Finger Pickin' Good!

Ha! The post title is a terrible pun, I know--but finger picking really is a great way to become a better guitarist, and a better "chord maker" on the guitar. Strumming with a pick is a wonderful thing--don't get me wrong!--but being able to finger pick adds a whole new dynamic method to your arsenal of guitar tricks!

I've had a previous post or two on finger picking, but I really want to just show you a very simple pattern today that will help you make better, cleaner chords. Because when you finger pick, there really is no way to hide buzzing strings or other fretting mistakes.

This "triplet pattern" in 4/4 time is one that is used and can be used in many songs.

Essentially, you will be using the thumb, index finger,middle finger, and ring finger on your "picking" hand to pluck the notes in a forward--backward sequence. Sometimes, you will see online that these fingers are referred to as PIMA, which is an abbreviation of their Spanish names ( thumb-Pulgar; index-Indice; middle-Medio; ring-Anular).


One important thing to remember about finger picking is that, generally speaking, you will always want to try to play the root note of the chord on one of the bottom three strings strings with your thumb.

In the video below, I will show you this pattern and demonstrate why it will make you a better guitarist in the long run.

So give it a shot, and Happy (Finger) Pickin'!

Link to Video on Finger Picking Exercise

Tips for Chord Transitions

So many of my students have been working hard on playing their guitar chords cleanly and quickly--and I can sympathize with them.  It's a hard and painstaking process--but if you put the time and effort into it, you will get there.  I promise!

Just a few quick tips as you work on the transitions:

1. Keep your fingers as close to the fret board as possible.  Let your fingers "hover" over the fret board, just above your strings. When that pinkie and third finger start flying out in space, it takes longer for them to come back down to a new chord.

2. Build your chords from the bottom string up.  For some reason a lot of students get into the habit of building chords from the highest string down--for example, they will finger a C major chord starting with the 2nd string, then 4th, then 5th.  The problem with that method is your pick is going to hit the bottom strings first, so get those notes placed first!  Find the root of the chord on the bottom three strings, and aim there first!  That extra split second will give you a chance to get the last top bits of the chord in place.  I know it seems like a negligible amount of time, but you’ll be surprised how it can improve your guitar playing.

3. When moving from one chord to the next, move the finger that has the farthest to go first.  For instance, in moving from G major to C major in the open position, your first finger has to move all the way from the 5th string to the second.  Lead with that finger and you’ll find that your other fingers naturally pull along behind to end up close to their intended frets as well.

4.  Stay relaxed and let the natural movement of your hands help you get to the chord.  Believe it or not, the guitar is actually designed very well to accommodate the natural movement of the human hand.  When you use tip #3 and lead with the farthest finger, your other fingers will follow along behind it naturally and you can get them to settle in the right place.  If you tighten up they won’t move as naturally, so stay loose.

5. Keep your right hand moving.  The way your brain works has a lot to do with how your hands react.  As a beginner, your brain is giving you permission to stop in between chords and rationalizes it as “we’ll get it eventually.”  It’s normal and happens on a subconscious level.  You can easily change that by setting up a dissonance in your brain--in other words, presenting your brain with a problem it needs to fix.  Here’s the way it works:  You brain loves when your hands are moving together.  So if you force your right hand to keep strumming, no matter what happens in your left, your brain will want to solve that dissonance by making your left hand move faster to keep up with your right.  Exactly what we’re looking for.

Good luck--and Happy Pickin'!!  Enjoy the video below:

Video--Tips on Changing Guitar Chords

Basic Fingerpicking--3 Fingers

Greetings pickers!  Today, I simply want to introduce you to a basic finger picking pattern that is outlined in the video link below.

While this technique is a little difficult, it is well worth learning, as it will bring a whole other dimension to your playing, your repertoire, and your guitar skills!

You will be using your thumb, your index finger, and your middle finger for this pattern, and this is a pattern that fits nicely into almost any song that is in 4/4 time.  With so many genres (rock, country, pop, classical) using this pattern, you will have no trouble finding songs to practice on!

