How to Fingerpick

Who needs guitar picks anyway?
Contest is over. Here's the aftermath: • 100 entries - 20 meani...
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I Should Spend More Time With You - Lyric video
• Rob Scallon & Mary Spe...
Recorded and mixed by Rob Ruccia of Uptown Recording: www.uptownrecor...
Camera operated by Jeff Linville: / westgateil
Video edit by Jake Jarvi: / pineappleboyfilms
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Also, my beginner course, GuitarQuest, is still available on it's own too
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This video was made possible because of Patreon support from Rob Harper, Hypergnome, Fabio, Ben Swan, Isaac Briefer, ricin, rd1994, Sheldon Bird, Yaroslav Yermilov, Jack Cahillane, Denis Lachapelle, Kevin Harris, Jonathan Olejniczak, Fuad Ghazali, and many other awesome people on my Patreon page: / robscallon
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[@commandolemon6340]

Because of Rob's selfishness, Maurice's shop went out of business, he got into serious debt, his wife and 3 kids all left him, and he is now homeless. This is all because Rob said he didn’t need a pick. 1 like = 1 prayer for Maurice 😢😢😢😂

[@xnafu]

I got so scared for a second omg

[@leonsubbotsky6087]

This is so sad

[@Likeitornot91]

It caused Maurice to question everything in his life, including his gender. Poor Maurice.

[@kristijankocjancic3236]

This is so sad. Alexa, play Despacito 2

[@stebbieranch]

I've been buying my guitar picks from Maurice for 15 years now. So sad to see a man's life go down hill so rapidly.

[@MarySpender]

MAURICE BENDER LIVES! Thanks for having me :) x

[@DaveRucci]

Mary Spender I think you guys are onto somethin’! 🙌🏻👍🏻

[@jordonbarry6569]

This was such a cool collab

[@leejackson1546]

Wow your voice is gorgeous, Mary! This was a great Collab!

[@elonmush4793]

I found that mustache confusingly attractive.

[@ritwikdhara199]

Mary Spender like your voice...👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@KaldDodeGitarist]

"Hi, I'm Rob Scallon. I can fingerpick and talk at the same time like it's no big deal, and I'm not even going to address how amazing I am."

[@frankunodostres473]

tbh what he's playing isn't super hard

[@KaldDodeGitarist]

@@frankunodostres473 but take into account that he's not messing up at all or falling or of time

[@potato_salad9346]

I know right?? It may not be super hard, but I can't even play the simplest thing and talk at the same time. It messes with my rhythm. I don't know how he does it

[@smffofts]

He's talking with the rhythm, notice he times his sentences to start on the first beat of the bar. It's still not super easy but that's the trick.

[@flecks_piano]

The slap 101 video is even more impressive to be honest. Playing the kick drum, slapping his 8-string and talking at the same time. It just looks so damn easy when he's doing it.

[@AdamNeely]

nice F#dim against G/Ab at the end there!

[@zacharydutton4470]

Adam Neely classic Adam always gotta name the exact chords😂

[@tani4925]

fuccin' nerd

[@ianalvarez8709]

U absolute legend

[@pringelsthegamefreak]

Or Gbaug

[@MrSoccerboy429]

👌🏻 oh Adam 🙄

[@abysswalker750]

"It's so funny that we just happened to stumbled upon it in this totally scripted conversation that we're having." 😂😂😂 Killed me

[@panda4247]

I should spend more time with you. I wrote it a long time ago after spending some time with a good friend. We went... biking?... I don't remember, I haven't talked to him since. -- Rob Scallon, featuring heavy irony

[@flitzmaster_piep]

Never listen to your own advice...

[@floydthebarber331]

The guy is now laying burried with his bike in some woods

[@joex-mn4we]

That just broke my heart to pieces. He wrote “I should spend more time with you” and then never saw him again, that’s a whole new song topic right there.

[@DaveRucci]

I’m getting a slight BOB ROSS/ASMR vibe here Rob. With a dash of Mr Rogers neighborhood... damn, right up my alley! 😂👍🏻. (Hello boys and girls!)

[@atlusgoth5000]

Dave Rucci more like Mr. Fingers

[@Andoeriz]

Rob Boss

[@MaddesG1]

The Bob Ross of Guitar

[@justinbouchard]

Rob Boss for prez

[@muzic4lyfe2005]

😂 exactly! Love this guy

[@adamniceley6563]

Can I win the guitar in advance so that I have a guitar to win with?

