How To Play Fingerstyle Guitar !

If you already know how to play the guitar or at least know some of the basic chords and strumming, you can learn to play fingerstyle guitar.There is no need for expensive lessons. What you do need is desire,patience and to watch someone else do it. If you have never played guitar and are considering lessons, you have the options of private lessons with a local teacher which average about $25.00 per 1/2 hour, or lessons on line which are less expensive and allow you to work at your own convenience and pace. ( Not around when I was learning !)

Fingerstyle is basically playing the baseline, rythym, and melody,......all at the same time! What the heck..........?

My introduction to fingerstyle picking came when I was a kid taking music lessons at the local music studio. I had a teacher who taught me the basics and how to read music. Then I heard Chet Atkins play and I was amazed. It sounded like there were at least two or three guitars playing along with him. I asked my guitar teacher if he could show me how to play like that .....he couldn't ! He had now idea how Chet made all those sounds. So,....I decided I learned all I could from him, and what ever else I wanted to learn was up to me. End of lessons!
I bought a Chet Atkins record album ( one of those great big round kind ! ) and played it over and over until I heard the basics of fingerstyle. My first song was
called "Freight Train" It incorporated the basic thumb baseline picking, but was slow enough for me to actually hear the notes he was playing. ( We had no videos to watch back then !) HUH ?...... It was slow at first, but I got better and better as I practiced.

Playing fingerstyle is unique and difficult at first because in order to do this all the fingers on the right hand have to operate independantly and yet all-together. Make Sense ??? Not to mention you still have to play the notes with the left hand. Kinda like playing the piano.....on the guitar!

For example, the thumb which plays the base line has to pick totally alone while the other fingers do their own thing.

Let me tell you, that thumb has a mind of it's own and does not want to do what you want it to.

It has to be trained and that requires practice. Lot's of it!

Remember these videos are for those who already know basic chords and notes and not designed as a beginning guitar lesson.

Since you can best appreciate fingerstyle guitar by watching, most of this lens contains videos of some of the best pickers, some basic instructions as well as some of the new younger players. Make sure you check out the little guy at the end !

Enjoy The Music!