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Switch from flatpick to fingerstyle HELP!

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(@robbie)
Honorable Member
Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 453
Topic starter  

So I have been playing for about 5 to 6 years mostly flatpicking. Everytime I hear a fingerstyle /fingerpicking player I wish that I could do that. It sounds so complete on its own and a terrific way to accompany singing. I try a while but give up as the coordination required seems to be very hard to come by( I am thinking that repetition and practice will be most of the battle but would like to concentrate practicing in a logical manner) . Does anyone have any recommendations where and how to start, a good lesson source, good utube lessons from an accomplished teacher or whatever? I am thinking that with winter coming on I will have lots of time to dedicate to practice and would make it this winters priority. EB - anybody?
Thanx for any and all help
Robbie


   
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(@gnease)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 5038
 

have you checked David's lessons?

-=tension & release=-


   
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(@elecktrablue)
Famed Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 4338
 

Here are some links to get you started and be sure to check out GN's articles, threads, etc. on Fingerstyle guitar. Like this one https://www.guitarnoise.com/lessons/basic-travis-finger-picking/ and this one https://www.guitarnoise.com/tag/fingerstyle/

Here's a couple of offsite links, too.
http://www.activemusician.com/Basic-Fin ... ng--t13i32

http://www.guitarforbeginners.com/forum ... e-lessons/

And, here's a whole thread about this very subject. http://forums.guitarnoise.com/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=46469&p=421264&hilit=+fingerstyle+lessons#p421264

..· ´¨¨)) -:¦:-
¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
((¸¸.·´ .·´
-:¦:- ((¸¸.·´ -:¦:- Elecktrablue -:¦:-

"Don't wanna ride no shootin' star. Just wanna play on the rhythm guitar." Emmylou Harris, "Rhythm Guitar" from "The Ballad of Sally Rose"


   
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(@unimogbert)
Estimable Member
Joined: 16 years ago
Posts: 174
 

Start with pattern picking. Pick slowly and perfectly. You're trying to build muscle memory so build it right.
Give it the time it needs to develop.When you can't do it perfectly - STOP! Otherwise you'll build in mistakes.

I've come to thinking of the pieces I'm working on as "finger puzzles." The motions and finger positions that feel so awkward and wrong at first become instinctive in a surprisingly short time. But they DO take time. (and then there's another one to replace that one)

Unimogbert
(indeterminate, er, intermediate fingerstyle acoustic)


   
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(@robbie)
Honorable Member
Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 453
Topic starter  

Thanx all! The only thing I'm missing now is how to become an instant success. I was thinking there would be some hard work involved. Forgot about Davids fingerstyle stuff, will start there. And thanx about the go slow and practice precision reminder. That is always one of my stumbling blocks (patience is not one of my virtues) I will follow that advice. I will stay away from EB's finger style tabs in the easy song section for awhile until I get some basics down (although some are very tempting), So off to HOTRS, one of my favourite songs anyway.
Robbie


   
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(@unimogbert)
Estimable Member
Joined: 16 years ago
Posts: 174
 

If you have some fingerstyle tabs to work on that will keep you from getting TOO set in pattern picking.
The goal is to get your fingers working independently to do what's needed when needed. It would be easy to get stuck in a dead end of doing only a pattern or two. (I spent some time in that box myself)

So practice pattern or two for 15 minutes with great focus. Then do something else. Then try the fingerstyle song you want to do with great focus. Playing fingerstyle songs is the point of the exercises after all.

I've taken WEEKS to get a bass pattern down properly doing 15 minutes per night. I've done this enough times that I have complete faith that I WILL get it if I practice correctly.
Some finger puzzles are harder than others :-)

Unimogbert
(indeterminate, er, intermediate fingerstyle acoustic)


   
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(@lue42)
Reputable Member
Joined: 16 years ago
Posts: 356
 

A great song to learn is Here Comes the Sun... my favorite arrangement is this one:

http://jaw.iinet.net.au/stuff/tab.html

It is not terribly difficult, is not really repeating, but has a steady alternating bass line so you can start to generate song thumb independence.

Check out some of JAW's other songs for inspiration... but be warned... most of them are fairly advanced.

My Fingerstyle Guitar Blog:
http://fsguitar.wordpress.com

My Guitars
Ibanez Artwood AWS1000ECE-NT
Schecter S-1 30th Anniversary Edition
Ovation CS257
LaPatrie Etude
Washburn Rover RO10


   
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(@joehempel)
Famed Member
Joined: 16 years ago
Posts: 2415
 

Generally speaking the Hal Leonard books of Fingerstyle Arrangements are good for people who are kind of intermediate in their playing but not too hard on beginners as well.

Since you've been playing for 5-6 years you could pick these up and play well I would imagine.

In Space, no one can hear me sing!


   
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(@kroikey)
Reputable Member
Joined: 16 years ago
Posts: 232
 

Pumping Nylon - Tab version is very good for picking patterns. Theres lots of information on correct technique and also 101 patterns to practice. I'd recommend that to anyone, as my teacher did to me! I've only scraped the surface on what the book has to offer.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pumping-Nylon-Tab-Scott-Tennant/dp/0882848356

I'd also recommend 'Anybody Out There' by Pink Floyd as an excellent starter piece on fingerpicking. Its not too long, has quite a bit of repitition, and has a nice bridge part with slides. You can hear my version here:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/default.cfm?bandID=903342


   
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(@colin-rp)
Eminent Member
Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 37
 

I just found the best way has been to just throw away the pick. There tends to be a tendency to look at arrangements as being either/or which in the case of some advanced players definitely is the case. Just transferring what you already know w/o using the pick means less mental hardship as you already know somewhat as to what is going on. Picking up songs with very basic up and down the string patterns that you know and like for instance I know and like and playThe Animals House of the Rising Sun, The Stone's Love in Vain, and The Small Faces. Because in fingurestyle you are really trying to figure out what works best for the picking/strumming hand at first. There is a good chance the accompaniment will sound good if it is in harmony and the ryhthm is on. Alot of the time when you play the only person aware as whether what you're playing is right or wrong is you.


   
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(@robbie)
Honorable Member
Joined: 19 years ago
Posts: 453
Topic starter  

Thanx for the additional inputs. Next time I am to the city will look at the Hal L lesson book. I also really like the Stones "Love in Vain" and have the chord sequence down OK. That will give me something else besides HouseOTRS to work on. Later
Robbie


   
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(@coolnama)
Prominent Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 590
 

Sorry to hijack this thing but.

What does he mean by Flatpicking ?

I wanna be that guy that you wish you were ! ( i wish I were that guy)

You gotta set your sights high to get high!

Everyone is a teacher when you are looking to learn.

( wise stuff man! )

Its Kirby....


   
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(@elecktrablue)
Famed Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 4338
 

It's just another term for using a pick.

..· ´¨¨)) -:¦:-
¸.·´ .·´¨¨))
((¸¸.·´ .·´
-:¦:- ((¸¸.·´ -:¦:- Elecktrablue -:¦:-

"Don't wanna ride no shootin' star. Just wanna play on the rhythm guitar." Emmylou Harris, "Rhythm Guitar" from "The Ballad of Sally Rose"


   
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(@coolnama)
Prominent Member
Joined: 15 years ago
Posts: 590
 

Oh xD, thanks.

I wanna be that guy that you wish you were ! ( i wish I were that guy)

You gotta set your sights high to get high!

Everyone is a teacher when you are looking to learn.

( wise stuff man! )

Its Kirby....


   
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