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Classical/fingerpicking

X

xNFx

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Recently I really got a drive to try and learn some classical, or just awesome fingerpicked accoustic songs. You guys got any tips or links for a total accoustic newb? When you hear all these fingerpicking guys, are they picking arrpegios or something? I just don't understand what they're doing. :):hippy

Thanks!
 
Dwell

Dwell

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Here's the basics of the approach most often used:

Your thumb on your picking hand is assigned to the low E, A, and D strings. Your index finger takes the G string, your middle the B string, and your ring finger the high E. When you need to alternate quickly on a string, alternate adjacent fingers.

Here's how to do it without breaking your wrist:

Sit with your left foot (assuming a right handed player) resting on a box or something about 4-6" high. Rest the waist of the guitar on your left leg, and angle the guitar so that the nut is about even with your left shoulder. Now rest your right hand over the guitar body, so that your hand is perpendicular to the strings. The thumb plays parallel to the strings, and your fingers are perpendicular.

If you prefer, adjust a strap so that a guitar hangs in the above manner.

On your left hand, make sure your thumb is directly on the back of the neck, between your middle and ring fingers. Make sure your fingers are arched, making string contact only with the tips.

Now practice. Get really good. See? Easy!
 
Dwell

Dwell

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Oh, and The Beatles' "Blackbird" is a great place to start. It's psuedo Travis picking, but the classical technique is applicable.
 
A

Alex_GaTech

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Yeah Blackbird is a great place to start, as nearly everyone who can fingerpick knows that song. Also, "Dust in the Wind' by Kansas is a good one to start with, as it's really just one picking pattern. Just remember when playing "Blackbird" that John Lennon didn't really know squat about classical guitar technique, so he used used his thumb to pluck the G string throughout the entire song. While that string and the thumb don't normally go together, it's the easiest/best/and correct way to play the song.
 
Dwell

Dwell

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Alex,
Paul played Blackbird. And in concert, he plays the G string with his index finger.

xNFx,
Only if you want to have no speed or want to severely limit what chords you can play.
 
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Alex_GaTech

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Really? I was taught to play play the G string with my thumb, because that's how John wrote it. Oops, oh well. It makes more sense to play it with the index finger I think, but I always liked playing it with the thumb - keeps it moving in 8th notes...

Sorry for the misinformation...

-Al
 
Dwell

Dwell

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Paul wrote it, played it, and sang it. He used a rudimentary Travis pattern for most of his fingerpicked acoustic songs, including Blackbird and Yesterday.

John's picking technique was a little more developed, as heard on Julia and Dear Prudence. Just a little, not leaps and bounds.

George's technique was the best of the three, but owed more to Carl Perkins, Scotty Moore, and a bit of Chet Atkins. All filtered through Ravi Shankar by the end.

Anyway, for most of Blackbird, the middle finger and thumb pluck simultaneously, alternating with the index finger on the G string.
 
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Alex_GaTech

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Dwell said:
Paul wrote it, played it, and sang it. He used a rudimentary Travis pattern for most of his fingerpicked acoustic songs, including Blackbird and Yesterday.

John's picking technique was a little more developed, as heard on Julia and Dear Prudence. Just a little, not leaps and bounds.

George's technique was the best of the three, but owed more to Carl Perkins, Scotty Moore, and a bit of Chet Atkins. All filtered through Ravi Shankar by the end.

Anyway, for most of Blackbird, the middle finger and thumb pluck simultaneously, alternating with the index finger on the G string.
Click to expand...


Cool. Poor misinformed me. ;)
 
Dwell

Dwell

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Sorry, not trying to contradict you. Just one of those things.
 
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xNFx

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Dwell said:
Here's the basics of the approach most often used:

Your thumb on your picking hand is assigned to the low E, A, and D strings. Your index finger takes the G string, your middle the B string, and your ring finger the high E. When you need to alternate quickly on a string, alternate adjacent fingers.

Here's how to do it without breaking your wrist:

Sit with your left foot (assuming a right handed player) resting on a box or something about 4-6" high. Rest the waist of the guitar on your left leg, and angle the guitar so that the nut is about even with your left shoulder. Now rest your right hand over the guitar body, so that your hand is perpendicular to the strings. The thumb plays parallel to the strings, and your fingers are perpendicular.

If you prefer, adjust a strap so that a guitar hangs in the above manner.

On your left hand, make sure your thumb is directly on the back of the neck, between your middle and ring fingers. Make sure your fingers are arched, making string contact only with the tips.

Now practice. Get really good. See? Easy!
Click to expand...


So the pinky is left out?
 
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