Fingerstyle Basics: Simple Exercises For Long Term Improvement

► Accompanying worksheet available on my Patreon: www.patreon.com/posts/35218327
Hey everyone! Today, I figured I'd show you something that always comes up, every time one of my students asks me about fingerstyle. They'll show me the song they're working on (Dust In The Wind, Blackbird, something like that) and they'll talk about the pattern, about how they memorized it, got everything in the right order. And then when I ask them to play it... even though everything is "correct" it doesn't sound right. Why is that?
I want to demonstrate something very important to you today. I want to show you that it's not about memorizing finger picking patterns. There are a few key things that if you are able to do, you'll be able to play any fingerstyle tune.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
0:29 - "STANDARD" POSITION
1:04 - FINGERPICKING WARMUP
3:24 - ADDING CHORD SWITCHES
4:57 - MOST USEFUL/COMMON PATTERN
The first thing is having your fingers fall into position. That's very simple, you just learn where to put your fingers and get used to having them in those spots.
To get comfortable with fingerpicking, start with the most basic component of a finger picking pattern: ascending and descending. We need to be comfortable and be able to ascend and descend smoothly, hopefully with a metronome.
Once we have those two components. We have to figure out how to integrate chord switching. I don't want to have to do this step later when my pattern is twice as hard. Let's do it right now with these basic motions!
Finally, once we've worked on positioning, comfort, the basic motions, switching chords while doing those basic patterns, then we're finally ready to learn the most common finger picking pattern ever, which requires our thumb to change strings. This requires us to learn the roots of each chord, and it's a pretty big topic for something so simple, but if you approach it this way, you'll have a better idea of what to do in any fingerpicking situation because there are certain patterns that just must be followed. You'll know where to put your fingers on the strings. You know, and from there, it's just a matter of working things out slowly.
► If you want some extra help, I also have my finger picking course that covers everything from the most basic motions to the most useful patterns on guitar: goodguitarist.com/fingerpicking-mastery/
Practice hard and I'll see you soon!
-James
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goodguitarist.com/fingerpicking-basics/
goodguitarist/
goodguitarist
#fingerstyle #fingerpicking #guitartutorial

[@Good_Guitarist]

Hope you like the fingerpicking stuff. Gonna be filming a ton of strummer/singalong stuff today to give you guys a little variety! TABLE OF CONTENTS 0:29 - "STANDARD" POSITION 1:04 - FINGERPICKING WARMUP 3:24 - ADDING CHORD SWITCHES 4:57 - MOST USEFUL/COMMON PATTERN

[@sandeepkumarmaths]

You're so sweet, Besides uploading the amazing lecture, u provided us the table of content fr clarity 👏🏻 👏🏻 👏🏻

[@YogeshKumar-tn4my]

I had been looking for a good fingerstyle exercises but couldn't find good one but I really loved this exercise and I also appreciate the way u teach and your effort. Pls keep going with this series. Thnx for this video once again.

[@ThaWolfe1]

Lots of KZbin‘s about fingerpicking, you are an excellent teacher, which makes a huge difference. Keep up the superior teaching. Thank You So Much

[@hannah3970]

Thank you so much for this tutorial, it's helping me out a lot! i I've been playing guitar for almost two years now but you probably wouldn't be able to tell... I haven't really been improving that much. I decided to take it more seriously and I'm so glad I found your channel because it's helping me out so much!

[@sandeepkumarmaths]

Keep Sharing us these Valuable Lectures ❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏🏻🙏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻

[@Lokitty666]

This is so useful to me. Thanks a lot!

[@chaschase9]

You are the best I've come across on You Tube Thank you

[@Good_Guitarist]

You are very welcome

[@daninobin8229]

Ur teaching is very easy to get.tnks...

[@audior011]

This was just the video I was looking for. Very well explained and easy to learn.

[@rajanvijayudu1337]

I love your simple yet profound teaching technic sir!

[@Art_by_Lisa_Shaffer]

Ahhhh, I see now. The EM shape, when doing the alternating thumb picking, plays on a string in that chord shape. Thanks!

[@anniebaliang8353]

Thank you for your help

[@ragaveasypapercraftsorigam4704]

Hi master.. Really your teaching way is super. Thanks

[@Mrs.Quijano]

Hi Sir,I'm a beginner,and I really learned a lot from you thank you so much🙏🏼🙏🏼♥️

[@peterbraidwood4834]

Hello James. Good video. However, at 1.45. (Descending) can you clarify why the RMI fingers have moved from strings 1,2 & 3 (as introduced) to strings 2,3 &4? Hoping I haven’t missed something here! Many thanks, Peter

[@Art_by_Lisa_Shaffer]

I think he played it right but the tabs had it wrong.

[@Art_by_Lisa_Shaffer]

Great video. Thanks! I’m confused though. Why play an EM shape when you don’t pluck either of those two strings?

[@TheDeedeeFiles]

Cool video. Nice lesson

[@princessmargaritastar8204]

HELLO, JUST WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU FOR SHARING AS I AM JUST LEARNING AND YOU HAVE BEEN VERY HELPFUL THANKS I LOVE YOUR LESSONS...STAR*NZ

[@amritbosnet6562]

Great lesson, enjoyed a lot. Could you also make us a tutorial on lead guitar with some handy licks and runs. Please. Thanks

[@nirmalamarak9386]

🙏

[@samhutchphotography]

bro made it the whole video without laughing about fingering the guitar. you're better than me, cuz I didnt

[@stephaneariyain4582]

Merci.

[@wilsonskinner4820]

Hi, can you finger pick any song? Thanks Wilson.

[@1974xaviers]

Thanks for your lesson ..but how do we fingerpick g7

[@randyharmon6861]

I have a question, due to an accident, my “I” finger is rendered useless what do you suggest?

[@JenricAquino]

1:28 🤣🤣

[@iwandrago2475]

1:15 thought you gonna play nothing else matters😂

[@laveyactress9647]

how come your muted strings are making a sharp sound

[@ZolaBolingo]

Thank you for sharing, I am boring because of the virus and I am unable to play Guitar.

[@okokalright777]

Can you please do a tutorial on->Changes by Justin Bieber

[@ashutoshsingh156]

Please play "CFO$ The rising sun" on acoustic guitar with tabs

[@theavengers.]

Hi

[@dmaikibujin]

Sorry, I started doing the first exercise, but then I realized Nothing Else Matters...