[@AdamNeely]

nice name

[@adamniceley6563]

Thanks man. You too!

[@zacharydutton4470]

Adam Niceley holy shit Adam Neely replied to your comment

[@applehack97]

Wouldn't a bass fit better for you?

[@jwasto2532]

How to get infinite guitars 101

[@JefferyPaul]

I love how musical and fun to follow Rob's tutorials are. Just really well done. Also; Mary is perfection in every way

[@metalbass62]

Life hack: don’t need to finger pick if you play a djent stick

[@papasmjordeig]

Hey you stole my Profile Pic

[@MinichaudBerkimilov]

Can i finger pick a djent stick if it's a big string and i'm a bassist ?

[@shwabledable3402]

Ben I

[@AmiBorg87]

0000 0 00 00?

[@GreenToMe2000]

Ben SAME PICTURE!!

[@gasolineandwine]

This back and forth between Rob's instructions and Mary's singing is so heavenly.

[@Squantle]

Bada ba ba ba ba (devil enters her soul) buh duh durr

[@garinramadhan6572]

He should do it with sarah

[@mk_rexx]

Bada ba ba ba b- **breaks bottle** *UUURRGGHHHHH!!!!*

[@RovingPunster]

@@mk_rexx EXACTLY 😆🤗

[@JeremiahFernandez]

bada ba ba ba *_BUHH DUHHH DUURR_*

[@TRUETOILETTENPAPIER]

I don’t know why this is so funny to me but I’ve been laughing my ass off for the past 3 minutes

[@nelzintut]

I like Rob more than the other musicians here on youtube. This sounds awesome.

[@maxonmendel5757]

Dyunelzin Sese he’s very student oriented which is cool. He wasn’t like that at first, when Jared Dines and Jarrod Alonge were still cool. But now he really seems to push his content towards people who love to learn about the instrument

[@Mattiaskrantz]

YES a 7 minute Yousician meme! Right?

[@DaveRucci]

Mattias Krantz don’t hate.

[@DavidNwokoye]

Goddammit. No one's winning if this guy enters.

[@maxonmendel5757]

Subbed. Gonna have to binge your channel later after work

[@improvingguitarist1595]

Yes

[@tharii314]

I put replaced a Keyboard motherboard with a CRT TV Board and then played it. KRANTZ?

[@klundyates1]

I don't even play guitar but I stumbled across this and watched the entire thing. Beautifully written, performed, produced and shot ❤🎸

[@cadenkratsch3057]

Hey Rob! I just wanted to leave this little tidbit here, being an intermediate multi-instrumentalist like you, you give me influence to keep learning different instruments and explore different aspects of music. My drum teacher also has talked about you (he was in a band called Crepe with you in high school, which I found REALLY cool) and we both find you very inspiring and all around such a great dude. Don't ever stop exploring and teaching music on KZbin, you really make the music community a better place :)

[@elonmush4793]

"I wrote this song when I was hanging out with a good friend. We went biking... Can't remember, haven't talked to him since." -> Song is called "I should spend more time with you". Ha. Irony.

[@maxonmendel5757]

Anonymous whoa your right. That’s funny. 😄

[@danielalexander8402]

I’m glad I stumbled upon this now. I’m smiling like a goof at how positive the energy is in this video. Thank you!

[@primedisappointment9741]

6:17 Rob: *spends time with old friend and writes a song about how they should spend more time together Also Rob: "I haven't spoke to them since"

[@benxiong4848]

The flow of your tutorial videos are amazing, it creates such an interesting experience

[@SimonMooreChannel]

Amazing as always Rob! We've came so far since those old boring Martin Schwartz type of guitar videos, and you're channel really makes me put that into perspective and look forward to the future!

[@maxonmendel5757]

SimonMooreChannel Marty Schwartz is such a sham

[@wanpokke]

Mary Spender is such a sweetheart

[@yaroreiners]

I've been playing guitar for 3 years now, and I have to say that I adore fingerpicking more than any other technique.

[@MartiniAndrini]

This and the Slap Guitar 101 video are so melodic, I love them. They're some of my favorite videos of yours

[@DrownedSimo]

This piece of content was pure entertainment, from start to end guys. I was interested in the topic, but I swear you just caught my attention so much with all the acting and stuff, that I forgot to pay attention to the real "lesson" GJ!

