3 COMMON BEGINNER MISTAKES First, players concentrate so hard on the right strings that everything gets tense. Relax and let your fingers gently move through the strings.
Diagram 3
Second, they try to do too much too soon. Lock in simple chords and arpeggios first. Quality over quantity.
Third, they overthink it. You learned to walk without thinking“ right foot, left foot.” Fingerpicking will become intuitive too, so give yourself breaks.
Diagram 4
VARIATION: CASCADING UP AND DOWN Now let’ s play the same notes going up and down the strings in 3 / 4 time. You might say I’ m going DOWN the strings and coming UP, but listen: I’ m going UP in pitch, then back down. Same fingers, same notes, just a different arrangement.( Diagram 3)
“ SIDE STICK” TECHNIQUE This sounds a lot like a drummer hitting the side of the snare on beats 2 and 4.( Friends don’ t let friends clap on beats 1 and 3!) We emulate that sharp sound by slapping the picking-hand thumb against the bass strings. Multiple styles can incorporate this.
The accompanying video shows a clear demonstration of this.
Pretty sweet, right? There are so many possibilities with variations, finger combinations, chord voicings, and dynamics, but this is a great start!
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David Harsh David Harsh is a nationally touring worship leader, songwriter and performing artist. He is passionate about equipping guitarists to discover their potential. Learn more and join now at www. GuitarSuccess4U. com
I’ ll play the same four chords, but faster in 16th notes, with the side stick sound on 2 and 4. Look for the“ X” in the notation and tablature to show the percussion hit.( Diagram 4)
The 4-Step Process for Fingerpicking Chords Here is my recommended process in 4 simple steps. Step 1: Choose a progression you already know. Step 2: Find each chord’ s bass note and lock it in with the thumb. Step 3: Keep the index, middle, and ring fingers on the top three strings. Step 4: Choose one picking pattern.
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