Guitar Basics: Fingerpicking for Beginners from Udemy

Hello and welcome to the latest class in my series of guitar courses. This class is a beginners guide to guitar fingerpicking. The course is designed for the complete beginner and builds up to intermediate fingerstyle guitar techniques, applicable to both acoustic and electric guitar players. In this course I take you from the very beginning of fingerstyle and show you how to develop great technique. You’ll learn the basics of fingerpicking through 10 different exercises and play along videos designed to help you go from zero experience to feeling comfortable fingerpicking a variety of patterns. By the end of this course, you will be fingerpicking across all six guitar strings.

The main objective of this course is to set you up with great technique so that you can learn any fingerpicking song. This course is perfect for people that are brand new to fingerpicking, as it lays the foundation you need to master the art of fingerpicking.

Fingerstyle is a valuable technique to develop and it will help you level up your guitar playing. Fingerpicking techniques can be applied to many styles of music and add great variety to your playing. They help improve flexibility, power and freedom in both hands, open the door to a broader range of musical styles, and add to your creative choices when making your own music.

This class begins with easy picking patterns, which will set you up to learn popular songs. As the class progresses, we learn more intermediate fingerpicking techniques, and I encourage you to use these as the starting point for your own fingerpicking pattern, which will be the basis of the class project.

In this course, you'll learn:

How to identify and label which fingers to use when fingerpicking
Some differences between acoustic and electric guitars as it applies to fingerpicking
How to incorporate a metronome into your guitar practice
Several fingerpicking exercises, including movable bass note patterns, Travis picking, pinching, and Travis picking with a pinch
Fingerpicking tips and tricks

There are a handful of chords used in the lessons in this class, and if you are a complete beginner on guitar you might also want to check out one of my guitar basics classes: ‘Acoustic Guitar Basics’ or ‘Electric Guitar Basics’. Those two classes cover the essentials and set the foundation for your guitar playing.

Resources: There is a PDF attached to this class, which contains the tab for each exercise that we work on. Be sure to download the class PDF.

I would love to hear from you and am happy to answer any questions, so please feel free to reach out to me by sending me a message here on Udemy.

I hope that this class inspires you to learn more about how to play guitar and create music. I have other classes available here on Udemy and suggest "Guitar Basics: Learn Barre Chords" and "Guitar Basics: Strumming for Beginners" to continue your learning.

I wish you a ton of fun with your guitar. Jason

What's inside

Learning objectives

How to identify and label which fingers to use when fingerpicking
Differences between acoustic and electric guitars as it applies to fingerpicking
How to incorporate a metronome into your guitar practice

Fingerpicking with movable bass note patterns, travis picking, pinching, and travis picking with a pinch
Many fingerpicking tips and tricks

How to identify and label which fingers to use when fingerpicking
Differences between acoustic and electric guitars as it applies to fingerpicking
How to incorporate a metronome into your guitar practice
Fingerpicking with movable bass note patterns, travis picking, pinching, and travis picking with a pinch
Many fingerpicking tips and tricks

Syllabus

Welcome to the class! In this section we'll introduce the course, project, and cover important information you'll need to be able to successfully fingerpick the guitar.

Welcome to the class!

In this lesson I introduce the project for this course.

In this lesson I cover how fingerpicking is labeled in guitar tabs and sheet music, as well as fingerpicking tips.

In this lesson I cover some differences between acoustic and electric guitars as it applies to fingerpicking.

By the end of this section you’ll be comfortable with basic fingerpicking, fingerpicking while switching chords, how to fingerpick bass note patterns, and how to use a metronome properly.

In this lesson we start to get comfortable with fingerpicking by playing our first two exercises.

In this lesson we play exercises one and two together.

In this lesson I cover how to incorporate a metronome into your guitar practice.

In this lesson we learn how to play a fingerpicking pattern while switching chords.

In this lesson we play exercise three together.

In this lesson we learn how to play fingerpicking bass note patterns.

In this lesson we play exercise four together.

In this lesson we go a bit deeper into fingerpicking bass note patterns.

In this lesson we play exercise five together.

In this lesson we learn how to fingerpick and move our bass notes within the same chord.

In this lesson we play exercise six together.

In this lesson we learn a fingerpicking pattern that focuses on strings 1, 2 and 3.

In this lesson we play exercise seven together.

In this section we learn how to play Travis picking, pinching, and Travis picking with a pinch.

In this lesson we learn Travis picking.

In this lesson we play exercise eight together.

