As you saw previously, fingerstyle really just consists of plucking the strings, usually individually and in a particular order.
This produces a more folk-y, arpeggiated sound than strumming.
Today we’ll look at some of the (simplest) fingerstyle patterns I skipped in the last fingerstyle post. ‘Pattern’ just refers to the order and timing in which the strings (notes) are played.
One more guideline before we start: the little finger can be used to stabilise your picking hand against the guitar, if you’re able to reach. This is supposed to help keep the right fingers poised over the right strings, so you don’t drift off course. I find that this makes my hand a little stiff, and makes plucking the strings feel less natural, so I just let my hand float. Since your right arm is already stabilised against the guitar, your hand will stop drifting with a little practise. It’s really up to you; choose whatever feels right. Ok, here we go:
(1) Simplest fingerstyle pattern (open strings)
play low E with your thumb
play G with your index finger
play B with your middle finger
play high E with your ring finger
play B (middle finger) again
play G (index finger) again
Repeat this pattern until you are comfortable and can do it smoothly, without looking.
(2) Simplest fingerstyle pattern (chords)
Make your favourite chord shape with your fretting hand, and use the simple fingerstyle pattern to play the notes of the chord, starting on the lowest note of the chord.
But! Remember that in some chords the low E string isn’t played, in which case the lowest note of the chord will be played on the A string. Similarly, if the A string isn’t played, the lowest note of the chord will be played on the D string. If you’re unsure, look back at the chord diagrams (AED, AmCGEm, DmFB7, etc.).
Once you’ve got that down, choose a three-chord progression that you like, and play through it, fingerstyle.
(3) Alternating-bassline fingerstyle pattern
This is the next one I learned, where you play the lowest-pitched two notes of the chord with your thumb, and the next two notes of the chord with your index and middle finger. The pattern goes like this:
lowest note of chord – thumb
third note of chord – index finger
second note of chord – thumb
fourth note of chord – middle finger
So it feels kind of like a rocking chair: thumb down, index finger up, thumb down, middle finger up. A tip from the awesome folks at Original Fuzz: if you make sure to keep that alternating bassline (thumb) steady, everything else will fall into place. You can even practise just playing the alternating first and second notes of the chord with your thumb, and then add in the index and middle fingers on the beats in-between.
Once you get this down, try it with your three-chord progression.
(4) Fingerstyle pattern for 4/4 time
Although it looks different, this is actually very similar to the previous style: there’s still an alternating bassline; just with more notes in-between. You’re also introduced here to plucking two strings at the same time, which sounds kind of bluegrass-y.
The playing pattern goes:
lowest note of chord – thumb
third note of chord – index finger
simultaneous fourth and fifth notes of chord – middle and ring fingers
third note of chord – index finger
second note of chord – thumb
third (index) again
simultaneous fourth and fifth (middle and ring) again
third (index) again
repeat
Try it with your three-chord progression.
(5) Fingerstyle pattern for 3/4 time
Again, very similar to the previous playing pattern:
lowest note of chord – thumb
third note of chord – index finger
fourth and fifth notes of chord – middle and ring fingers
third (index) again
fourth and fifth (middle and ring) again
third (index) again
repeat
Try it with your three-chord progression.
That’s it for today. These basic fingerstyle patterns should set you up for most of the songs you want to play, although I’m sure there will be future posts covering more complex patterns as well.
What are your favourite fingerstyle patterns? I’d love to hear. Tweet at me (@acnotesblog), find me on Facebook, or leave a comment below.
For now, happy playing!
P.S. Song of the day: What We Wanted by Dear Reader
(if the embedded player doesn’t render properly in your browser, just open the link in a new window)
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