FingerpickingFingerpicking is a skill that can take a while to learn, but sounds great on both the acoustic and electric guitars. There are quite a few different ways of guitar picking, and various players have specialized in different techniques. Personally I like using a form of hybrid picking in which I hold the plectrum with my thumb and index fingers, and then use my remaining three fingers for actually plucking the strings.

In the guitar lessons below you’ll find videos teaching that style, as well as other styles. Sometimes I use only my fingers, and sometimes I like picking with just the plectrum, often called flatpicking.

Regardless of which fingerpicking technique you choose to learn, many of the fingerpicking patterns remain the same.

One of the important things to keep in my when you’re fingerpicking is where the root note of your chord is. The root note is an essential part of fingerpicking because it sets the stage for the rest of the notes, basically it defines the chord. Root notes change strings depending on what chord you’re using, so staying on top of this is something to keep an eye on.

Fingerpicking Lessons