Welcome back to another lesson. Today I am going to show how to get the best tone out of your acoustic guitar using the fingerpicking technique.

In this lesson, we are going to talk about general things about the plucking technique (which you probably already know), plus things that are less obvious and more specific.

So, how can I get the tone that I want on the guitar? To get a beautiful guitar tone, pluck the strings smoothly. If you are playing with a guitar pick, try to pick the strings with the rounded side. To get a beautiful tone with the fingerpicking technique, learn how to control the plucking movement, dynamics, and volume. Also, use fingernails to increase the volume of the notes.

In this lesson we are going to talk about:

• The fingerpicking technique: How to position the right-hand correctly.
• Fingernails: How to file your nails to get the best tone out of your guitar.
• Dynamics: Change the plucking technique based on the music style.

This lesson is perfect for any guitar player who wants to know more about the fingerstyle technique and how finally get the tone, dynamics, and musicality you want.

Enjoy this lesson.

The Fingerpicking Technique: How to Position the Right-Hand

Learn how to position the right-hand correctly and how to pluck the strings to achieve the tone that you want.

But what’s the fingerpicking technique? The fingerpicking technique occurs when we pluck the strings with the right-hand fingers. The plucking fingers are thumb, index, middle, and ring even though some guitar players also use the little finger.

There are three important aspects you should consider when it comes to fingerstyle.

• 1.Technique: The way you position your hand.
• 2.Angle: Which is responsible for the tone and dynamics.
• 3.Articulation: How the plucking fingers should move.

1.Technique: Plucking Hand Position

How should I position my right-hand to get a beautiful guitar tone?

The basic concept of fingerstyle is that the thumb plucks the bass notes, which are the low E, A, and D string while the index, middle, and ring finger are responsible for plucking the top three strings, the G, B, and E string.

However, this is just a major, and it only applies 60% of the time. The fingerstyle technique is a versatile approach that changes depending on which style of music you play.

Most of the time the starting point of any guitar player is to position the index, middle, and ring on the G, B, and E string to practice basic pattern.

2.Angle: How to Pluck the Strings for Best Tone and Dynamics

To achieve a beautiful, mellow, and rounded fingerpicking tone you should position the index, middle, and ring finger at a 45-degree angle. Rest the index, middle, and ring finger on the strings and then turn the right-hand to a 45-degree angle.

But why the 45-degree angle is so important to fingerstyle players? Plucking the strings with the side of the fingers creates a smooth, rounded, and dull sound which is pleasant to hear.

We can break down the plucking movement into two separate moments. The very first part of the finger that touches the string is not the fingernail but the flesh, which gives the typical rounded and dull tone. Next, the nail plucks the strings adding volume and dynamics.

Without a 45-degree angle, you will be striking the strings with the fingernail only which gives you a bright, metallic sound.

3.Articulation: How the Plucking Fingers Move

Thumb and fingers pluck the strings differently.

The thumb only has two joints or knuckles, the major knuckle, which is the one that connects the finger to the hand, and the minor knuckle which is the one between the major knuckle and the fingertip.

The index, middle, and ring finger have three knuckles. The major, and 1^st and 2^nd minor.

Thumb movement: When we pluck the strings with the thumb, we mostly only use the Major knuckle. If you try to articulate the minor knuckle, it feels quite unnatural and uncomfortable. This is also why the downwards movement feels so natural with the thumb.

Fingers movement: When we pluck the strings with the fingers, we use two knuckles, the Major and the 1^st minor. The preparation, which gives speed and momentum to the finger, starts with the Major knuckle. When I pluck the string though, the minor knuckle moves upwards, striking the string.

How to file your Nails to Get the Best tone Out of Your Guitar

One of the questions that I get asked the most is “Do you need fingernails to play acoustic guitar?”

You don’t need nails to play fingerstyle acoustic guitar. There are plenty of great acoustic guitar players who are fantastic players and don’t have nails. However, fingernails can give you a wider range of dynamics, more control, and volume.

So how do you file your nails to get the best tone out of your guitar? You should give your nails a rounded shape similar to a water drop. Make the left side very smooth. Pluck the strings with the side of the finger and combine skin (flesh) and fingernails.

Advantages of Playing Guitar with Nails

Playing guitar with fingernails gives you access to a huge range of dynamics. There are a lot of timbres available depending on how you pluck the strings. You should learn how to master each timbre by trying to pluck the strings in different positions. Also, try to pluck the strings using more skin or nail.

Below some of the timbres, I use all the time.

• Bright: Mainly played with nails and with the right-hand close to the bridge.
• Bright-Dull: Close to the bridge but with less nails and more flesh.
• Rounded: 45-degree angle with flesh and nails. Hand position on soundhole.
• Rounded-Bright: 45-degree angle with more nails.

There are countless ways of plucking the strings. You should spend a good amount of time practicing and experimenting with different right-hand positions.

Dynamics: Change the Plucking Technique Based on the Music Style

One of the awesome things about the fingerstyle technique is that we can pluck the strings in different ways depending on the style of music we are playing. This way of changing the tone and dynamics through your plucking fingers allows you to express yourself like no other instrument.

We could, for example, decide to play a set of chords using the rounded tone. This timbre is perfect if you are playing with a singer because the chords don’t sound too bright and loud. You could then switch to the bright tone when you solo over the chords.

Deciding which dynamics and tone you should use is totally up to you. Learn as many timbres as possible so that you will be able to use them instinctively and with confidence.

Related Questions

Do I need a good guitar to become a good guitar player? You don’t need a good guitar to become good at playing guitar. However, a good quality guitar is going to develop your technique, tone, and musicality quicker than a cheap guitar. The quality of the instrument influences the tone and dynamics. I recommend that you save up for a while to by a good guitar and good strings.

Can I use Fake Nails to Play Guitar? I see a lot of guitar players using fake nails to play fingerstyle guitar. If you struggle growing your nails, artificial nails can be quite helpful. Just make sure you file them correctly to get a smooth and rounded tone.

 Let’s Wrap This Up

I hope this video answers some of your questions about tone and dynamics.

If your goal is to become a fingerstyle guitar player, you should try some of the things we talked about in this lesson. Learning how to pluck the strings correctly is just one ingredient in a plate full of different types of food.

On top of the basic technique, you should also focus on finding your voice on the instrument, which is what we call “the Tone.”

The tone is what makes you different from other guitar players. It’s your voice. Spend a reasonable amount of time experimenting with it until you find the tone you love.

Good luck with this lesson.

Marco.