How can I learn fingerstyle guitar?

Question:Hi there! I am looking for advice on how to learn to play fingerstyle guitar. I have a lovely acoustic guitar and can pick up chords ok, but strumming isn't really challenging me.

I would really love to learn fingerstyle but I don't know the best way to begin.

I took up the 'cello a few years ago as an adult learner so I consider myself reasonably musical (although I've not played recently).

Would be great to hear your suggestions!

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Hi there! I am looking for advice on how to learn to play fingerstyle guitar. I have a lovely acoustic guitar and can pick up chords ok, but strumming isn't really challenging me.

I would really love to learn fingerstyle but I don't know the best way to begin.

I took up the 'cello a few years ago as an adult learner so I consider myself reasonably musical (although I've not played recently).

Would be great to hear your suggestions!

Hi, I am learning guitar but I have mastered one fingerstyle groove. When done well it is beautiful.

Private lessons are best. Otherwise try the following.

Always use your thumb for strings 6, 5 & 4 Six being the fat E. Use your first finger for string 3. Second finger string 2 and your third (ring) finger for string 1. The pinky is not needed.

Pluck in turn the following string number's using the correct fingers or thumb for the correct strings as stated above and keep repeating this short sequence so it is continuous.

In G
6-123 6-123 And when you have got into that groove change it to
6-123 4-123

In C
5-123 5-123 And when you have got into that groove change it to
5-123 6-123

In D7
4-123 4-123 And when you have got into that groove change it to
4-123 5-123

Learn the first part of the excercise in all three chords before adding the changes in the second part of the excercise.

Note that the order of which just the fingers are used has so far been shown as 123. It could be 321 or as I do it 231 you have to choose at the outset which of these three finger patterns you will use. The thumb parts remain the same.

Hope I have explained it alright.

Try a search on youtube for some ideas and examples.

it takes practice..

When I started playing guitar, acoustic, about ten years ago, I started with fingrer style because that was the sound I wanted, what attracted me first to the instrument. I am self taught and after I felt I had that down it took me another year to learn how to play with a pick.

You should play at least an hour every day. I progressed a lot just by experimenting. I learned all the basic chords from books. I practiced them daily, and then put them away once in a while just to explore on my own, different sounds I could make.

For finger style, I use the thumb for the three bass strings, and the index and middle fingers for the higher pitched or treble strings. If you are not taking lessons, experiment with holding your hand, thumb offset to the fingers, more forward I guess you might say, and begin plucking them until you find a pattern that feels comfortable and close to the sound you hear in your head.

Also, find a CD of a person, like John Prine for example, whose technique is relatively simple, listen and try to emulate. (Prine was known primarily for his poetics. A lot of his songs can be played with basic chords like G, C, D.)

Good luck. Hope that helps.

Take classical guitar lessons. You'll learn to sight-read and how to use your right hand.

place the 2-3-4 finger , on the 3-2-1 strings and pick them inthis manner.
Thumb, 3-2-1
Thumb , 3-2-1-2-3 etc....