Switch Between Chords and Melody

by Using Different Picking Patterns

Hey guys, I hope you are having a fantastic day. Today I want to show you how to switch between chords and melody by using different picking patterns.

Switching between plucking patterns is one of the most challenging thing fingerstyle guitar players face.

If you are a beginner, follow this lesson to learn how to become more versatile with picking patterns.

About the Exercise

Key: A minor

Technique: Fingerstyle, alternate fingering.

Plucking Pattern: In this lesson there are two different picking patterns in three. You will play a P/a – m – i pattern for the chords and an alternate fingering pattern for the melody.

Time Signature: The exercise is in 12/8 which divides each beat three counts.

Sections: Two sections with with different chord progressions. The section A combines chords and melodies using Am – Em chord progression. The section B is more melodic and uses more single notes than chords.

Level: For beginners and intermediate guitar players.

How to practice: The goal is to become more familiar with switching between chords and melody. The transition can be quite challenging at first so practice each picking pattern separately.

More info in the article and video below.

Good luck!

The Video

Picking Pattern

In this awesome fingerstyle guitar lesson we are going to learn two different picking patterns. The Pattern A used on the chords and the Pattern B used on the melody.

One of the most useful thing we can do to learn the patterns easily is to figure out how they are played.

For the Pattern A (The one played on the chords), assign the thumb on the bass note, index on the 3rd, middle on the 2nd and ring finger on the 1st string.

The Pattern B is shorter (only three notes) and can be played with m-i-m (middle, index, middle).

Time Signature

This exercise is in 12/8 which means each beat is three counts.

This time signature is very simple to memorize as you can easily break down the beat into three counts of a eighth note each 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3.

If this is the first time you are playing a picking pattern in three, I highly recommend you start with one chord and slowly familiarize yourself with the pattern.

The Chord Progression

The chord progression is very simple. For the first section we have Am – Em played in different inversions while the second section will have F – C – Dm – E7 and A minor.

The chords are played using different inversions which means the notes of the chords are the same but in a different order.

In the example below I am going to show you how to play an A minor chord in its fundamental, 1st and 2nd inversions. Remember that the different inversion doesn’t affect the picking pattern.

The lowest note determines the name of the inversion (we call the lowest note root note).

• Fundamental: The note A is the lowest note of the triad.
• 1st inversion: The note C, the minor 3rd is the lowest note of the triad.
• 2nd inversion: The note E, the perfect 5th is the lowest note of the triad.

Tab available on Patreon.

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Useful Links

• Guitar Lessons in London
• Strumming Guitar Lessons – Justin Guitar
• Spanish Romance Rumba Style
• Electric Guitar Lesson]
• Switch between chords and melody with different picking patterns