Guitar is one of the most versatile instruments on the basis of both tonal quality and design, but it also shows its versatility in playing style also, playing fast guitar solos with a pick (plectrum) or playing soothing chords with bare hands, it has many techniques to create a distinguished sound.
In this blog we will dive into the journey of learning every aspect of finger style guitar techniques, how to learn it, famous guitarists of the genre and best fingerstyle guitar songs to listen and many more so let’s go!
What Is Fingerstyle Guitar?
The name already reveals so much about the technique, Finger style, meaning using your hand’s fingers instead of a plectrum. Sometimes this technique is also referred to as fingerpicking.
Let’s elaborate,
Fingerstyle guitar technique which involves the use of the fingers of the right hand to play melody on higher strings (G,B & E strings) and thumb to play bass notes on lower strings (generally, EAD strings). It sounds like a simple thing but it creates a fuller and richer sound.
Fingerstyle guitar is also helpful in playing complex chord structure and strumming patterns with ease.
In addition to chords and arpeggios, finger style playing music can incorporate artificial harmonics, hammering and pulling notes with the fretting hand, percussion with the guitar body, and many other techniques.
It is a standard technique in classical or nylon string guitar as well as steel guitars.
Let’s look into it more,
The process of playing the various parts of a musical arrangement, which are usually performed by multiple band members using fingers of the right hand independently, is referred to as “finger style.” Deep bass notes, harmonic accompaniment (the chord progression), melody, and percussion can all be played simultaneously using finger style. In short, you can say that this technique is eligible to be called a “one man band”.
Now that you know the fundamentals of fingerstyle guitar, Let’s dive deep into the popular musical genres where fingerstyle guitar playing is used.
Classical Guitar
Again, the name here reveals so much. Classical guitar’s definition in the simplest terms would be, the music pieces played on the classical guitar (or nylon string guitar) in the classical era (roughly between 1750-1820s).
Classical fingerstyle guitar has a very distinct sound and can be easily recognised if payed attention to the details. Classical works, usually performed on nylon-string guitars, demonstrate the precision and dynamic range of fingerstyle guitar techniques.
The main characteristic of the classical-finger-style method is that, similar to the piano, it allows for solo renditions of music pieces and still sound captivating with exaggerated dynamics and texture for the impact.
We are talking about classical guitar here, how can we forget the notations!
Let’s see what individual fingers are referred as,
| Fretting Hand | Plucking Hand | ||
| Finger | Notation | Finger | Notation |
| Thumb | 5 | Thumb | p |
| Index | 1 | Index | i |
| Middle | 2 | Middle | m |
| Ring | 3 | Ring | a |
| Little | 4 | Little | c, x, e or q |
As written above, each finger has been defined as numbers of letters. The fretting hand or the left hand most commonly, is given the numbers AND the plucking hand or the right hand most commonly, is given letters.
Another thing to notice is that most classical guitar pieces are performed in standard tuning (EADGBe) or drop D (DADGBe). This is not a rule and players are free to change it according to their interpretation.
Flamenco Style Guitar
When talking about fingerstyle guitar, it is most likely that people are talking about flamenco style guitar. It is probably the most popular style of guitar when speaking about fingerstyle guitar techniques.
This technique is quite similar to the Classical guitar technique, the main and recognizable difference is while the classical guitar renditions use chords, harmonies and melodies, Flamenco guitar technique focuses on the rhythmic power and approach.
Among the specialized methods are:
Picado: Apoyando-style single-line scale passages with increased articulation and attack.
Rasgueado: Is Spanish for strumming, so this means that it is a technique which utilize the right hand fingers to create rapid strumming and rhythmic patterns.
Electric Guitar Fingerstyle Technique
If you are a regular reader of my blogs, by now you must have realized that I am a big Rock and Roll fan. I know, you must be wondering, rock and roll and finger style guitar?
Well believe it or not some of the best Rock and Blues guitar players use this fantastic technique in their sound and you can say that it sounds heavenly!
