GuitarManac

Intermediate

Fingerpicking

Put the pick down and play the chords you know with your thumb and fingers.

12 lessons in 4 chapters

Start the course

What you'll learn

Fingerpicking in four and in three.

  • Thumb on the root
  • p i m a and p i m i
  • Picking through changes
  • Three beats in a bar
  • The pinch

What's inside

Chapter 2 · Patterns through changes

  1. 4A rolling patternA pattern that rocks back and forth under almost any song.
  2. 5Keep it going through changesThe pattern keeps rolling while the chords change.
  3. 6Knockin' on Heaven's Door, pickedKnockin' on Heaven's Door again, picked, softer and slower.

Chapter 3 · Three beats a bar

  1. 7Three beats in a barA waltz pattern that climbs the strings and comes back down.
  2. 8A waltz in A minorThe same waltz in A minor, and it turns dark.
  3. 9Amazing GraceAmazing Grace, picked in three, the way it's sung.

Chapter 4 · The pinch

  1. 10The pinchThumb and ring finger at once: a melody note on top of the bass.
  2. 11The pinch in threeThe pinch in a waltz, through the chords of a famous song.
  3. 12House of the Rising SunHouse of the Rising Sun, fingerpicked from start to finish.

Songs you'll play

  • Knockin' on Heaven's DoorBob Dylan · Lesson 6
  • Amazing GraceTraditional · Lesson 9
  • House of the Rising SunThe Animals · Lesson 12

Good next courses

Questions

How long is Fingerpicking?

12 lessons in 4 chapters, about 52 min in all. Each lesson takes 4 to 5 minutes, so one a day fits around anything.

What do I need before I start?

The open chords and the small F. A guitar in standard tuning; the tuner in the app gets you there.

Is Fingerpicking free?

You can try the start of it for free, no account needed. The lessons marked with the pick come with Pro, which opens every course.

Which songs will I play?

Knockin' on Heaven's Door by Bob Dylan, Amazing Grace by Traditional, House of the Rising Sun by The Animals.

What should I learn after this?

Good next courses are Your first songs, Strumming and rhythm, Open chords and the easy F.