Fingerstyle is one of the most creative and beautiful guitar technique. Think about acoustic guitar players such as Tommy Emmanuel, Dan Ross, Preston Reed, and Gabriella Quevedo who explored every aspect of the fingerpicking technique and inspired thousands of guitar players.

Classical and Spanish guitar players also use the fingerpicking technique. Musicians like Andreas Segovia, John Williams, Julian Bream, and Pepe Romero devoted their entire life to expand the fingerpicking repertoire by transcribing beautiful compositions from the past.

Fingerstyle music became more complex over the past few years. Techniques like percussive fingerstyle and tapping have now become a standard that many try to reach.

For these reasons, many beginners feel discouraged. Many of my students frequently ask “Can I start learning guitar with the fingerstyle method? Is the fingerpicking technique difficult for beginners?”

The answer is obviously no! However, you should know HOW to get started the right way.

But how do you get started with the fingerpicking technique and what’s the best fingerpicking pattern for beginners?

In this fingerstyle lesson, we are going to take a look at the top 5 fingerpicking patterns for beginners and how to implement them into musical ideas.

Each pattern has different musical examples that you can practice that will help you familiarize yourself with the fingerpicking technique.

Are you Just Getting Started?

There are two categories of fingerstyle players.

• Total Beginner: If you just bought a guitar, this is your category!
• Fingerstyle Beginners: The ones who already play guitar but they never learned the fingerstyle technique. If you know how to play basic chords and strumming, you fall into this category.

There will be six examples for each one of the five fingerpicking patterns. Start with the first three if you are a total beginner.

Naming the Right Hand Fingers

On the guitar tab, you will find an indication as to which fingers you should use to pluck the strings. Classical guitar players adopted this system, and it has been around for many years.

The letters come from the Italian/Spanish language.

Here is how it works:

• Tumb = Pollice, letter “P”
• Index = indice, letter “i”
• Middle = medio, letter “m”
• Ring = anulare, letter “a”

For the left-hand, follow the number on top of the music stave.

• Number 1 – index
• Number 2 – middle
• Number 3 – ring
• Number 4 – little finger

Fingerpicking Pattern #1 – Alternate Index and Middle

The fingerpicking pattern number one is called “i-m-i-m.”

This is indeed the most simple and common pattern every guitar players start with. It is simple, intuitive, and works perfectly for simple melodies.

Ex.1 – One String Fingerpicking Melody

In this exercise, we are going to practice the pattern on one string only, the top E string. You can then transpose it to the other strings.

The goal of this exercise is to help you develop strength and finger dexterity.

Ex.2 – Simple C Major Scale

Let me show you how to practice scales with the fingerpicking technique.

In this example, we will learn the C major scale in one octave.

Use the same fingerpicking pattern “i-m-i-m” throughout. Follow the left-hand fingers on top of the music stave.

Ex.3 – Symmetrical Exercise

One of the most effective guitar exercises of all time.

This symmetrical pattern will help you develop not only the fingerpicking technique but also left-hand control, speed, and stretch.

Ex.4 – Beautiful Fingerstyle Melody

One of the awesome things about the fingerstyle technique is the fact that we can combine chords and melody.

Learn how to play this simple melody in A minor using the “i-m-i-m” fingerpicking pattern.

We will also pluck the bass note with the thumb.

Ex.5 – Two Octaves Scale

Once you familiarize yourself with the plucking technique, you should start practicing two octaves scales.

Learn the G major scale below. Remember to follow the left-hand fingers on top of the music score.

Ex.6 – Three Fingers Exercise

Let’s challenge the left-hand by adding more notes to this symmetrical exercise.

Try the 1 2 3 4 patterns on three strings. This exercise will challenge your fingers quite a lot.

Take it step-by-step and stop if you feel pain in your wrist or fingers.

Fingerpicking Pattern #2 – The P i m a

The P i m a is the most common fingerpicking pattern on guitar.

We are going to learn a few chord progressions as well as combining the P i m a pattern with the alternate fingering.

If you are a beginner, start with the first three patterns.

Ex.1 – Two Simple Chords

In this first example, learn this chord progression in A minor.

Pluck the bass note with the thumb and assign a finger to each string. Pluck the G string with the index finger, the B string with the middle, and the top E string with the ring finger.

The two chords are A minor and E major.

Ex.2 – P i m a Reverse

Each fingerpicking pattern can be played reversed.

The reverse of “P i m a” is “a m i P.” This pattern isn’t musical at all, so I decided to change it into P a m i.

Learn this simple chord progression in D major,

Ex.3 – P i m a together

Another awesome variation for the P i m a pattern is to pluck the strings simultaneously.