[@bambostarla6259]

After playing fingerstyle (picking, flamenco, percussiva and the lot) for a couple of years I have to say it's my go to style for chord work. Once you know the basics and you know theory writing rythm stuff is creative and can add a lot of colour with various tecniques :)

[@veno_net]

Wholesome, well timed, funny, and with exceptional sound and video quality. I like this

[@YouOrThem]

This actually helps a lot!

[@potato_salad9346]

The way she looks at Rob at 0:48... Get yourself a girl who looks at you that way

[@jordandillow5208]

Need me one like that 🅱

[@Y0urMisterDirty]

I saw that

[@RovingPunster]

@@Y0urMisterDirty Me too, and the leisurly top to bottom eye sweep at 0:43 ... looked like a lioness sizing up her next meal. Oh, and the 'sure ...' that followed after seemed to imply a non-musical alternative activity. Definitely looks like some chemistry there.

[@potato_salad9346]

Unfortunately for her, Rob already has a steady girl (wife?)

[@Y0urMisterDirty]

Senor_Onion I think we need a fact check on that one. I remember he would do a lot with one girl in his earlier days but not at all recently. Plus not ring

[@bsodcat]

Edit: on second thought I’ll just sit this one out...I forgot I can’t sing or keep my rhythm steady so y’all have fun. Best of luck and love to you two keep up the amazing work, and congrats to whoever gets into the top 40! Peace.

[@maxonmendel5757]

Nicholas A. Bro you don’t need rhythm for fingerstyle

[@bsodcat]

Maxon Mendel correct not for the original song, but I thought I’d make my own take on it which would involve more rhythm and slapping and other little flares; still need to practice but I’m too busy atm.

[@gamesandguitars3901]

Robscallon sees a random obscure instrument no one in the modern world has heard of, plays metal on it

[@malcelinho]

His goal is to show the world that metal is a concept, no matter how you play it

[@gamesandguitars3901]

taxidermy I know but he plays metal on some weird instruments honestly he could play slayer on a hurdy gurdy

[@BroArmyCommander]

How's that related at all? Xd

[@Oilid]

How I love Mary's eyes when Rob starts talking about Yousician. Her eyes are just screaming: "shut the hell up!"

[@Forest_V19]

This is both incredibly relaxing and informing at the same time.

[@ehmed-anims]

not to be picky but..... dammit this video is perfect

[@tylerwoolstenhulme6756]

Awwww it’s a singing rob song

[@angrycharlie]

Dude, this is one of your best videos

[@jacobshandymantreeservicel2522]

Amazing tutorial… hope to learn more. Got a family guitar that’s beat up but I’ve finally started messing around with it and your videos are great! So fun and immersive. The song you made about the friend and never seeing him again is quite sad. How ironic. I don’t know if that was scripted too but was hilarious! 🤣😅😪

[@justnatsuki6526]

I just want to take the moment to admit. Your music is just beautiful in every sense of the word.

[@MrNeosantana]

This is the most adorable fucking guitar video ever. You guys should turn this into a series.

[@benwedgwood3196]

The greatest combination ever!

[@pontusoskarsson5998]

I originally discovered your channel when you posted the 'I should spend more time with you' video. I still really like it. Cheese and all.

[@uselesswoodenboy2197]

the cover of your song at the end is beautiful

[@beneatsgrass2369]

People who havent tried before...playing music and talking at a normal pace is very difficult, Respect!

[@june9279]

Never been so excited about a competition!!! :))

[@riswandakafa9750]

this video is medicinal, brings peace and relieves anxiety

[@LordBete]

I think something that people never really touch on is that putting your guitar (preferably acoustic) in to an open tuning and playing finger style creates some absolutely beautiful music. For anyone interested, try tuning your guitar to the following D F# A E A C# It will sound a lot deeper than usual but experiment with simple 2 finger chords and I’m sure you’ll find some really nice progressions

[@plactoec1590]

I'm newer to guitar what chords are you referring to? Like power chords?