In this lesson we learn the technique of pinching.

In this lesson we play exercise nine together.

In this lesson we learn Travis picking with a pinch.

In this lesson we play exercise ten together.

In this section we wrap up our course.

This video wraps up our course.

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Guitar Basics: Fingerpicking for Beginners with these activities:

Review Basic Guitar Chords

Show steps

Reinforce your knowledge of basic guitar chords to provide a solid foundation for fingerpicking patterns.

Browse courses on Guitar Chords

Show steps

Find a chord chart online or in a guitar book.
Practice transitioning between common chords.
Use a metronome to maintain a steady rhythm.

Hal Leonard Guitar Method - Complete Edition

Show steps

Use this book to supplement the course material and gain a broader understanding of guitar fundamentals.

View Hal Leonard Guitar Method Book 1: Book Only on Amazon

Show steps

Obtain a copy of the Hal Leonard Guitar Method.
Work through the sections on basic chords and fingerpicking.
Practice the exercises and songs in the book.

Metronome Exercises

Show steps

Improve your timing and rhythm by practicing fingerpicking patterns with a metronome.

Show steps

Set a metronome to a slow tempo (e.g., 60 bpm).
Practice the fingerpicking exercises from the course along with the metronome.
Gradually increase the tempo as you become more comfortable.

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Record Yourself Playing

Show steps

Record yourself playing the fingerpicking exercises to identify areas for improvement.

Show steps

Set up a recording device (phone, computer, etc.).
Record yourself playing the exercises from the course.
Listen back to the recording and identify areas where you can improve.

Learn a Simple Fingerpicked Song

Show steps

Apply your fingerpicking skills by learning a simple song that utilizes the techniques taught in the course.

Show steps

Find a simple fingerpicked song with tabs.
Break the song down into smaller sections.
Practice each section slowly and gradually increase the tempo.
Put the sections together and play the entire song.

The Art of Contemporary Travis Picking

Show steps

Expand your knowledge of Travis picking with this advanced guide.

View The Art of Contemporary Travis Picking on Amazon

Show steps

Obtain a copy of The Art of Contemporary Travis Picking.
Work through the exercises and arrangements in the book.
Focus on the techniques that are most challenging for you.

Compose Your Own Fingerpicking Pattern

Show steps

Challenge yourself by creating your own original fingerpicking pattern based on the techniques you've learned.

Show steps

Experiment with different finger combinations and string patterns.
Incorporate elements from the exercises you've learned.
Record your pattern and refine it over time.

Career center

Learners who complete Guitar Basics: Fingerpicking for Beginners will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Guitar Teacher

A guitar teacher shares their musical knowledge and passion with students of all ages and skill levels. This course, which focuses on fingerpicking techniques, will benefit aspiring guitar teachers. The course covers how to identify and label which fingers to use when fingerpicking and several fingerpicking exercises. Aspiring guitar teachers will get the most benefit from the sections on movable bass note patterns, Travis picking, pinching, and Travis picking with a pinch. This course will help guitar teachers be even more effective in their teaching.

See salaries and explore the career path for Guitar Teacher

Composer

Composers create original music for various purposes, such as films, television shows, and video games. As a composer, adding fingerstyle may be useful. This course helps you add fingerstyle to your resume. This class begins with easy picking patterns, which will set you up to learn popular songs. You will learn some differences between acoustic and electric guitars as it applies to fingerpicking, and learn how to incorporate a metronome into your guitar practice.

See salaries and explore the career path for Composer

Songwriter

Songwriters craft original songs, often blending lyrics and melody to create compelling musical narratives. As a songwriter, expanding your guitar skills may be useful. This course helps you add fingerstyle to your resume. This class begins with easy picking patterns, which will set you up to learn popular songs. You will learn some differences between acoustic and electric guitars as it applies to fingerpicking, and learn how to incorporate a metronome into your guitar practice.

See salaries and explore the career path for Songwriter

Session Musician

Session musicians are versatile instrumentalists who are hired to play on recordings or live performances. This course may be useful to session musicians who want to expand their guitar skills. The ability to play fingerstyle guitar is a valuable skill that can open up new opportunities. This course helps build a foundation in fingerpicking, starting with the basics and progressing to intermediate techniques. Aspiring session musicians can also benefit from the course's coverage of various fingerpicking exercises, including movable bass note patterns and Travis picking.

