Learning fingerstyle

imalrightjack · September 2017

So, having played some fingerstyle in the past, but with no real technique or panache, I've got back into playing acoustic and would like to start again before getting back into the same bad habits.

Any advice on books/Guitar Pro tabs/videos for learning? I intend to use it to accompany vocals.

Things I'd like to look at revising include right hand position. I tend to play with some of my hand resting on the guitar body but this seems to impede certain things, so I assume it's one of the aforementioned bad habits.

Suggestions welcome.

DulcetJones · September 2017

Look for youtube vids that start off by assigning letter names to the picking hand fingers. These should be thumb = p, index = i, middle = m, ring = a; Some players also use the baby finger and it can be anything from c, e or whatever but I would start with just pima. Anybody putting videos up and teaching those right off should get you on the right track.

Sassafras · September 2017

I learnt by playing banjo.
Of course, this would involve liking the banjo, which I do.

rossi · September 2017

I play finger style on virtually every style ,blues ,hot rock ,anything but just cannot sync my thumb so I cheat .Its really annoying .I believe Albert Lee had a similar problem .Wish I could learn it properly though at 71 its probs a bit late (ish )

imalrightjack · September 2017

Sassafras said:

I learnt by playing banjo.
Of course, this would involve liking the banjo, which I do.

I had one and learned some Scruggs stuff but not sure how I'd apply it...worth thinking about.

BigLicks67 · September 2017

Check out some of Tommy Emmanuel's videos on thumb independence. Alternatively, use the Richard Thompson method of pick and fingers.

TheBigDipper · September 2017

I'm no expert on this, but there's more than one way of playing the guitar with the fingers on your right hand. The type of music you're playing can affect the technique you use and the results you get. So if you're looking to play in a particular style, I'd suggest you find out how the people playing that style play and develop that technique first.

FWIW, I learned to play Blackbird using a classical technique (which is where I started out as a kid) and it never sounded right until I changed to picking it like I'm told McCartney actually did, which is to only use the thumb and first finger, with the thumb always playing the bass notes (classical technique would suggest using the nearest finger to the note for economy of movement). Once I changed, it started bouncing along just like it should and sounded much more musical. This also makes ragtime pieces sound 'right'.

Sorry, no advice about a book or vid - just pick a playing style that matches the style other people use for the music you're interested in and go with that. If you already play with a flat wrist (resting on the body) then a thumb pick might help you with the tone of your thumb strokes...

imalrightjack · September 2017

@BigLicks67 - Tommy Emmanuel looks an interesting starting point. Also, @TheBigDipper, some sage advice. Thanks.

ESBlonde · September 2017

Theres a young upstart calle knoppfler or some such, I've heard his playing is all fingers. Nothing will come of it mind you.

Stuckfast · September 2017

I would recommend learning with a thumbpick. It feels impossible at first, but once you get the hang of it, your bass notes will be much more precise.

thomasross20 · September 2017

Stuckfast said:

I would recommend learning with a thumbpick. It feels impossible at first, but once you get the hang of it, your bass notes will be much more precise.

I need to do this.

Also I believe in anchoring the pinky. Tommy Emmanuel does this.

I always used to use all fingers but after seeing Lindsey Buckingham using his thumb even for treble strings at times, I've learned not to be looser with different approaches.

Also learnt rudimentary flamenco techniques but on the whole I say JUST PLAY SONGS.

ToneControl · September 2017

not recommended for us mortals, but Tony McManus uses his thumb nail in both directions to get the plectrum fast-picking effect when needed for Celtic stuff

Find some songs you like that are basic fingerpicky stuff, and learn them
you can rest your little fingertip on the top sometimes, but beyond that depends if you want to do the heavily-damped acoustic style (like John Mayer), or the (to me) lovely ringing open sounds of undamped strings (e.g. Tony McManus)

Ravenous · September 2017

imalrightjack said:
Things I'd like to look at revising include right hand position. I tend to play with some of my hand resting on the guitar body but this seems to impede certain things, so I assume it's one of the aforementioned bad habits.

If you're talking about classical fingerstyle, hand on the guitar's top greatly restricts what you can do.

Normally it's elbow/arm on the top bout of the guitar, wrist bent slightly forward and fingers continuing that bend down towards the strings.

But this sort of thing is hard to follow just from a description. I learnt this from a few books decades ago, plus watching every (good) classical guitarist I could see.

thomasross20 · September 2017

Play the bass notes slightly before the treble notes to sound authentic

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