Lesson: Fingerpicking

Let's talk about fingerpicking. In this lesson we will cover the basic fingerpicking styles employed by many great guitarists such as Merle Travis, John Lennon, Jeff Tweedy, and Donovan. Classical guitarist's have been plucking their guitar strings with the fingers on their right hand for centuries. That style is taught and perfected in universities and concert halls around the world. Modern fingerpicking or thumb picking, was most likely invented by blues musicians, imitating "ragtime" piano in the late 1800's, and adopted by country and folk musicians shortly thereafter. It's more rhythmically based and syncopated. It's also not confined to a particular method and many great fingerpickers use a free-form approach.