How to Do a Thumb Tone on Classical Guitar

The classical guitar is played with the first three fingers and thumb of the right hand. The skill and technique with which you stroke the guitar determines each note's tone. Precise placement and movement is a key ingredient in how beautiful your playing will sound and resonate.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Hold your hand in the position of a letter C, or as though you are holding an orange. Bend your wrist forward slightly, and let your forearm rest across the top of the guitar. That will place your fingers right at the strings.

2. Keep your hand near the strings while you stroke. You don't want to strum through the strings and then raise your hand up. For the classical sound, most of the work is done as plucking. Focus the movement through the entire arm, keeping your knuckles curved, and once you have plucked, move your thumb back to its original curved position without flinging it out the other way. In other words, have nice, controlled movement.

3. Place your thumb, which is called the P finger in classical guitar terminology, on the base string. Pluck the string, and immediately move your thumb back in place along the other fingers while the string relaxes on its own. That will give you a nice bell-like tone.

4. Move your thumb back to position by way of the shortest route toward the string, or a straight line, instead of coming around to it at an angle. Use quick, straight strokes.