In essence, your thumb will be playing an eighth note pattern, utilizing the root of the chord along with the next adjacent string, while your 1st and 2nd fingers will be doing a dotted quarter-quarter-dotted quarter type of rhythm.

It's probably best just to watch the video below--so enjoy, and Happy Pickin'!

Video Link to Basic Fingerpicking

Tips For Cleaner Chords

One of the greatest challenges of playing the guitar is learning to play clean-sounding chords--chords where all the notes are sounding, with no fret buzz or accidentally-muted strings.  It's always a challenge, especially for newer players and those working on barre chords, but it is also a challenge that can be overcome with time and practice!

Here are a few tips that I can offer for helping produce these clean chords:

1) Remember that your thumb is a balance/fulcrum point for playing chords; at times, you will be using it as a "counter-force" to help your other fingers press the strings down, and at other times, you will be positioning it out of the way of your other fingers.

Everyone's hand is a little different in terms of size and finger length, so it's important to spend the time figuring out how to use YOUR thumb to help make clean chords.  If your strings are buzzing because you're not completely pressing the string against the fret, re-positioning your thumb is a good place to start the chord-cleanup process.

2) In the same way, the wrist on your chording hand is able to flex up and down as well; people with longer fingers sometimes find that they have to flex their wrist out a bit away from the guitar neck in order for their fingers to be more perpendicular to the fretboard.

3) I should also mention that when playing chords, you do not want to use the pad of your fingertips--rather, you should always be using the tip of the finger just below the nail.  You will eventually get calluses there--wear them as a badge of honor!

4) Finally, when fingering chords, you want to make sure that you are as close to the fret as possible without being on top of it.  It takes a little work, but the closer you can get to the fret you are trying to finger, the cleaner the note will be.

In the video below, I show a little bit of the thumb and wrist positioning.

Video on Playing Cleaner Guitar Chords

Enjoy, and Happy Pickin!

Relax!

One of the most important things you need to do as a guitarist, is simply to RELAX.  Now, this may not seem like a big deal, but learning to relax can have a surprisingly HUGE impact on how well you play guitar--and the nice thing is it doesn't take a lot of effort or time to see the benefits, which makes it something well worth trying.

Many guitarists--especially those just learning to play--play with a lot of tension in their bodies.  But tension is actually an enemy that makes it harder for you to play guitar. To see for yourself how powerful an enemy tension can be, try this simple experiment...

1. Pick up your guitar and get ready to play

2. Place your left hand (if you're right handed) fingers across any four frets of the sixth string

3. Clench the muscles in your left shoulder and arm as tight as you can, don't clench your hand or fingers as you do this, concentrate only on your arm and shoulder muscles

4. Now try to walk your fingers across the strings and frets one at a time

It's hard to move your fingers isn't it?

Now release the muscles and repeat the finger walking exercise, it will be much easier this time around.

This exercise demonstrates two things:

1. Tension in your body makes performing guitar playing movements harder.  Many guitarists find their hands and fingers cramping because they are gripping the neck too hard, or pressing the strings too hard. Gentle, smooth, and precise finger placement is what you really want!

2. Tension in places that don't seem directly related to the exercise have an effect on your playing.  Unneeded tension, even in your shoulders or legs has a DIRECT effect on your fretting and strumming hands.

Like any other guitar instructor, my job is to teach you, to help build your confidence in yourself and your playing, and to help you identify bad habits such as tensing up in order to make you the best player you can be!

So, watch the video below, calm down, relax, and I think you will be amazed at how good you really are!  Happy (and relaxed!) Pickin'!

VIDEO LINK: RELAX!!

Take Your Pick!

Aah, the lowly and seldom-noticed plectrum--better known as your pick!  In actuality, pick technique is not only a critically important part of your guitar/bass education, but it is also one of the best sonic treasures in your arsenal of music weaponry.

