The baseball method or the classical method?

[CoolKat93]

hey which method do ya'll prefer? for those who don't know, the baseball method is when your thumb goes over the neck of the guitar. just a simple question.
please and thank you for those who answer.

:) :) :)

[Jolly McJollyson]

Classical helps me with left hand speed.

[magicninja]

I thought baseball method was mainly used in country music for the bassline and such. I wouldn't really feel comfortable playing that way.

[earthman buck]

I use both. Normally I use the classical method, but if all my fingers are currently in use and I need to hit a bass note, I use the baseball method. This is of course assuming I understand what each is; I've never heard of either term used before.

[Lordathestrings]

Whatever works.

I often drop my thumb onto the low E string for barre chords when I want to leave the high E string open to change the voicing a bit. Hey, if it was good enough for Jimi...

[Jolly McJollyson]

Whatever works.

I often drop my thumb onto the low E string for barre chords when I want to leave the high E string open to change the voicing a bit. Hey, if it was good enough for Jimi...
Phfah!

What does HE know about guitar? :rolleyes: ;)

[Homebrew1709]

i try to stay in classical, but sometimes i switch to baseball bat if im doing some heavy bending - i can get better leverage on the neck that way.

[gogogo]

Usually when playing blues or a song with numerous bends throughout ill wrap my the for leverage...but i guess most of the time its what feels right

[bigbuda]

I use either depending on what I'm playing but I find myslef mostly using the baseball style. I think the classical style helps you player cleaner and faster though.

[Andrew Sa]

I cannot use baseball at all...dunno why, but I have always used calssical, and cant change.

[PRSplaya]

I don't "try" to do either. One or the other just happens depending on what I'm playing. I sometimes find the classical way a bit uncomfortable over time, because of being double jointed in my thumbs, but sometimes it just works best that way.

[Fenderalltheway]

Phfah!

What does HE know about guitar? :rolleyes: ;)


see its only funny when they make fun of eachother, because they can only, when one of us tries to do it...its like an akward silence............see?

[rockonn91]

both have their obvious pros and cons.

baseball, your hand would be contoured around the neck, so its better for your hands, and i would assume your wrist, arm, etc. you can also do some fun bassline stuff on the low E.

classical, you can travel all over the neck easier. its better for fast runs. buttt after a long time, it can start cramping your hand- especially when your streatching alot with your pinky.


you can go fast with baseball too, but its just not as good for traveling up and down the neck. you can go very fast in one place on the fretboard.

what i tend to do is when i do a long run up and down in one place on the fretboard, ill do a half baseball half clasical hand position. so my thumb is almost all the way around, but theres still some space between my palm and the neck.

[CoolKat93]

thank you guys!!!!

[Meta]

on a classical guitar it's hard just to get your thumb over like that anyway the neck is wider =p but yeah even with steel string i still stick with the classical position

[jschell]

Jimi & SRV both prefered baseball. Watch Stevie closely as he plays "Cold Shot". You'll notice he strokes up and he is barring the top 3 "E,A.D" strings w/ his Baseball bat. :cool:

[bigbuda]

I think another good question is whether you use an open hand or a closed hand, for your pick hand of course. I hold the pick between my thumb and index finger and the rest of my fingers are in an open position.

[PRSplaya]

I use an open picking hand, ankoring with my pinkey and ring finger. This method is also usefull for use of the volume knob on your guitar if needed. It also help as a balance/anker weight for fast picking. Closed, my other fingers/knuckles just get in the way.

[jiujitsu_jesus]

Baseball is good for open chords, but I prefer the classical method for barre chords and scales.
As for picking-hand position, I usually use an open position - except when playing a metal or funk rhythm, as I clench my fist for a more percussive attack.

[pure]

i use baseball when im on the 1st-3rd strings and my thumb automatiaclly moves down to classical position when getting to the thicker strings. but when im bending i have it on baseball, when sliding i have it on classical, hammering and pulling off i have it on classical, and when i get to the higher frets on the thick strings e-a, i tend to remove my thumb completely off the neck and move it in front of the frets. all these happen automatically.

when picking i NEVER anchor on anything cause it makes me feel lazy. my fingers are closed under the palm except my index and thumb holding the pick. i always use heavy picks cause they give me more control. i always angle the pick a little bit so i can pick faster.

wow thats alot of mindless pointless stuff i do