Jimmy Page question

[barbietta]

I dug out some of my old Zep videos for inspiration the other night, and I noticed Jimmy Page constantly has his left thumb over the top of the neck. I couldn't figure out whether he was using it for chords and bends or what. He didn't ever seem to have it on the back of the neck. Anyone have insight into his technique?

[treyphish]

i sometimes throw my thumb over the top too, only when i'm playing an e chord to get a little better crunch sound it almost like a palm mute works for me as far as why page does it i'm not sure.

[Pezcore]

personally i play with my left thumb right over the top of the neck all the time.

[i like strats]

I usually play with my thumb over the neck most of the time, I only put it behind the neck when I'm playing barre chords. I think (but I'm not sure) there are chords that do require you thumb to play (if there is I haven't used them yet). Or he might have been muting the string.

[ESP_Viper]

I am a big page fan, but watching him play I notice he's very sloppy. Which is cool, but it's because he never really had guitar lessons. Having your thumb over the neck is fine, but for somethings you need to have it behind the neck (power chords, thrashing through scales w/ no bends). When bending it is normal to have the thumb over the back. I have my thumb over the back when I do leads and open position chords. It's very difficult to play power chords w/ the thumb over the neck, try it! Some people have their thumb over the neck for somethings where other people do not. It's all in comfort.