See salaries and explore the career path for Session Musician

Music Therapist

Music therapists use music to address the physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs of individuals. This course may be useful to music therapists who want to incorporate fingerstyle guitar into their practice. The ability to play fingerstyle guitar can be a valuable tool for engaging clients and promoting relaxation. This course covers the basics of fingerpicking, including how to identify and label which fingers to use, as well as several fingerpicking exercises. Music therapists may find the section on fingerpicking tips and tricks particularly helpful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Therapist

Music Director

A music director is responsible for the musical aspects of a performance or production, such as a play or musical. This course may be useful to music directors who want to enhance their understanding of guitar playing. The course covers the basics of fingerpicking, including how to identify and label which fingers to use, as well as several fingerpicking exercises. Music directors may find the section on fingerpicking tips and tricks particularly helpful. Also, playing fingerstyle themselves can help them communicate their vision to guitarists more effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Director

Guitar Technician

Guitar technicians maintain, repair, and customize guitars. This course may be useful to guitar technicians who want to deepen their understanding of guitar playing. The course covers some differences between acoustic and electric guitars as it applies to fingerpicking. Guitar technicians may find the section on fingerpicking tips and tricks particularly helpful. It may help them better assess the playability of guitars and make informed recommendations to their clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Guitar Technician

Music Journalist

Music journalists write about music for various publications, such as magazines, newspapers, and websites. This course may be useful to music journalists who want to improve their understanding of guitar playing. The course covers the basics of fingerpicking, including how to identify and label which fingers to use, as well as several fingerpicking exercises. Music journalists may find the section on fingerpicking tips and tricks particularly helpful, because it may improve their knowledge and understanding of guitar techniques, leading to more informed and insightful articles.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Journalist

Orchestrator

An orchestrator arranges music for an orchestra. This course may be useful to orchestrators who want to expand their knowledge of guitar techniques. The course covers the basics of fingerpicking, including how to identify and label which fingers to use, as well as several fingerpicking exercises. It deepens the understanding of guitar techniques, which enables them to write more effectively for the instrument.

See salaries and explore the career path for Orchestrator

Music Store Sales Associate

A music store sales associate helps customers find the right instruments and equipment. This course may be useful to music store sales associates who want to improve their knowledge of guitar playing. The course covers the basics of fingerpicking, including how to identify and label which fingers to use, as well as several fingerpicking exercises. This helps them guide customers who are interested in learning fingerstyle guitar. This helps them provide better customer service.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Store Sales Associate

Ethnomusicologist

Ethnomusicologists study the music of different cultures. This course may be useful to ethnomusicologists who want to expand their knowledge of guitar techniques. The course covers the basics of fingerpicking, including how to identify and label which fingers to use, as well as several fingerpicking exercises. An ethnomusicologist's knowledge of guitar styles is expanded and their field research is improved.

See salaries and explore the career path for Ethnomusicologist

Talent Agent

Talent agents represent musicians and other performers, helping them find work and negotiate contracts. This course may be useful to talent agents who want to improve their understanding of guitar playing. The course covers the basics of fingerpicking, including how to identify and label which fingers to use, as well as several fingerpicking exercises. The Talent Agent will have a more nuanced understanding of different guitar styles, helping them to make informed decisions when representing guitarists.

See salaries and explore the career path for Talent Agent

Conductor

Conductors lead orchestras and other musical ensembles. Learning fingerstyle guitar may be useful to conductors who want to expand their knowledge of guitar techniques. The course covers the basics of fingerpicking, including how to identify and label which fingers to use, as well as several fingerpicking exercises. A conductor will have a better understanding of guitar techniques when working with guitarists in their ensembles.

See salaries and explore the career path for Conductor

Audio Engineer

Audio engineers record, mix, and master audio for various applications. This course may be useful to audio engineers who want to improve their understanding of guitar playing. The course covers some differences between acoustic and electric guitars as it applies to fingerpicking, as well as several fingerpicking exercises. It may help them make better recording and mixing decisions when working with guitarists who use fingerstyle techniques.

See salaries and explore the career path for Audio Engineer

Music Supervisor

A music supervisor selects and licenses music for films, television shows, and other media. This course may be useful to music supervisors who want to expand their knowledge of guitar playing. The course covers the basics of fingerpicking, including how to identify and label which fingers to use, as well as several fingerpicking exercises. The Music Supervisor will have a more nuanced understanding of different guitar styles, helping them to make informed decisions when selecting music for projects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Music Supervisor

Guitar Basics

Fingerpicking for Beginners

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

Save this course

Activities

Career center

Reading list

Share

Similar courses