[@LordBete]

Andrew Wilson Really my point was to try make up chords with one or two fingers in any position you can find that sounds nice. For example (keeping the string names the same despite the tuning) 7th Fret on the A string and 7th fret on the G string and play all the strings sounds quite nice. The whole open tuning thing lends itself to simpler chords as even just playing the strings open sounds nice. Try play around with the chord I mentioned above, moving it up and down the fretboard you can get a nice sound from that alone

[@killslay]

I need to fuck with alternative tunings more, I'll give this a try

[@floydthebarber331]

Bron-Yr-Aur

[@Xubuntu47]

That is *almost* the tuning Michael Hedges used on his amazing cover of Dylan's "All Along The Watchtower". He doubled the A on the top two strings instead of the C#. Oh, wait, he tuned th 4th string to C# instead of E. So it is an open DMaj7, without the 9. The song's probably on KZbin, but back in the day I learned it from a VHS tape I recorded of a PBS special. Good times.

[@teriscallon]

loved it...one of my favorite songs, cant wait to hear evryones entry

[@Noobioh]

No kidding, in the 15 minutes after this video i got further with finger picking/style than i did in the past 1,5 years of trying and giving up again on finger picking xD

[@petebracrella2027]

She's got such a beautiful voice!!!!

[@m.vonfunnyname157]

This was entertaining and educational! Fun stuff. Also, every time I hear Mary Spender sing, I fall for her a little more. 😍

[@LychkovIA]

Even the bad chord sounded awesome!!! Rob is too good.

[@BigJoker]

Wow. The two of you in the same video. Mind-blowing

[@Ben_R4mZ]

One thing I have to say is that isn't the only way to fingerpick and it is far from the easiest. I learned fingerpicking back in 2008 ish from my dad who has been playing since he was in his early 20's back in 1970. His, (and my), method involves firmly anchoring your wrist on the bridge of the guitar and putting your pinky down on the pick guard to help hold your hand in position so your fingers are always above the same strings. (He learned flatpicking early on and that definitely influenced his technique. Tony Rice was one of his greatest inspirations. Ed Gerhard was his, and my, inspiration for fingerpicking.) The Thumb plays the Low E, A, and D strings, the Index plays the G, the Middle plays the B, and the Ring finger plays the High E. Using this method it is possible to play 90% of tabbed music you may find with a few exceptions where you have to bring in the Pinky for a chord roll. There is plenty of strength in your fingers to play loud and cleanly but it takes time to get your brain to understand what to do. My main issue with your method is how much longer it takes your brain to figure out where your fingers are in relation to the strings they are supposed to be hitting. Sure you'll get it eventually but it will take much longer imo. Each to their own of course. I will see if I can find some time to make a video submission and you can see, and critique, my technique. (*Hey* it RHYMES... lol) Take care and keep on creating great music :) Ben R4m-Z

[@tuttuti123]

Omg rob. This is a perfect birthday gift! Nice vid mate

[@soza7]

thats just some awesome quality content! congratulations, this video came out just f*cking great!

[@brianmorse1786]

Love the subtle humor Rob includes in nearly everything he does... For example in this one, "I wrote it a long time ago after spending time with a good friend... I don't really remember, I haven't talked to them since..."

[@skjelm6363]

Thank you for that lesson! I always wanted to learn fingerpicking, but I stayed on "power-chords" and years ago a "friend" "lend" my guitar and amp and I never got it back... Now I am looking forward to get a new guitar and try that out for the sake a learning something new!

[@carterhoss7404]

This is an awesome video! Completely original and unique!

[@WalmartTom]

Great video, Jarvin Gimes!!!

[@DiegoIchimaru]

I have no intention of learning gituar, but I'm liking this vid for you Rob

[@femchad3317]

This is so wholesome. Especially compared to all the blood and prison that has been on the channel recently.

[@Jargonloster]

When you're used to Jared Dines' "for beginners" videos and expected this to be a joke.

[@maxonmendel5757]

Jargonloster I mean it kinda was one big joke but I get your meaning

[@MrUnit731]

This took me all evening, and the day after, but thanx for teaching me selfcontrol. I didn`t ruin ONE single guitar :)

[@moohymoojy8639]

Man, I gave up on guitar a year ago because I felt like I was going nowhere after 2 years of learning. Looking back I can only blame myself, I wish I would get back that passion for guitar and learning it, but I just kind of lost it. It started when I was in an orchestra for our school and during our performance, after 8months of learning nothing, the Maestro (or whatever you call the person the coordinates the orchestra) turned off the microphone of the guitars, 4 of us were their, just doing the same thing over and over again. Will never forgive him.

