FINGER PICKIN' ... PATTERNS & STYLES

Finger picking provides a refreshing change from strumming with a flat-pick. It can create a lilting, graceful backdrop ... or a sharp, percussive, rhythmic counterpart ... and almost anything in between. It all depends on the pattern and the style or attack you give it.

It's important that you are proficient at "Playing In Time" before learning any finger picking patterns ... or ... you should learn these patterns with a drummer, bassist, or drum machine. The trick is to play at a true and consistent tempo ... repeating the pattern over and over -- mechanically ... relentlessly ... evenly and steadily -- while you change chords.

The patterns I use most, can be executed using only the thumb and index finger, or they may be performed with a flatpick for a more aggressive attack. There are many styles of finger picking, some as complicated as using all 5 fingers of the right hand ... some that use painstakingly cared-for fingernails ... and some that apply steel, plastic, or synthetic finger picks that slip over the ends of your fingers. If you're serious about this, I suggest you dig around Guitar Notes for a more elaborate tutorial. I'm not into it that heavily ... I just like applying arpeggio rhythms once in a while, and I've never found a pattern I wanted to play that I couldn't pull off using just two fingers ... or, when necessary, a flat-pick.

The process is a simple one to describe. As you know by now, the strings are numbered: "6 . 5 . 4 . 3 . 2 . 1" -- "6" representing the heaviest string, and "1" representing the thinnest. The picking patterns will be described using the numbers that relate to the strings being played ... and in their proper sequence. You'll get the idea as soon as you try my first, and simplest, pattern.

Gotcher guitar ready? Cool. Check this one out:

THE 4 . 2 . 3 . 1 PATTERN

This is one of the simplest patterns I know. If you're using your thumb ("T") and index finger ("F"), the attack is T-F-T-F ... if you use a flat-pick, the attack is down-up-down-up. You play the 4th string (T/down) ... then the 2nd string (F/up) ... then the 3rd string (T/down) ... then the 1st string (F/up) ... plucking downward with your thumb, and pulling upward with your index finger.

You can hear me go into this pattern (using my Open G Tuning) during the verses, on my interpretation of Bob Dylan's "It's Alright Ma, I'm Only Bleeding:" ... (if you don't have a RealAudio G2 Player, you can get one [HERE] for free) ... The guitar opens up with a blues riff ... then, when I begin singing the verse, I flatpick the 4.2.3.1 pattern ... and, back into the blues riff when the verse ends. It works nicely! The arpeggio provides a strong contrast from the blues riff, and a suitable, memorable space for the verses to sit in. With faster tempos, like this one, this pattern is bright and aggressive ... use it with a slower tempo, and it's as graceful and full of the sky as any.

PER 4/4 MEASURE: 4 . 2 . 3 . 1 . 4 . 2 . 3 . 1


THE 5 . 4 . 3 . 2 - 1 . 2 . 3 . 4 PATTERN

This is one of my favorite patterns. If you're using your thumb ("T") and index finger ("F"), the attack is T-T-T-T -- F-F-F-F ... pretty simple. If you use a flat-pick (I usually don't with this one), the attack is down-down-down-down -- up-up-up-up. You play the 5th, 4th, 3rd, and 2nd strings (T/down) ... then the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th strings (F/up). I think it's especially wonderful when you're playing 6th-chords ... or 9ths ... or minor-7ths ... and it has a mesmerizing effect - like a ticking clock, it holds your subconscious attention. It's a very soothing pattern.

PER 4/4 MEASURE: 5 . 4 . 3 . 2 . 1 . 2 . 3 . 4  

The right hand picking fingers in the illustration below are indicated by t=thumb; i=index finger; m=middle finger. Remember to keep the tip of your pinky anchored on the pick guard (or that area of the guitar where the pick guard would be) if that is most comfortable for you.
The line above the tab will give you some indication of the rhythm (R):
q=quarter note (1 beat); e=eight note (half beat):

R|-q---e--q--e---q-------q---e--q--e---q---|



1|-0(m)------0(m)------|-0(m)------0(m)----|

2|--------0(i)---------|--------0(i)-------|

3|-----0(t)------0(t)--|-----0(t)------0(t)|

4|---------------------|-------------------|

5|---------------------|-------------------|

6|-0(t)----------------|-0(t)--------------|

Listen to the midi file to get the rhythm.  Click here.
If you're still having trouble with the rhythm, think of it like this: One full measure (the area between the vertical lines) consists of four beats, or eight half beats. A measure can be counted like this:
one and two and three and four and
Each number plus the and equals a full beat (quarter note). Each number or the and equals a half beat (eighth note). Any note will fall anywhere on these numbers or the word and between them. Assuming you are counting evenly, the bold face words would be where the notes in the above diagram fall:
one and two and three and four and
Think Puff the Magic Dragon! Start slow, and then try to do it a little bit faster each time. Be patient. It really takes a lot of practice! And whatever you do, don't give up! Believe me, you'll get it!
If you're still wondering about how to time your picking, this is how it is most often played:
The first notes in each measure are quarter notes (one beat). The second is an eighth (half beat). The third is a quarter note, the fourth is an eighth note, and the last is a quarter. If you were clapping and counting, it would look like this, where X is the clap (or the notes):

X.......X...X.........X...X.......

one and two and three and four and

TRY A SONG
There are thousands of songs that use the picking pattern shown above. Try the following, which would make a great accompaniment to Puff the Magic Dragon, and thousands of other songs that use the same chord structure. Each measure uses one complete measure of the picking pattern noted above. Each slash (/) below equals one beat. With the chord, each measure equals four beats. If you are unfamiliar with the chords, here they are. Your guitar should be in standard tuning for this one. (eadgbe). I'll show you how to do it in an alternate tuning at a later date. Maybe you can figure it out and we can compare ideas!
G Major

1|-3----------|

2|-0----------|

3|-0----------|

4|-0----------|

5|-2----------|

6|-3----------|

B Minor (barre this one on the second fret).

