Develop Great Guitar Fingerpicking Technique By Avoiding These Common Mistakes

[@hegood]

The finger to guitar string angle is such a fundamental thing, but it was not explained in any of the beginner fingerpicking tutorials I've ever watched. With my wrist in the same position as when strumming, I struggled with my fingers hitting the other strings that they weren't plucking. With the wrist raised, you get such a cleaner angle of attach, and it is SO MUCH EASIER!!

[@leimaniax]

Great vid. Improved my picking and cleaned up my sound immediately. Picking the strings straight up helped so much. I’d forgotten that detail. Great lesson. Thank you sir. 🏆

[@f0reverm0r]

Great video, thank you! this is very helpful for me.

[@acousticguitarlessons9053]

Thanks Mo! :)

[@leosmith5266]

Great stuff, Simon! Thanks for sharing this stuff with everyone. :)

[@MarkPermann]

Did not know about picking the strings w/fingers "standing up" / 90 degrees to strings - helps a lot! What's your opinion on anchoring the pinky to the guitar top?

[@leosmith5266]

Hey Mark, you'll want to avoid anchoring the pinky. It's one of those things like Simon mentioned that feels easy at first, but ends up being inefficient in the long run. It will introduce tension into your picking hand that you don't need. It might feel a little awkward to play without that anchor if you're use to it, like you're suddenly 'floating' and maybe aren't as sure where your hand is in relationship to the strings, but you'll get the hang of it with a little practice!

[@_adg_0]

Hi, let's say I'm playing a B minor (A shape) and I don't want to play the note on the high e string for whatever reason, should I always play thumb A string, thumb D string, index G string and middle finger B string then I come back with the same fingers ? I'm used to playing it using thumb A string, index D string, middle finger G string and ring finger B.

[@acousticguitarlessons9053]

Angel Gomes, you can play it how you are currently playing it and as you describe above. The whole thumb for bass strings and fingers for top 3 strings is a starting point, not a rules as such. It always comes down to context. In one situation it may serve you better to play the Bm the way you describe above, and in another it may be better to stick with thumb on both A and D strings. It really depends what is happening around the Bm chord as to which way you may fingerpick it. Hope that helps and thanks for watching! :)

[@_adg_0]

Yes, thank you

[@lawrencemcconnell8962]

"...don't want to play the note on the high e string for whatever reason..." Seriously? Do you know what a Triad is? The B minor Triad is B-D-F# so you want a B in the bass and that is the 5th string 2nf fret. You can't play with a Full Barre because that would put a F# in the bass - and it's "generally" best to have the Root in the lowest bass string, especially when playing an alternating bass fingerpicking style.