Booga
Hey everyone,
I've been playing acoustic guitar for a little while and am really keen to learn how to play fingerstyle. Any pointers on where to start? websites, books, some good songs to learn, anything really to help me start my journey. ???
Thanks
Bob-Dubery
Can you count the beats in a bar? I ask because with most non-classical finger techniques the thumb becomes the time keeper, and if you don't understand the concept of time and bars then things get difficult.
I had a get together at my house last year. As part of that I did a little introductory session on Travis picking. I'd done some preparation for this, but what caught me out was that one of the participants - who actually has been playing for years - had never grasped that there is a regular count in a song. I started talking about the "two" and the "four" and he looked at me like I was from Mars. Completely self-taught player, he had no idea about bars and beats in a bar. It explains why he struggled to keep a good beat sometimes. When I tried to deal with notes falling on the off beats he was really lost.
I don't look down my nose at him (he can play things that I can't) and I wouldn't look down my nose at somebody who had never had this explained to them, but it's essential for fingerstyle playing.
It can feel quite odd at first. Take it slow - by which I mean don't worry about right hand speed at first. Worry about maintaining good timing and the speed will come naturally with practice.
What sort of styles or players attract you?
Keira-WitherKay
as Bob asked what style / genre of fingerstyle do you want to learn ...... jazz? country? nu folk, flamenco , classical ect ect cos they all borrow from the same technique but the approach is different to them all,
and of course do you want to just play fingerstyle which can be in a band or ensemble or do you want to do "solo ' guitar where you play bass lines/chords and melody simultaneously without accompliment or backtracks ect .....which is how i earn a living ? (as a solo fingerstyle jazz/world music guitarist)
more details and i'm sure we can help you find a start
PeteM
I learnt fingerstyle playing by doing classical arpeggio exercises. You'll find these in a book by Matteo Carcassi... his teaching Method named Opus 59. I don't know if it is available anymore. If you're going to study it on your own it will require you to start reading music. I teach these exercise to my students whether they want to learn to read 'dots' or not.
Booga
Thanks for the replies. To answer your questions:
1. I do understand the concepts of timing, beats etc I have not mastered it yet but am getting there.
2. I suppose the artists that I can think of at the moment would be John Mayer (love his acoustic stuff especially), Jack Johnson plays a bit, Dave Matthews etc
3. I would really like to learn it to play with a band but scene as I play alone mostly the solo stuff would also be good.
4. I am particularly interested in the whole jazzy or blues sort of genre of music.
What other artists would you recommend listening to. ( Sorry my artist knowledge is rather limited)
Keira-WitherKay
here's some players who do the solo guitar thing in a few styles and every one of them has tons of songs on you tube........this is just a taster so download as much asyou can and just watch what they do ..and tons to be learnt by "stealing with your eye's " ? enjoy
[deleted]
http://www.acguitar.com/
The best guitar magazine on earth... Great lessons all the time, have dedicated books if you would like to buy on fingerstyle, and styles within those styles etc etc
If you serious do it... wonderful read and top lessons.
More great fingerstyle clips
Bob-Dubery
Booga wrote:
2. I suppose the artists that I can think of at the moment would be John Mayer (love his acoustic stuff especially), Jack Johnson plays a bit, Dave Matthews etc
Well Rome wasn't built in a day. As with all things learn the rudiments first and then build on those. Mayer, Matthews and Co did not pop out of the womb playing at that level, they had to start from scratch as well.
Bob-Dubery
PS Booga. Keep an eye open for Guy Buttery who will be up in your neck of the woods soon. Very good acoustic finger player from Durban. Well worth seeing, especially if you want to get an idea of the sort of things you can pull off playing solo.
PeteM
Watching and listening to those fantastic finger guitar players can be quite intimidating, particularly to a noob. Bob is absolutely right in saying that you should learn the rudiments and build from there.
Warren
If you're into John Mayer's stuff, check out this great little tutorial video by a mere mortal trying to emulate the greats. Something to get you started while you recover from the Tommy Emmanuel videos ?
And here's another cool vid on spicing up some simple Blues stuff on the acoustic!
Booga
Thanks for all the advice and tips, much appreciated. Well I will check out some of the stuff you all suggested and get started with the basics.
rikus
If you want to learn some old school bluesy fingerstyle check out this guy's youtube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/deltabluestips
He has loads of video and quite a few are aimed at beginners. Just search through the titles a bit, they're not too difficult to spot.
KarateBob
If you're into blues....
I've been dabbling in some Skip James lately and it's pretty cool...
Another Skip james song... This guy does it nicely
Booga
Thanks Bob. It looks like a really comprehensive lesson. I cant wait to get started with this stuff, have to move house first though.
Why didn't I know about this forum earlier! It's awesome.
Norman86
Jip, there are REALLY knowledgeable people on the forum!!
And a lot of them can shred with the best of them! I have only heard a few people play and wow... ?
