Originally Posted by: ben.swire

1) left thumb position. Lisa talks about using the strength of the opposable thumb. I do this, but the pad of my thumb is pressing more in line with the centre of the back of the neck, not peeping (or even wrapping) over the top as it is in the videos.

If I try and match this position, I find my fingers feel a lot less mobile around the fretboard, and the geometry of my hand just doesn't create a firm bar (it's hard to get my index finger straight and across all 6 strings with my thumb in that position).

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There are a lot of guitar players that play this way and also you'll notice that it is used in classical guitar playing (if I read you right). I think a better way to think of it is; most oftem, guitarist wrap their thumb around the neck. Example >>

There are advantages to the way you use your thumb and increased mobility is one of them.

Me? I can't play that way. I feel no control. I gotta wrap around.

There's not real negative to the way you're using your thumb other than comfort and preference and that's cool. No worries. Many rock players play this way too.

Originally Posted by: ben.swire

2) Pick grip. In addition to holding it between my thumb and 1st finger, I've been putting my 2nd finger on the side of the pick. Just feel a little more control.

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If your other finger isn't in the way, I don't see a problem. Again, I'm the opposite. I like my other fingers away from the pick. That's also because I learned early on that my picking was sloppy because of it and when I splayed out my fingers away from the pick, I had much better accuracy.

But again, if it works, no real issue.

Originally Posted by: ben.swire

3) I can't get comfortable playing sitting down. With my right leg nested into the curve of the guitar, it feels like the guitar is too far to the right, and I'm stretching my right arm out to play? (this one isn't too big an issue as I'm comfortable standing for long periods)

I've been playing for decades and always play with a strap even when sitting down. I can, and often have, played with the knee supporting in the curve but I prefer the strap do the supporting the instrument and not me. I feel like I have my hands freed up from supporting the instrument because the strap does that work for you.

Granted, that's an easier proposition when playing my (reasonbly) light Strat versus my super-heavyweight Les Paul. That Les Paul will weigh you down...but I don't care! ;)

[quote=ben.swire]

4) Instead of keeping my right wrist rigid and pivoting off the top of the guitar, I've been allowing a little wrist movement, and letting my forearm just above my wrist rest lightly against the guitar, somewhere near the bridge. There's still more pressure in the 'correct' pivot point closer to my elbow, and the bit nearer the wrist that rests on the guitar isn't stationary, but it's not quite as described. I'd say that for strumming, about 65% of my motion comes from the elbot pivot, 35% from the wrist movement. For anything more detailed (lead melodies, picking), the balance moves more towards wrist movement.

Honestly, this doesn't sound wrong.

Your elbow should be doing most of the work but your wrist will do some work as well. You just domn't want it the other way around, that your wrist is doing most of the work. You'll quickly get a repetitive stress injury if you did.

Your arm from shoulder to fingertips is a system anddepending on the mostion needed, will dictate what 'part' is going to do most of the work. It's a sliding scale based on what you're playing but generally, your forearm/elbow is the easiest way to move the most muscle groups and control your playing. Wrist and fingers are the 'fine tuners'.

[quote=ben.swire]

Am I good to carry on with these quirks, or do I need to break myself out of it now? And if I need to change number 1, I'll need some tips on that - the videos I've reached so far don't seem to cover it, or my hand just don't fit on a guitar the same way the same as most.