There are hundreds of beautiful fingerpicking patterns that you can play on guitar and today we are going to have a look at 23 epic fingerpicking patterns and how to use them.

But, what’s a fingerpicking pattern? A fingerpicking pattern is a right-hand fingers movement in which the thumb, index, middle, and ring finger pluck the strings to play the notes of a chord or a melody. Each finger is named with a letter. The thumb with the letter “P”, the index “i”, the middle “m”, and the ring finger “a.”

You will learn:

• Naming the right-hand fingers
• How to pluck the strings
• Fingerpicking pattern #1 – Thumb only
• Fingerpicking pattern #2 – Thumb and index
• Fingerpicking pattern #3 – Thumb, index, and middle
• Fingerpicking pattern #4 – P i m together
• Fingerpicking pattern #5 – P i m a
• Fingerpicking pattern #6 – P i m a m i
• Fingerpicking pattern #7 – P i m a m i with Slap&Strum
• Fingerpicking pattern #8 – P i m i a i m i – The classical pattern
• Fingerpicking pattern #9 – Thumb and ring finger together
• Fingerpicking pattern #10 – P i m a plucked together
• Fingerpicking pattern #11 – Pluck together with different combinations
• Fingerpicking pattern #12 – The rolling
• Fingerpicking pattern #13 – Plucking together + additional notes
• Fingerpicking pattern #14 – Rhythmic pattern
• Fingerpicking pattern #15 – Plucking together plus thumb slap
• Fingerpicking pattern #16 – Basic Travis picking
• Fingerpicking pattern #17 – Intermediate Travis picking
• Fingerpicking pattern #18 – Travis picking with different chords
• Fingerpicking pattern #19 – Alternate fingering i-m over scales
• Fingerpicking pattern #20 – Alternate fingering over chords
• Fingerpicking pattern #21 – Reverse alternate fingering
• Fingerpicking pattern #22 – Pattern in six
• Fingerpicking pattern #23 – Classical pattern with alternate fingering

There is a musical example for each pattern so that you get inspired. The examples are simple and contain music rather than technical exercises. My goal is to write the most beautiful music with the least amount of effort. If you are on the same page as me, you will enjoy this video.

The number one thing that I want to convey in this lesson is that you don’t need to use intricate fingerpicking patterns to write beautiful chord progressions and melodies.

Instead, focus on the music.

The tab is available on my Patreon page.

Naming Right Hand Fingers | Pima

If you have been trying to learn fingerstyle guitar, the chances are that you stumbled across the word: Pima.

Pima stands for Thumb (P), index (i), middle (m) and ring finger (a).

The letters come from the Italian language. The words we are referring to are:

• Thumb: Pollice
• Index: Indice
• Middle: Medio
• Ring: Anulare

We never pluck the strings with the little finger even though some guitar players do.

How to Pluck Strings

Let me quickly show you how to pluck the guitar strings correctly. There are three rules that I use all the time to make sure my right-hand position is correct.

The three golden rules are:

• Rule 1 – Thumb Position
• Rule 2 – Fingers Position
• Rule 3 – Articulation

Rule 1 | Thumb Position

You should always position the thumb in front of the fingers and pluck downwards. This is the number one position I teach to all of my students.

You might have seen other guitar players positioning the thumb differently. If you are a beginner, I recommend that you start with the approach shown in this lesson.

I pluck the strings with the side of the thumb, and I combine both flesh and fingernails.

This angle gives me the best tone.

Check the thumb position below.

Rule 2 | 45 Degree angle

The second step is learning how to pluck the strings with index, middle and ring finger.

I recommend that you position your hand at a 45-degree angle and pluck the strings with both flesh and fingernails.

This is, in my opinion, the very best way for fingerpicking beginners to get started with fingerstyle guitar.

Rule 3 | Articulation

It’s time to learn how to articulate the fingers.

With the thumb, only use the big knuckle and keep the small knuckle rigid. With the index, middle and ring finger, the articulation is slightly different. Start the movement with the big knuckle, then, as you are plucking the strings, use the small knuckle to complete the plucking.

Pattern #1 | Thumb Only (P)

In this pattern, play a beautiful and simple melody in A minor with the thumb only. This is one of the very first fingerpicking patterns for beginners.

The chord progression is Am, G, F and E7.

Pattern #2 | Thumb and index finger (P, i)

Playing a chord progression with just two fingers, allows you to simplify the chords down to just two notes.

In this example, I am playing D, A, Bm, and G by plucking just two strings. I am alternating thumb and index.

Pattern #3 | Thumb, index and middle finger (P, i. m)

I played this pattern with thumb, index and middle finger.

Playing with three fingers only make it easy to come up with patterns in three.

The example sounds Spanish, and the chord progression is E and Am chord.

