Learn Fingerpicking to be a real pro

by Crazy Dave

Short Description: Classical guitarists don’t use picks, they use their fingers instead. Folk and Rock artists also love to fingerpick. It gives them unmatched freedom and versatility while playing a guitar. Read this article and you’ll learn how to fingerpick.

If you’re using a pick, you can strike only one string at a time but if you use your fingers you can pick at least four strings (that is, leaving out the small finger) at one go. This is the benefit of fingerpicking and it gives immense scope of improvisation. That is why classical guitarists never use a pick, they always fingerpick while playing.

Many classical guitarists assign each finger a letter. Thumb is known as P, index finger obviously is called I and the middle finger gets the name M. A is the ring finger and your little finger is lovingly called C. In case you forget, just remember “Poor Idiots’ Memories Are Crap”.

Before you begin to fingerpick be sure you know the position of the strings in your guitar (E-A-D-G-B-E). The thinnest string is the first or high E string and the thickest is the sixth or low E string. Thus high E is the lowermost and low E is the uppermost string in your guitar. In between, from bottom to top, lie the four strings B-G-D-A.

Place your picking arm in a gentle loop over the body of the guitar and let your fingers hang loosely curled over the sound hole. Rest your thumb on the string nearest to you (it’ll be low E) and let index finger be on G, middle finger on B and ring finger on high E. Pinkies are usually too weak and short to be of any particular use.

Start picking E low, A and D downwards with your thumb. You may bend your thumb a little if necessary, but see to it that the fleshy part of the thumb is used to do the picking. After you’ve done this quite a few times and got a feel of the strings, start picking G, B and high E with the fingers poised over them. Though you start by picking downwards, after you’ve gained enough confidence begin practicing upward strokes too.

If the sound is too soft, just pick the strings harder. It’d be better to keep your palm as still as possible and use fingers only for picking the strings. I have another advice. Pull back your fingers as soon as they have plucked a string. If they still touch the strings sound gets muted. It is very important to remember this while you fingerpick.

What’d you do with your little finger? Some players plant it on the bridge for additional support while others prefer to keep it free. Try out both and choose the one which suits you.

It isn’t really a bad idea to grow nails on your picking hand. It gives a brighter sound.

About the Author:

Before you spend a fortune on 1-on-1 guitar lessons, be sure to check out Crazy Dave’s review of the absolute best instructional video guitar lessons on the net - learn and master guitar. Dave’s site provides over 35 free guitar licks!