Finger picking

GoldieBear

I'm going back to guitar after a break of 10 years and i'm wondering are ther any resources (easy to follow) regarding fingerpicking for guitar i.e. being able to finger pick the basic chords of A, EM, D, C Maj, G. It sounds better than a plec. I'd love to learn everybody hurts by REM and you need to finger pick to get the total effect.

Any help/advice on this would be great. Many thanks.

steveland?

Everybody Hurts is really easy to play with a plec

There's not a lot to it... play D and just go down and up plucking each string, before you switch to the next chord take your finger off G and play that open and then play the G chord plucking the E, D, G, e strings in turn and then back and then go back to D chord... repeat a lot...

Then, while still holding down G pluck the E, D, G strings, move your left hand so you're fretting the F# note on the E string and pluck the E, D, G strings then do the same as you did with the D and G chords only this time use Em and A.

Then back to the start... there's another chord progression I just can't remember it...

Anyway yeh, love that song

shatners basoon

For finger picking, use your thumb for the 2 bass strings, utilise your 4 remaining fingers for each other string, takes a while to get the hang of it but makes for much nicer acoustic playing than a pick, really lets you get the most of the instrument.

The above post nicely describes how to play the song but do fingerpick - its good for you!!!

sock puppet

Or you could use your thumb for the 3 bass strings and your first 3 fingers for the top strings. I never use my 4th finger but its up to you.

shatners basoon

sock puppet wrote:

Or you could use your thumb for the 3 bass strings and your first 3 fingers for the top strings. I never use my 4th finger but its up to you.

:eek:

But then how can you play 5 string chords???!!!!

Rustar

You might also find interest in a Flamenco training book. Not only is Flamenco fun to play, but like straight classical it will teach you finger independence and build up your technique.

stevejazzx

Arpeggiate through chords you know alrerady using your thumb index and middle fingers. This is called p i m a







go from low to high and back up, you are now fingerpicking. Flamenco would probably be a little too confusing to start plus they also use the little finger across a braod range of styles, a classical guitar grade one book with illustration and tabbed notation would be perfect. Note on nails, file them to a slight curvature less extreme than a plec and keep just long enough for comfortable plucking.

Good Luck \]

steve

dublinario

shatners basoon wrote:

:eek:

But then how can you play 5 string chords???!!!!

With a plectrum.

shatners basoon

dublinario wrote:

With a plectrum.

Jeff Beck wrote:

Plectrums are for pansies

dublinario

shatners basoon wrote:

Touché my friend!