[@thisguy6999]

After playing metal and getting locked in a maximum security prison, Rob decides to slow things down and play some acoustic guitar

[@saladking2370]

The jam at the beginning was heavenly

[@grasshopperhawk]

Great freaking video, Rob! Comedy and teaching in time. And one of these days, I'm going to meet Mary and hopefully get a smile out of her, because dam--that lights up the room.

[@jesushasan8pack]

Rob gets Vulnerable at 6:13 don't miss out.

[@mhutt333]

It was either the best no-sell of a joke or the most matter of fact delivery of a really sad story ever!

[@jamancruzel419]

GOD THE TONE AT 0:58 😫

[@maxonmendel5757]

Jaman Cruzel same omg

[@TheGuyWithWifi]

how tf people be disliking this video, 91 people with no humanity stumbled on this and disliked the fact you were trying to help people

[@zachgarnett1129]

These are the most entertaining videos of yours

[@Faethon888]

this is a fantastic format, keep it up!

[@adrienfaucheux4263]

A Scallon Mumuring Realisation O MY GOOOOOOD !

[@Theaquaponic12345678]

Fabulous lesson and over all great video.

[@mikajoseph623]

I actually don't care for how to fingerpick I just I find watching you explain things is so relaxing for some reason

[@marcusvieira96]

I'm deeply in love with this video.

[@darkwolf1273]

Thank you! I have slowly thought my self to well in my mind play xD I don't really read music but it never stops me. Your lesson is great for some one like me :) and so I will enter in, never have before but I am going all in win or lose!

[@DenisBencic]

Funny thing man, I fiddled around this particular song like two years ago and recorded a semi-terrible punk rock cover :) I'll might post the cover but I wont be bothering with Yousician, sorry.

[@Jtrain2619]

That intro was so satisfying

[@jimbobaggins7553]

This is so wholesome and relaxing 😌😂

[@ThomasGHouse]

6:18 With your delivery, I almost missed that hilarious line.

[@digitalramyun]

This is inspiring - I've occasionally wondered if I could "ditch the pick" with the guitar, partly as one of my big "guitar heroes", Mike Oldfield, plays his lead parts without one. Also, I've been playing a lot of ukulele recently, and I never use a pick with the uke, so I feel I've been learning fingerstyle by default! I wonder where this will lead...

[@bertol97]

That's just lovely

[@tianbarretosebas8380]

I think a good example of fingerstyle is Anchor... or a good example of everything

[@Anklejbiter]

She has such a beautiful voice.

[@charlescampbell5894]

Song called "I should spend more time with you" "Idk, havent seen them since"

[@Nofishnoclue]

her guitar is beautiful, and the tone

[@jeffboyd8139]

I love that rob wrote a song about spending more time with someone and then hasn't seen them since

[@nightrous3026]

Tuning of open c is one of my fav tunings. Its great for blues.

[@PlenumGaming]

I love this musical tutorial style.

[@samdavidson6274]

Great vid very well done, was that finger pick song the wheezywaiter outro? Its bringing me wayyy back man

[@MathAndComputers]

I think it was!

[@konan8658]

3:43 “Middle finger is always on the G” Me: *evil giggling sounds with middle finger on the G*

[@RovingPunster]

Really diggin Mary Spender's voice. Thx for pointing us to her. 😁

[@ChrisselLP]

Oh gosh, time to try to record some stuff. I've never done that before (lack of motivation, insecurity of my musical skills bc I'm not professional) but this is great. My guitar skills are good enough to learn that and create something. And I would love to have a nice guitar. My guitar & other instruments aren't that great so this would be amazing. I'm excited, nervous, but excited.

[@revkyran]

Might actually give this one ago. Never bothered with any previous contests.

[@floydthebarber331]

Yeah I said the same thing until I saw the "Premium pack after free trial" on Yousician

[@revkyran]

Yeah, really hate yousician now that I've tried it.

[@maxonmendel5757]

I’m thinking about it too

[@heikkiremes5661]

Fingerpicking always reminds me of Jerry Reed. He was awesome.

[@caitlinmarshwous2707]

"I want to spend more time with you!" Yeah I never see this person.

[@johnwescott1500]

Mary's playing always reminds me of the old country blues clawhammer style. Check out Stefan Grossman. Chewsday Tawks FTW!!!!

[@JMRolf1]

This is masterfully edited and also super helpful. Amazing video. Whatever yousician is paying you they should be paying more :O

[@valsgager88]

We need more Rob Spender.