| Finger picking can be quite an interesting alternative to | | | | rather than all at once. |
| strumming for a person learning guitar. With practice, a | | | | Once comfortable using each finger to strike the |
| guitarist can sound almost as though they were playing | | | | correct string, try combining the fingers and then mixing |
| two separate instruments at once, which can create | | | | between one and multiple strings at the same time. By |
| some very compelling and interesting solo | | | | playing around with the picking arrangement, some |
| arrangements. | | | | really interesting parts can be created. |
| Generally, finger style guitar is slower at playing notes | | | | Exceptions to Basic Rules |
| on one string or fast chord progressions in comparison | | | | There are a few things that may crop up which violate |
| to a pick player. There are more specialized | | | | the basic rules as to what finger strikes each string. |
| techniques that allow players to get around these | | | | For one thing, using the same finger twice in a row is |
| limitations. Other than higher level classical and | | | | fairly rare in finger style. Sometimes this will actually be |
| flamenco guitarists, most people will simply not need | | | | the fretting hand hammering on and pulling off the |
| these techniques. | | | | string to create the extra notes, but other times it is |
| However, in comparison to a pick player, it is much | | | | because other fingers are being brought in. |
| easier to skip strings or to play non-adjacent strings at | | | | One common exception is for the index finger to play |
| the same time with finger picking, so there are | | | | the D or even A strings, if the thumb is occupied on a |
| advantages even for a player first beginning to use | | | | lower string. Sometimes that middle and ring finger will |
| this style. | | | | also shift up to high the next lowest string as well |
| Basic Finger style Guitar | | | | when this happens. With practice and experience |
| Unlike using a pick, the strings are played directly using | | | | these situations should be more easily recognizable. |
| the fingers. While there are some variations in much | | | | Tremolo picking is another of these exceptions. |
| higher level playing, on a basic level of playing, it is | | | | This is a technique used to rapidly play the same string |
| pretty straightforward. | | | | multiple times in a row. Rather than trying to use the |
| - The thumb covers the low E, A, and D strings. | | | | same finger over and over again, the guitarist will cycle |
| - The index finger plays the G string. | | | | through the index, middle, and ring fingers continuously |
| - The middle finger plays the B string. The ring finger | | | | through the passage. |
| plays the high e string. | | | | Quite often the thumb will also be playing notes during |
| - The pinky finger is not used, and usually just follows | | | | these passages on other strings as well. This can be a |
| the ring finger to keep it out of the way. | | | | more difficult technique to learn, but once mastered, it |
| Simply pick a chord and cycle through the fingers, see | | | | opens many possibilities that would otherwise not been |
| how much more interesting the basic chords sound | | | | available. |
| simply by playing through the strings one at a time | | | | |