Thumb - Are you using it or not and Why!?

[JohnnyConga]

IMHO i find that having the thumbs "outward" create "tension" in the hands....and yes I have a very large callous on my right hand thumb....."JC" Johnny Conga....

[Congadelica]

Big thumbs up JC ,
Ive been playing my opens and slaps with my thumbs touching the Skin , what a difference I find I get a better feel for the sweet spots, and also when I cup my hands for a slap tone The difference has brought me on leaps and bounds .
I just want to thank you JC , now just got to build up stamina with the Thumbs and callouses . Also the volume and clearness of the tones has improved and acheived with much less effort my hands feel more relaxed and less tense .

Just got to put in the pratice time now . :;):


Marco

[Smejmoon]

I bet some things depend on your hands. People are different. Try out open tones and slaps with thumbs in or out, to find out if you can use slightly different sound.

I stick out thumbs on open slaps and djembe bass notes, but my hands flatness does not change becouse of that.