The best example of mixing fingerstyle guitar and Rock genre would be Mr. Mark Knopfler of the legendary Dire Straits. That’s right! Some of the biggest hits that came out in the 1980s Rock and roll era were played fingerstyle. Money for Nothing, the guitar riff that changed the rock guitar playing and Sultans of Swing are two of the biggest examples of what can be achieved with fingerstyle guitar technique and Rock n roll combination.
Another great guitar virtuoso, Jeff Beck is also known for using this technique and leaving the audience in awe every time he played.
Incorporating Fingerstyle Guitar For Beginners
Progression is key when learning fingerstyle guitar for beginners. Switching from using plectrum to finger style can be tricky. But just like any other guitar technique or skill it becomes easier with time and with enough practice this can even become a second nature.
First thing that you should pay attention to while learning fingerstyle guitar if you are beginner, is your posture and the way you hold the instrument.
For example, while learning it the classical way you will be required to place the guitar on your left knee rather than the right one and slightly uplift the neck of the guitar upwards. This will give your right hand the perfect placement which will come right over the sound hole and will make it easier for you to play.
Okay, let’s talk about the right hand and the fingers, usually, you use your thumb, index, middle and ring finger to pluck the strings and occasionally your pinky finger as well.
The thumb is used to pluck- E, A and D guitar strings.
Index Finger- G string
Middle Finger- B string
Ring Finger- e String
Now that you have understood the basics, let’s try an fingerstyle guitar exercise to get you started. Use your thumb to pluck the 6th string followed by 3rd, 2nd and 1st strings by your index, middle and ring finger respectively. And then pluck the 2nd and 3rd strings again one after another. Now repeat this pattern.
Congratulations
Not only have you completed your very first fingerstyle guitar exercise, you have also learned the first 3 Bars of the song ‘Nothing Else Matters’ by Metallica.
Pro Tip!
While starting with this technique, it is very important to start slowly and then gradually increase the speed once you’re comfortable with it. Start with playing open strings or just holding a single chord so that you can focus on the right hand.
Pay close attention to all the fingers and thumbs. Slowly start introducing multiple chords and easy melodies. While finger style guitar is a technique started decades ago it still is a very popular technique and quite relevant till date.
Let’s look at some of the best fingerstyle guitar songs that you can learn at your guitar journey.
Ain’t no sunshine- Bill Withers
Hey There Delilah- Plain White T’s
Let Her Go- Passenger
Dust in the Wind- Kansas
Blackbird- The Beatles
Tears in Heaven- Eric Clapton
Shape of my Heart- Sting
Stop this Train- John Mayer
Romeo and Juliet- Dire Straits
FAQs
What is a fingerstyle guitar?
As the name suggests, fingerstyle guitar is a technique where you use fingers instead of a plectrum to play the guitar.
Is fingerpicking and fingerstyle guitar the same technique?
Not necessarily, Fingerstyle technique is vast and finger picking is one of the sub categories of it. Look at it this way, fingerstyle guitar also features techniques where you strum with your right hand fingers using the nails. Whereas finger picking technique, you mostly pluck individual strings to play a piece of music.
How difficult is it to learn fingerstyle guitar?
Fingerstyle guitar is a difficult technique, since it contains a lot of small techniques and it requires a very focused attention to play the bass notes, chords, and melodies at the same time.
But like every other skill, everyone learns at their own speed and to get good at it.
With consistent practice, help from a teacher and tutorial, you can say in a few months you will get comfortable with the technique and how far you want to go and dive deep into it, completely depends on you.
Can a beginner learn Fingerstyle guitar?
Absolutely, like said previously it is just a technique and can be learned by a beginner as well. Do not worry about your level at the instrument. If this technique fascinates you then by all means, give it a try! The key is persistence, focus and patience.
Can I play fingerstyle on an electric guitar?
Yes you can, there have been many influential guitar players who play fingerstyle on an electric guitar. You can do it too!
Even the genres won’t hold you back as you can cover blues, jazz, classical to rock music and more with this style of playing.
Goodluck!
Related Blog : History of Guitar and Why was it invented ?
