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Video recorded live during a Fingerstyle live lesson. Next live session available here
3 Quick Tips For Learning Fingerstyle Songs
Practice Slowly: When learning these songs, start slowly to ensure accuracy in both the bass and melody parts.
Use a Metronome: A metronome can help you maintain a consistent tempo, crucial for the steady alternation of bass notes.
Thumb Independence: Focus on developing thumb independence by practicing the alternating bass pattern separately from the melody.
3 Exercises for Fingerstyle Technique
Basic Fingerpicking Patterns:
Travis Picking: Thumb alternates between bass strings (usually 6th and 4th strings) while fingers pick melody notes on higher strings.
Example Exercise:
E|-------0-------0-|-------0-------0-| B|---0-------0-----|---0-------0-----| G|-----------------|-----------------| D|-----0-------0---|-----0-------0---| A|-----------------|-----------------| E|-0-------0-------|-0-------0-------|
Arpeggio Patterns:
Exercise: Practice simple arpeggios with common chord shapes (e.g., C, G, Am, F).
Example Exercise: Nothing else matters, Everybody hurts Wherever you will go, Landslide
Chord Melody Integration:
Exercise: Practice playing chord shapes while picking out individual notes within the chord.
Example Exercise: Super simple version of Freight Train, Falling Slowly, Dust in the wind
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