In the video below, I will explain some of this more fully, but a few important things you need to know about your picks:

1) It is important early on to learn proper pick technique, because not only will it save you from wear and tear on your fingers (including bleeding, if you are Pete Townsend!),  but the pick will also greatly help you in negotiating between the strings of your guitar.

















2)  Secondly, choosing a pick thickness is both a matter of personal preference, and the style of music you are playing.  For acoustic strumming, I prefer a much thinner, flexible pick that will produce smooth sounding chords, and also add the percussive effect that happens when a thin pick glides across the guitar strings.  For lead type guitar, and 1980's eighth-note style bass guitar, I prefer a thicker pick.  Several manufacturers now make picks that are multi-thickness, depending upon where you place your gripping fingers.

3)  Speaking of gripping the pick, it is super-important early on to work only on holding the pick only between your thumb and index finger.  Resist the temptation to use your second finger to grip the pick, because you'll want to keep that guy free for possible other duties!

4) Picks are manufactured from all sorts of materials, including plastic, nylon, and other synthetic material.  Some are even made of metal!  I generally prefer the nylon picks, as they are virtually indestructible, and will withstand not only aggressive playing, but they will also survive the laundry cycle (this happens to every guitarist....)  I also use picks that have a rough or rubberized edge to grip.  Smooth picks tend to fly out of my hands at a sweaty gig.

5) Work with your music teacher on the various up and down-stroke techniques for playing both quick notes and chord strumming techniques.  If you've always wanted to play those fast licks, you will need to work hard on these techniques.  And in case you were wondering, I will be covering finger picking in a future blog entry.

6) Picks are also a source of varying TONES for your playing.  The difference between the sound a thin pick makes and a thicker one is both dramatic and useful.  One little hint I do is that in a song where I am both strumming and playing a lead, I will turn my pick upside down for the lead part so that the thicker part of the pick can help my lead playing jump out a bit.

7) Finally, yes--you will occasionally drop a pick down the sound-hole of your acoustic guitar.  It happens to EVERYBODY! There is a way to fetch them out by turning your guitar upside down, and doing both an up and down and side to side motion.  Your teacher can demonstrate that as well!

So have fun, keep on practicing, watch the video below, and Happy Pickin'!

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO ON GUITAR PICKS!

Barre Chord Tips!

I have several students working on barre chords at this time, so I thought it might be worthwhile to give some tips for helping both them and you (the reader!) along.

Let me first say that I know that barre chords are HARD to master--especially on an acoustic guitar.  And I can clearly remember how frustrated I used to get working on them myself when I was a wee lad!

So let me be honest and assure you that this frustration is normal--I want to encourage you to not give up, and to keep on working on these barred forms of chords.

Here's a couple of things to remember as you work:

1) In essence, you want to form your thumb and index finger into a capo shape--this is where your leverage comes from to get good, clean notes along your barre.  You may cramp up for a while, but that cramping will decrease as you build up strength in your hand and wrist muscles.

2) Instead of holding your index finger perfectly flat, rotate it backwards a little onto its side--I show this in the video link below.  Also see the picture above, and pay attention to the hand position that this fellow has.

3) Move the elbow of your left arm (or right arm if you're left-handed) close to your body, so that it's touching your waist.

4) If you keep hearing muffled strings, it means that your either not getting a good barre with your index finger, of that your other fretting fingers are muting other strings.  You will want to make sure that you are using the very tips of your fingers to form the barre chords.  Calluses and practice will get you there!

5) Don't expect your barred chords to sound great in the beginning--correcting buzzes and muted notes is all part of the learning process.  You just gotta hang in there, and keep working at it!

6)  Make it a habit to work some barre chords into songs that you already know.  Learning to make those transitions between chords will eventually shape you into the great guitarist that you are destined to be.

7) See my video below for some exercises that can help you with making clean sounding, strong barre chords.

8) Finally, have your music instructor check the overall "action" on your fret-board.  If the "action" is too high, a reputable guitar store can lower the strings so that they are closer to the fret-board (but not so close that they buzz against the frets!).

Keep up the good work--and Happy Pickin'!

VIDEO--Barre Chord Tips