Top 5 Fingerpicking Guitar Mistakes [And How To Avoid Them]

In this video, you learn the top 5 biggest mistakes guitar players make when fingerpicking.
Fingerpicking guitar can be challenging, however, it can be made a whole lot easier if you begin on the right pathway.
In this lesson, you learn how to avoid the following 5 mistakes guitarists make when learning to fingerpick guitar:
1. Incorrect Fingerpicking Technique
Start off on the right foot with the correct fingerpicking technique or easily fix the flaws that may already exist in your fingerpicking.
2. Fingerpicking Without Dynamics/Feel
Feel and dynamics are perhaps the biggest difference between amateur and pro fingerpickers. You learn how easy it is to train great dynamics into your fingerpicking
3. Taking On Too Much At Once
Trying to learn fingerpicking in big chunks doesn’t work. You must break things down, sometimes into very small parts and look for patterns
4. Limiting Your Fingerpicking Approach
“For a person with a hammer, everything looks like a nail”
In other words, going with one approach for all situations. This severely limits your fingerpicking
5. Avoiding your ring finger
Each finger is like a pickup on your guitar producing a unique tone. Avoiding your ring finger will not only limit your fingerpicking on a technical level but also sonically.
Learn how to master the art of fingerpicking guitar with my online fingerpicking guitar lesson program: acousticguitarlessonsonline.n...
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[@stuartarnold4495]

All good advice Simon, I’m sure my mistakes will haunt me but bit by bit thanks to videos like this I can correct things. Thanks.

[@acousticguitarlessons]

You are welcome Stuart! Yes, any deficiency in technique can be corrected and in a lot less time than you may think. It is about the discipline needed to make the change. Many opt to continue doing whatever feels easiest in the moment. This is rarely ever the best way to do something.

[@bustercherry8734]

I noticed that i rarely use my middle finger when fingerpicking. Mostly just thumb, index and ring finger. But one problem i have and it's super annoying is my ring finger always clips the high E string by accident. Like, at least a couple times per song. And it still manages to happen somehow even if i trim that fingernail until it's bleeding. It's really annoying and i can't stop it.

[@acousticguitarlessons]

@bustercherry8734, it sounds like you need to adjust the positioning of your picking hand perhaps. This will take discipline to do. You need to spend time really focusing on it. Maybe if you used your middle finger it might help?

[@bustercherry8734]

@@acousticguitarlessons Yeah, i probably just need to practice more. I just started fingerpicking/travis picking a few months ago when i discovered Blaze Foley. Best songwriter ever in my opinion. And practically nobody knows who he is. I've learned a few songs of his now including Clay Pigeons (which is one of the best songs ever. Simple but great), Small Town Hero and i'm just starting to learn Oval Room. Both of those songs are amazing as well. But it's weird, after learning those songs, i didn't even realize i wasn't using my middle finger literally not once. I should probably start to try and use it. Might help lol.

[@mookytc]

I have had trouble finding a thumb pick that fits. Lots of good tips here thank you.

[@acousticguitarlessons]

You are welcome Mookytc :) I really like the Fred Kelly bumble bee thumbpicks, you could try those. I am not affiliated in anyway, but they are a great thumbpick. Also, putting a thumb pick in hot water will have it expand if it is too tight

[@mookytc]

@@acousticguitarlessons Thanks Simon! I will check those Fred Kelly picks out (assuming these are the ones - The Bumblebee is a unique combo of a flat pick and thumb pick all rolled into one). Really enjoy your lessons. - Dave

[@acousticguitarlessons]

@@mookytc yes, those are the thumb picks. There are other kinds of thumb picks available too that are worth trying

[@tsiiphsycoii]

Thanks for the video :) Do you have any videos on alternative fingerings of chords for fingerstyle?

[@acousticguitarlessons]

Can you clarify/elaborate on what you mean by "alternative" fingerings of chords for fingerstyle?

[@tsiiphsycoii]

@@acousticguitarlessons the thumb over F or the G with ring finger on 6th string?

[@acousticguitarlessons]

@@tsiiphsycoii can you point me to the specific part of the video, like a time stamp where your question relates? Are you asking for alternate ways to fret the F and G chord as opposed to using your thumb/ring finger etc?

[@tsiiphsycoii]

@@acousticguitarlessons I'm asking if you have a video where you go over alternative ways to fret chords which are better suited for fingerpicking.

[@acousticguitarlessons]

@@tsiiphsycoii no I don't. There aren't really any ways to fret chords for fingerpicking specifically. How you fret a chord, whatever style you play, comes down to the context. I could do a video on this as I think it's a good topic you have brought up :)

[@andrewjaramillo]

I would like to learn Travis picking. However I'm still a beginner. Is it too soon for me to learn this technique?

[@acousticguitarlessons]

Hi Andrew, not necessarily too soon. By beginner, do you mean you can play basic chords to a basic level (open chords)?. If so, you could begin with basic Travis Picking techniques