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Fingerstyle Guitar Tips

26 Jan 17 - 02:57 AM (#3834922)
Subject: Fingerstyle Guitar Tips
From: GUEST,Sam Harris

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


26 Jan 17 - 03:22 AM (#3834926)
Subject: RE: Fingerstyle Guitar Tips
From: Will Fly

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. :-)


26 Jan 17 - 03:45 AM (#3834928)
Subject: RE: Fingerstyle Guitar Tips
From: Will Fly

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)


26 Jan 17 - 03:54 AM (#3834930)
Subject: RE: Fingerstyle Guitar Tips
From: Backwoodsman

Absolutely what Will said. 👍


26 Jan 17 - 04:40 AM (#3834937)
Subject: RE: Fingerstyle Guitar Tips
From: Doug Chadwick

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


26 Jan 17 - 06:08 AM (#3834949)
Subject: RE: Fingerstyle Guitar Tips
From: GUEST,Alex S

Will is the Man


26 Jan 17 - 12:29 PM (#3835021)
Subject: RE: Fingerstyle Guitar Tips
From: The Sandman

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