying to put a thumbprint in the back of the neck with your fretting hand.
• This will help keep your wrist nice and low, maintaining a nice gap underneath.

We want to avoid grabbing the neck like a baseball bat. This grip can be very restrictive to the movement of your fingers.

Positioning Your Elbow

Remember what we talked about regarding the elbow:

• It should not be jutted into the side of your stomach.
• Just keep it nice and relaxed.

Playing the Note

Now, let's talk about where to physically play a note within a fret to get the best sound.

• We're going to play the third fret on the A string now. That's this note here.

This whole area technically is the third fret, and compared to the size of my fingernail, I could probably fit two or three fingers within this fret if I wanted to.

Ideal Position

The best position is right up against the fret wire of the third fret:

• Fret number one
• Fret number two
• Fret number three

It's important to note that you should not be on top of the fret, which is the metal itself. Instead, be just on the other side of it.

Pressure and Clean Sound

If you fret it there, you'll have the least amount of pressure to apply to the note to get a clean sound.

Listen to the clean sound of the note.

If I move to the back of the fret and play the same note with the same pressure, I'll get a different sound, one that has a buzziness to it.

• I can fix that by pushing down a lot harder, which may force the string slightly out of tune because of the pressure.

Choosing Your Position

Whenever possible, especially with single notes, you have a choice of where to place your finger within the fret.

• Always aim for as far forward as you can within the fret.
• This holds true no matter what finger you are using.

In summary, the more forward you position your finger in the fret, the cleaner your sound will be!