Finger Picking Introduction

This is going be all about your right hand and how to use it. 

“I already know how to use my right hand, remember this?” 

Yes, but this is going to be an extension of that.

There are some seriously awesome artists such as these:

Did you see how they play? With all their fingers. 

There are two ways to play with your fingers: Rest Stroke and Free Stroke. 

Start with your index finger.

Push down towards the sound hole (don’t pluck yet) on the 1st string. 

Now let your index finger slip off the string towards your face and let it rest on the upper string. 

Do that again four times on each string with your index finger. 

Do it all again with your middle finger. Then do it again with your ring finger. 

Now do it in pairs. Pluck once with your index finger then with your middle finger. Both on the same string. Pluck each string four times (carefully alternate between your index and middle finger). 

Try it with the other finger combos as well (index-ring and middle-ring). 

Congratulations you can play rest stroke. 

---

Free stroke is basically the same thing except you don’t “rest” on the upper string. You just pluck the string. 

The main thing to look out for on free stroke is that your finger plucks into your palm. Every pluck should be aimed at going back into your palm. 

Pluck from the knuckles. That’s where your fingers move from. Keep your thumb out of the way. 

Speaking of the thumb. If you’re playing rest stroke, keeping your thumb on the 6th string might keep your hand steady. If you’re playing free stroke, aim for putting your hand in the “x-position” seen below. 

Pluck with thumb in this position four times while keeping your fingers still. We’ll learn how to play with all your fingers in the next post.