This pattern works perfectly for rhythmic chords and can be used in many different ways.

In this example for beginners, we are going to pluck together chords in G major key.

Follow the right-hand pattern on the tab.

Ex.4 – P i m a with Intermediate Chords

With such a simple fingerpicking pattern it can be boring to practice things.

Don’t be fooled by the simplicity of this pattern. We can add a beautiful chord progression that will make you love this pattern.

The chords are in E minor key.

Ex.5 – P i m a With Percussive Pattern

Another great thing you can easily add with this pattern is the percussion.

There are a lot of different percussive techniques on guitar, but we will stick with the most simple one called “thumb slap.”

With the thumb slap technique, you strike the bass strings with the thumb while playing the chords. The sound is similar to the snare drum.

This is a simple example using this percussive technique.

Ex.6 – P i m a With Different Bass Notes

The last example will have the thumb plucking on two different bass strings.

I recommend that you hold the chords down while you pluck the strings and let it ring out beautifully. Also, try to emphasize the bass notes by playing them louder than the rest of the chords.

Fingerpicking Pattern #3 – P i m a m i

Let’s explore the fingerstyle pattern in six that every beginner should learn. It’s called P i m a m i or sextuplets (six notes).

This pattern can be broken down into two patterns of three. The way you count each pattern will now be 1 2 3 – 1 2 3 as opposed as the patterns in four which we count like 1 2 3 4 – 1 2 3 4.

The P i m a m i pattern can be quite confusing at first especially if you try to use a metronome. You will now have to play three notes per beat which aren’t the most natural thing to do.

Spend a few minutes counting 1 2 3 – 1 2 3 while tapping the foot on the first count only.

From now, there will be three examples of each pattern.

Ex.1 – Minor Chord Progression

In this first example, I am going to show you a straightforward chord progression in E minor played mostly with open strings.

The melody is played on the top E string should be louder than the accompaniment.

Ex.2 – Folk Chord Progression

This pattern works perfectly with folk and country chord progressions.

This is an example in A minor.

Ex. 3 – The Six + Three Pattern

A common variation could be playing the P i m a m i followed by the P i m P i m pattern.

An easy way to spice things up.

Fingerpicking Pattern #4 – Combined Patterns

Even beginners should learn how to combine different fingerpicking patterns. The fact that you are just starting with fingerstyle doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try something challenging.

By combining different patterns, you will also learn the amazing possibilities that fingerstyle offer not only harmonically but also rhythmically and melodically.

You will learn how to combine chords with melody and how to change the rhythm of a pattern simply.

Good luck!

Ex. 1 – P i m i a i m i + Melody in “i-m”

In this example, we alternate chords and melody. The pattern is rhythmically very simple as we only play sixteenth notes.

Assing a finger to each string to each string and alternate when you play the melody.

The chord progression is in A Minor.

Ex. 2 – P i m a m i + Melody in “m-i”

A pattern in six is always challenging at first.

In this example, we are going to play an arpeggio in E minor followed by a melody on the E string.

The long notes at the end of the melody should help you transition between the chords easily.

Speed isn’t important so play slowly and focus on chord change and tone.

Fingerpicking Pattern  #5 – The Tremolo

The tremolo is a popular Classical and Spanish technique. It sustains the melody and creates a continuous sound similar to a fast picking.

This technique is achieved by playing three notes with the ring, middle, and index finger on one string while the thumb takes care of the bass note.

On the music score, the tremolo looks like that:

One of the reasons I teach the tremolo to beginners is because it develops many aspects of the fingerpicking technique at once.

By practicing this technique, you will improve your control, speed, plucking, rhythm, timing, and skills.

But how do we get started with the tremolo technique?

Let me show you how.

Ex. 1 – Tremolo Technique Definition

We can apply the tremolo on chords and melody.

In this exercise, I am going to show you how to familiarize yourself with the technique by using a simple chord progression.

Hold the chord down while playing the tremolo.

Ex. 2 – Simplified Tremolo

There is a way to simplify the tremolo by removing one note from the group (usually the ring finger).

In this case, we only play with thumb, index, and middle.

The tremolo is now in three and not in four anymore.

Let’s Wrap This Up

I hope you enjoyed these fingerpicking patterns for beginners.

I know that some of the examples can be quite challenging for a total beginner. I also know that by practicing something that feels difficult you have more chances to make an improvement.

Don’t get me wrong! I am not saying you should practice things that are way above your level. But a little challenge keeps you motivated and determined.

Take each example as a separate exercise and spend time practicing each exercise.

When you feel ready, check the next lesson below and learn 11 Ways to Practice Scales on Guitar!

Good luck.

Marco.