One of the reasons so many guitarists play with a pick is that it makes strumming simple: swing the arm, strike the strings. When we think of playing with the fingers, we generally think of plucking rather than strumming, and it’s true that there are a lot more variables involved in strumming with the bare […]
Fundamentals of fingerstyle: “Renaissance Faire”, a study in plucked chords
“Renaissance Faire” is a study in plucked chords, using the thumb and two fingers to sound three notes together. The goal is to get all three notes to sound evenly and clearly. Don’t overthink your hand position, just work slowly and concentrate on keeping the hand relaxed: don’t overextend the wrist, use small motions, and […]
Fundamentals of fingerstyle: hand position and movement
Playing with your fingers instead of a flatpick opens up an entirely new set of sounds, no matter what style you play. Whether you pluck, strike, strum, snap, or slap the strings, your sonic possibilities increase exponentially – and there’s virtually nothing you can do with a pick that you can’t do with your fingers. Some of […]
Effective practicing: chord transitions
Do you know how to practice? We all want to improve our skills, but it can be hard to know where to start or how to go about it. A good percentage of people who come to my studio have played for years but feel like they stopped improving a long time ago, and need […]
Flatpicking fiddle tunes: “The Red-Haired Boy”
“The Red-Haired Boy” is a popular fiddle tune, a traditional melody most likely of Irish origin. The term “fiddle tune” is a general description for instrumental folk tunes from the British Isles and elsewhere that have been passed down from player to player for generations. This was once music for dancing, and many of the […]
Light As A Finger: fret hand control and balance.
A lot of guitar students have some confusion about the proper “shape” of the hand. Hold your fretting hand out in front of you, palm up, and let the hand relax. Your fingers are likely to curl, pointing back up the arm, and your wrist will be basically straight. Now bend the hand upward at […]