Pattern #4 | P i m Together

This is a simple variation of the Pima pattern played simultaneously.

The chord progression is: Em7 | Cadd9 | G | D | Em7 | Cadd9 | D

Pattern #5 | P i m a

The most famous fingerpicking pattern you can play on guitar. Almost every beginner starts with this pattern.

In this example though, I want to show you how you can still play beautiful chords with such a simple pattern.

Chord progression: Em, Dadd11, Am7, C.

Pattern #6 | P i m a m i

A pattern with six notes.

Chord progression: Am, C, Dm, F, G | Am, C, Dm, F, E.

Pattern #7 | P i m a m i with Slap&Strum

I like to spice up the pattern #6 by adding a percussive technique called Slap&Strum.

In this technique, you will strike the bass note with the thumb while simultaneously strumming the top strings. Perform Slap&Strum on the 4th note.

Keep the same chord progression as Pattern #6

Pattern #8 | P i m i a i m i | The Classical Pattern

Another famous fingerpicking pattern played with eight notes.

This pattern is perfect for building speed and control. I am playing it with a classical chord progression.

Am | E7 | Am | E7(b9) | Am | E7 | Am. Simple but beautiful.

Pattern #9 | Thumb and Ring Together

One of my favorite way to emphasize the voicing of a chord is by plucking the strings with the thumb and ring together.

Chord progression: G | D/F# | Em | Am | G | D/F#.

Pattern #10 | P i m a Plucking Together

You can pluck the strings simultaneously with this simple yet effective pattern.

Chord progression: Am | G/B | C | Dm | Am | G | Am.

Pattern #11 | Pluck Together with Different Combinations

You don’t always have to pluck the strings with the P i m a. You could, for example, decide only to use P i m or simple P i.

In this example, I am using a different combination of patterns.

Chord progression: C | G | Am | F

Pattern #12 | The Rolling

One of my favorite way of plucking the strings together is by quickly rolling the fingers from thumb to ring.

This effect is perfect if you want to make the chords sound more melodic and sweet.

Chord progression: E | Cadd9 | G | G/B

Pattern #13 | Plucking Together + One Additional Note

Same plucking as pattern #12 but with an additional note on the top E string.

This pattern is great if you want to write beautiful rhythmic chord progressions.

Chords: Fmaj7 | Em7 | Dm7 | Cmaj7

Pattern #14 | Rhythmic Pattern

In this example, I am going to show you how to play a rhythmic fingerpicking pattern with rolling and thumb slap technique.

I am playing the same chord progression as Pattern #13.

Pattern #15 | Plucking Together Plus Thumb Slap

Embellish the fingerpicking pattern by adding the thumb slap technique. Strike the bass note with the thumb while playing the chords.

Chord progression: G | G/B | Cadd9 | D | G | G/B | Cadd9 | D | G |

Pattern #16 | Basic Travis Picking

Learn the basic Travis picking technique. Pluck the two or more bass notes with the thumb while the fingers take care of the accompaniment.

Chord progression: C | Am | Em | G7 |

Pattern #17 | Intermediate Travis Picking

Same chord progression as pattern #16 but this time we are going to add the top three strings.

The Travis picking can be quite challenging. Learn one chord at a time and practice slowly.

Pattern #18 | Travis Picking with Different Chords

You can also use the Travis picking technique for any other chord progression.

In this example, I am going to play over a chord progression in G major. I am only plucking two bass notes with the thumb.

Chord progression: G | G/B | Cadd9 | D |

Pattern #19 | Alternate Fingering i, m Over Scales

We usually use alternate fingering for scales.

In this example, I am going to show you a simple C major scale played with index and middle finger.

Pattern #20 | Alternate Fingering Over Chords, i m Pattern

A beautiful chord progression played with index and middle finger.

In this example, I want to show you that you can use alternate fingering not just for scale but also for chords.

Chord progression: C#m9 | E | Asus2 |

Pattern #21 | Reverse Alternate Fingering, m i Pattern

An example in D minor in which I am playing a melody in thirds.

This example shows how we can use the m i pattern for creating beautiful sounding melodies.

Chord progression: Dm | Bb | C |

Pattern #22 | Pattern in Six + Thumb

You can then combine two patterns.

In this example I am playing the pattern P i m a m i with the thumb only pattern.

Chord progression: Am | G | F | E

Pattern #23 | Classical Pattern with Alternate Fingering

In the last example, we are going to combine the classical pattern with the alternate fingering technique.

This is one of my favorite patterns because allows you to combine chords and melody.

Chord progression: G | Em | C | E |

Tabs available on my Patreon page.

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Useful Links

• Guitar Lessons in London
• Strumming Guitar Lessons – Justin Guitar
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