Fingerstyle guitar

cain

Hi

Want to get your guys opinion on this, is this something any good guitarist should be able to do or does it not matter, this might include chicken picking or hybrid picking, i'm absolutely useless in all of this technique, i can only play some parts of romance and tears in heaven.

DonovanB

All guitar is fingerstyle guitar. unless you use your toes like Tony Melendez....

Squonk

http://www.acousticfingerstyle.com/

Generally means not playing with a Plectrum, but there are many variances and definitions.

Francis why dont you try playing without a plectrum for awhile, better still get yourself a nylon guitar! ?

It's strange at first, and it opens up a whole new way of playing and sounds that you cant get with a plectrum.

[deleted]

I'm enjoying trying out some fingerstyle lately. I think it's worthwhile.

The only drawback is that I'm slowly working my pickguard away from my guitar's body by stuffing the plectrum between the two while I'm playing with my fingers (mouth would be good, but I'm singing at the same time)...

DonovanB

Stratisfear wrote I'm enjoying trying out some fingerstyle lately. I think it's worthwhile.

The only drawback is that I'm slowly working my pickguard away from my guitar's body by stuffing the plectrum between the two while I'm playing with my fingers (mouth would be good, but I'm singing at the same time)...

I have learned to play (from watchign John Mayer) with my pick in my hands when I use my fingers. Then when I want it again I just drop it into my fingers.

I think the explanation of "fingerstyle" doesnt cut it for me. According to the general consensus, Metallica then uses fingerstyle in Nothing Else Matters. but thats just my pedantic self...

I prefer using my fingers, especially on a Nylon string. If you shape your nails right it can sound fantastic

AlanRatcliffe

You don't have to be able to do it, but it's a big part of being a well rounded guitarist, IMO. For doing your own stuff, it's not essential but otherwise you are almost certainly going to called on to do it at some point.

I'm the reverse - I can't use a plectrum, and there are still times I regret it.

[deleted]

I learnt to play guitar on acoustic and I play alot of what we call fingerstyle.

I play alot of Tommy Emmanuel stuff so I am fortunate enough to have learnt to play with my fingers only, hybrid picking is the MOST versatile and I love picking like that, Gives you the soft mellow sounds and then still the ability to attack the strings hard, and I have learnt to play my boom-chick-boom-chick figerstyle with a thumb pick ? I am fortunate enough to say I can do most of it (I think) ?

I have only recently crossed over to the DARK side (Electric) ? and actually started practising and playing about 6 months ago.

[deleted]

Stratisfear wrote I'm enjoying trying out some fingerstyle lately. I think it's worthwhile.

The only drawback is that I'm slowly working my pickguard away from my guitar's body by stuffing the plectrum between the two while I'm playing with my fingers (mouth would be good, but I'm singing at the same time)...

It's gotta go in your hand ?

haha ?

Squonk

Brentcgp wrote
I play alot of Tommy Emmanuel stuff so I am fortunate enough to have learnt to play with my fingers only

I take my hat off to you Brent. I tried a while back to do Mombassa, it's not that easy. I Also tried to do his manic version of Classical Gas, he is a monster! ?

[deleted]

Yeah the difficult part in Mombassa is the middle part with the constant base line, it fairly tricky.

Classical gas is easier than it looks ?

Try Eric Claptons version of it, then just throw in the antics every now and then ?

First songs i ever learnt to play from TE was Blue Moon, Drivetime, Those who wait and Since we Met.. Yeah I learnt them all at once, bit of that bit of that... Come to think of it I have not played Drivetime for AGES!! ? Bring on the weekend BABY!!