Learn Acoustic Guitar - Finger Picking Techniques

 > Video Credit: martyzsongs

By Dave Long and Matt Abdallah 

Finger picking can be quite an interesting alternative for a person that is learning to play acoustic guitar. With practice, a guitarist can sound almost as though they were playing two separate instruments at once, which can create some very compelling and interesting solo arrangements.

Generally, finger style guitar is slower at playing notes on one string or fast chord progressions in comparison to a pick player. There are more specialized techniques that allow players to get around these limitations. Other than higher level classical and flamenco guitarists, most people will simply not need these techniques.

However, in comparison to a pick player, it is much easier to skip strings or to play non-adjacent strings at the same time with finger picking, so there are advantages even for a player first beginning to use this style.

Basic Fingerstyle Guitar 

Unlike using a pick, the strings are played directly using the fingers. While there are some variations in much higher level playing, on a basic level of playing, it is pretty straightforward.

The thumb covers the low E, A, and D strings. The index finger plays the G string, the middle finger plays the B string, and the ring finger plays the high e string. The pinky finger is not used, and usually just follows the ring finger to keep it out of the way.

Simply pick a chord and cycle through the fingers, see how much more interesting the basic chords sound simply by playing through the strings one at a time rather than all at once. Once comfortable using each finger to strike the correct string, try combining the fingers and then mixing between one and multiple strings at the same time. By playing around with the picking arrangement, some really interesting parts can be created.

Common Fingerpicking Patterns Part 1
> Video Credit: iVideosongs

Exceptions to Basic Rules 

There are a few things that may crop up which violate the basic rules as to what finger strikes each string. For one thing, using the same finger twice in a row is fairly rare in finger style. Sometimes this will actually be the fretting hand hammering on and pulling off the string to create the extra notes, but other times it is because other fingers are being brought in.

One common exception is for the index finger to play the D or even A strings, if the thumb is occupied on a lower string. Sometimes that middle and ring finger will also shift up to high the next lowest string as well when this happens. With practice and experience these situations should be more easily recognizable.

Tremolo picking is another of these exceptions. This is a technique used to rapidly play the same string multiple times in a row. Rather than trying to use the same finger over and over again, the guitarist will cycle through the index, middle, and ring fingers continuously through the passage.

Quite often the thumb will also be playing notes during these passages on other strings as well. This can be a more difficult technique to learn, but once mastered, it opens many possibilities that would otherwise not been available.

> Dave Long is the owner of http://www.LearningAcousticGuitar.net where he provides acoustic guitar tips and advice.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Long

Buying a Parlor Guitar?

Talking Farida Guitars  The Farida M-26 is a great-looking parlour guitar and sounds really great for Mississippi or Delta blues and slide playing as you can hear from this video. Farida has a range of models which replicate the parlor guitars of the early 1920's.

They are smaller in size than your usual dreadnought or Grand Auditorium. Good for finger-picking, too.

I thought The Guitar Store at Damansara Perdana would carry this model and went to check it out but Jordan Kuah there said Farida could not supply them with this model. In stead they stock three other models -- M-2, H-16E and H-67.

The cheapest model M-2 was the Choice of Guitarist Magazine (UK) in their review. Tried it out and it sounded great. It features a 12th fret neck/body joint with high-grade solid Red Cedar top and mahogany back and sides.

The H-67 is the top model and comes with a price tag of nearly RM5,000. For that price it features a solid Engelmann spruce top and solid rosewood back and sides. It's a beautiful guitar with a one-piece mahogany neck with a green abalone "Tree of Life" inlay, and an ebony fingerboard and bridge. It's a work of art for that price.

And yet it's still so much cheaper than some Taylors and CF Martins. With good projection of sound and great playability, the China-made parlor guitar can be considered great value for money against those expensive American-made models.

However, having tried all three models, I settled for the H-16E not only because it has the Fishman Isys T EQ system for amplified performance but, according to my ears, the twang was fantastic.

I have owned a Seagull Mahogany Folk made in Canada for more than 10 years and it still gives good service. Now I find the H-16E has got that unique twang so different from the Seagull but that's not belittling the Canadian guitar. This parlor guitar features a solid spruce top with rosewood back and sides. Of course, it's plainer than the H-67 but for a price tag of less than RM2,000 it's definitely great value for money for the sound coming out of it.

I have also tried out some Takamine, Yamaha, Epiphone, Ibanez, Taylor and CF Martin and this well-built Farida really stood out and beat the hell out of them. - AcousticTwang


UPDATE - Aug 1 2011:  The Farida M-26 model is now available at The Guitar Store in Damanasara Perdana, Malaysia, and probably  their other outlets will carry it, too.

Guitar Aficionado - A New Twang In Town

  

Cover of the premier issue

I'm a sucker for guitar magazines, especially those that spotlight the acoustic guitar like the monthly Acoustic Guitar magazine. The cover of Guitar Aficionado caught my eye while browsing in a magazine store. What do you expect from a guitar freak like me, I grab a copy because it's a premier issue.

Just as this blog is affectionately devoted to the sound of wood and wire (aka the acoustic guitar), Guitar Aficionado is the new quarterly magazine "for passionate people who enjoy the guitar in all of its timeless, functional beauty."

This Summer '09 copy of Guitar Aficionado was launched recently with an 'aristocratic' mission statement by publisher Greg Di Benedetto (he also publishes Guitar World) that this magazine celebrates the art of fine living "with the guitar as the common point."

Thumbing through its pages, I soon realized that this high-gloss mag belongs to a different crowd - it addresses the person whose lifestyle encompasses more than just the guitar.

These folks are just not your regular guitar guys working out in a garage, they are more into expensive cigars, wine, watches, cars, fashion and other collections that fall under the hedonistic culture.

Did I mention cigars? Now I remember seeing a somewhat similar-looking mag called Cigar Aficionado. However, a check indicates that the two magazines are not related. Could be just a coincidence.

By the way, the cover story features award-winning chef Tom Colicchio, owner of the Craft empire of restaurants. Obviously, Colicchio talks not only about how he ventured into cooking but also his collection of guitars and music.

The guitars on view in the magazine belongs to the upper-end range, probably not less than $6,000. So it's not for the average picker like you and I.

If you want to learn guitar techniques and chords, I guess you will not find it in this magazine. It's for those who want to polish up their status symbols and enjoy the celebrity lifestyle.

To be frank, it's not likely to be a magazine that most of you guitar pickers would fall in love with. Oh well, let's get back to our Seagull, Yamaha, Washburn, Maton...  -  AcousticTwang