1|-2----------|

2|-3----------|

3|-4----------|

4|-4----------|

5|-2----------|

6|-x----------|

Where X means (mute) don't play the string.
C Major (X means mute).

1|-0----------|

2|-1----------|

3|-0----------|

4|-2----------|

5|-3----------|

6|-X----------|

E Minor

1|-0----------|

2|-0----------|

3|-0----------|

4|-2----------|

5|-2----------|

6|-0----------|

A Seventh
1|-0----------|
2|-2----------|
3|-0----------|
4|-2----------|
5|-0----------|
6|-X----------|
D Major

1|-2----------|

2|-3----------|

3|-2----------|

4|-0----------|

5|-X----------|

6|-X----------|

And here's the chord structure. Four beats to each measure, or one measure (between the vertical lines) of the pattern illustrated above.
|G///|Bm///|C///|G///|C///|G/Em/|A7///|D///|G///|Bm///|C///|G///|C///|G/Em/|A7/D7/|G///|
IMPORTANT NOTE: In the finger picking pattern above, the indication for the sixth string represents the root tone of whatever chord you are playing (G for a G chord, C for a C chord, etc.) But you will notice in some of the chords illustrated above (the D Major, A Seventh, C Major, and B Minor, for example,) the root tone does not occur on the sixth string. In the case of the D Major, it occurs on the fourth string; with the A Seventh, it's on the fifth string; with the C Major it's on the fifth string; and with the B Minor it's on the fifth string. So, when using the picking pattern above, let the chord determine the string your right-hand thumb will play. For example, the basic pattern for a D Major chord would be as follows:

R|-q---e--q--e---q-------q---e--q--e---q---|



1|-0(m)------0(m)------|-0(m)------0(m)----|

2|--------0(i)---------|--------0(i)-------|

3|-----0(t)------0(t)--|-----0(t)------0(t)|

4|-0(t)----------------|-0(t)--------------|

5|---------------------|-------------------|

6|---------------------|-------------------|

Listen to the Midi by clicking here.  To see tab, click here.
Do you get the idea? I'm pretty sure you do! But if you don't, e-mail me and ask. I'll be happy to answer your questions!

MORE FINGER PICKING PATTERNS

Here's another finger picking pattern that I think you'll like. This one is adaptable to many songs. Each note gets an equal amount of time. Try it slow, and then gradually bring it up to speed. The following tab is on a D major, chord, but try this on any chord. Just make sure that your first note and your fifth note are the root of the chord your are playing. For example, here they are D, because this is a D major chord. If you were playing a G major chord, they would be G. If your were playing a C major chord, they would be C, etc.

1|--------2(M)--------------------2(M)------------------|

2|--------------------3(I)--------------------3(I)------|

3|--------------2(T)--------------------2(T)------------|

4|--0(T)--------------------0(T)------------------------|

5|------------------------------------------------------|

6|------------------------------------------------------|

Here's the same pattern in C major, just so you see what I mean:

1|--------0(M)--------------------0(M)--------------|

2|--------------------1(I)--------------------1(I)--|

3|--------------0(T)--------------------0(T)--------|

4|--------------------------------------------------|

5|--3(T)--------------------3(T)--------------------|

6|--------------------------------------------------|

FINGER PICKS OR NAILS

Lot's of people use finger picks and love them. Me, I prefer to use my fingers and nails. The acoustic guitar is such a natural instrument that I feel the natural sound of your flesh and nail compliments it perfectly. Grow your nails until they're a bit above the pads of your fingers. Some people like to file their nails so they're angled slightly up to the right. Others just keep them shaped to a nice arc. In any case, use both the fleshy part of your finger and the nail to achieve a beautiful and expressive sound. Of course, some people can't grow their nails. They break easily or bend too easily because they are too soft. Then, by all means, use finger picks. Even if you're nails are prone to breaking, if you can grow them just a little, try the Alaska picks. They act pretty much like natural nails, and can be shaped and filed. And remember, there are guitarists who use nothing but the flesh of their finger pads to play and still sound great. Finger pads? Finger pads plus nails? Finger picks? It's up to you. Do whatever works for you. Remember, guitar playing isn't about rules, it's about fun and making beautiful music. Do whatever it takes to make it work for you. It's your music!

FUN

I hope you've had fun with this. I love finger picking! More picking patterns to come soon! And more tunings. If you're liking this, let me know by e-mailing me. I'd love to hear from you! And happy finger picking!