Fingerstyle guitar can be one of the most challenging things to approach for a beginner. There are so many variables and different ways to approach this technique that many can feel discouraged even before picking up the guitar.
In this video, I am going to show you nine tips for fingerstyle beginners that will hopefully remove the fear that is blocking from getting started.
1. JUST GET STARTED
Fingerstyle is just as tricky as any other guitar techniques. Everything is challenging at first.
Your very first chord was challenging. Your very first strumming didn’t sound amazing.
Most of the time, what is blocking you is the belief that fingerstyle is not for beginners. The first step is to change your mindset and believe that you are 100% capable of playing with fingerstyle guitar.
2. UNDERSTAND THE BASICS OF FINGERSTYLE
When it comes to fingerstyle, there are three right-hand golden rules everyone should know. You can learn these three rules and then slowly adjust them while you become better. There is not such a thing as one way of plucking the strings. However, these three rules will get you going the right way.
Rule one: Keep the thumb in front of the fingers.
Rule two: Keep the fingers at a 45-degree angle.
Rule three: Use the fingers like a guitar pick. When you pick the strings, you move the pick away from the strings to generate speed and momentum. Do the same with the fingers.
3.START WITH ONE STRING
You can start plucking with just one string. Learn a scale or a simple melody on one string and begin practicing the plucking.
If you do it with the thumb, pluck the bottom strings. If you do it with the fingers, make sure you always alternate with index and middle.
4.ISOLATE THE PLUCKING MOVEMENT
One of the best ways to become better at fingerstyle technique is by isolating the plucking movement. I like to play the same plucking pattern across the strings over one chord.
I would start with one chord and play the same pattern on all the strings. We can start with the E minor chord and play thumb-index on the 6th and 5th string. Then, 5th and 4th, 4th and 3rd, 3rd and 2ns, and 2nd and 1st. You can then move backward.
We can do this exercise with different patterns.
- Thumb, index, middle.
- Thumb, index, middle, ring.
- Other combinations.
We can also play the same patter over different chords.
5.DECIDE YOUR PLUCKING APPROACH
The three right-hand golden rules work great for beginners. Once you start developing your technique, you might naturally change the right-hand position slightly.
Some guitar players like to rest the picky on the body of the guitar. Others like to use a thumb pick.
Understanding that it’s ok to change and adjust your plucking approach based on your physiology is one of the most fantastic things that you can do.
Stop asking questions such as “Am I doing it right?” or stop comparing yourself with other guitar players. Listen to your ears. If you like the tone that comes out and you feel extremely comfortable playing in the way you are playing, then it means that you are on the right path.
However, this tip only works once you start developing your skills. If you are a beginner, stick to the basic rules and learn like everybody else.
As you become better, make your choices and stick to it.
6.RECORD YOURSELF
We all love to look good. We love to take selfies and look sharp, but we don’t like to record ourselves.
Recording yourself exposes all your flaws. When you start, it sounds like crap. However, the more you do it, the more chances you have to fix what it’s wrong in your playing.
Look at this video!
Recording my self not only helped my playing. It improved my English, the way I look, and the way I teach.
Start right now.
7.USE YOUR EARS … AND FOCUS ON THE TONE.
When you start practicing the guitar, there are so many things going on in your head that it’s easy to stop noticing how what you play sounds.
You are so focused on playing the right notes that you forget about making it sound good.
At the end of each session, I recommend that you play the things you practiced focusing on the sound, tone, dynamics, and volume.
Try to get the best tone out of the melody or the chords you played. The tone and timbre (tumber) of your guitar is your voice.
Make sure you develop it just as much as you develop your technique.
8.USE THE METRONOME BUT NOT FOR SPEED.
We usually use the metronome to learn how to play faster.
In this tip, though, I suggest that you use it to slow things down.
Trust me! It can be way more challenging to play something slow with feel and timing than to play something fast.
Put the metronome at 60 Bpm and practice different rhythmic patterns.
- Two notes.
- Three notes.
- Four notes.
- Five notes.
- Six notes.
- Seven notes.
- Eight notes.
Do it slowly and try to interiorize the rhythm.
9.PRACTICE SCALES BUT ALSO ARPEGGIOS.
Arpeggios are a great variation to scales. Make sure you practice a couple of arpeggios at the beginning of your practice session to get your fingers going.
Diversify your plucking by practicing major, minor, end extended arpeggios.
