Fingerstyle Guitar Tips

Subject: Fingerstyle Guitar Tips
From: GUEST,Sam Harris
Date: 26 Jan 17 - 02:57 AM

I've been playing fingerstyle guitar for about 4 years now (A bunch of stuff like Nic Jones' very first album)

I'm self taught and so I'm basically just looking for some general tips to tighten my playing.

(For example, I've heard that keeping a consistent bassline is key, and that helped alot)

Anyway, any basic tricks, tidbits, habits, etc. to help me out would be appreciated.

Cheers folks

Subject: RE: Fingerstyle Guitar Tips
From: Will Fly
Date: 26 Jan 17 - 03:22 AM

If you're playing Nic Jones stuff, do you need help?

One tip I give to players I teach is: try not to rest your little finger on the face of the guitar, as it restricts finger and hand movement.

For some reason, Merle Travis, Woody Mann and several others pay no attention to this. :-)

Subject: RE: Fingerstyle Guitar Tips
From: Will Fly
Date: 26 Jan 17 - 03:45 AM

Just an immodest afterthought. You can see the freedom of movement of the picking hand in my video "Love Letters (Straight From Your Heart)" - link below - going from mellow to thinner tone as required.

No little finger anchored to the guitar face. Anyway, just my 2c-worth...


Will Fly: Love Letters (Straight From Your Heart)

Subject: RE: Fingerstyle Guitar Tips
From: Backwoodsman
Date: 26 Jan 17 - 03:54 AM

Absolutely what Will said. 👍

Subject: RE: Fingerstyle Guitar Tips
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 26 Jan 17 - 04:40 AM

When you have looked at Will's link above, go on to look at his instructional and other videos. There's a wealth of tips, good ideas and inspiration to be found there, even for the accomplished player.

DC

Subject: RE: Fingerstyle Guitar Tips
From: GUEST,Alex S
Date: 26 Jan 17 - 06:08 AM

Will is the Man

Subject: RE: Fingerstyle Guitar Tips
From: The Sandman
Date: 26 Jan 17 - 12:29 PM

I would agree with Will, by resting your finger on the guitar you canot move your hand which means you cannot alter your tone, my next suggestion would be not to abandon open tunings but to start to explore melody picking in standard, standard tuning is so flexible key wise, look at piedmont guitar style and the complete opposite carter family thumb melody, particularly in c and g