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Fingerstyle Guitar Tip 2

Last week we covered the basics of fingerstyle guitar and a couple of simple fingerstyle exercises. In this week's tip, you'll learn more fingerstyle patterns that will get you on the road to playing some simple songs.

Multi-Rhythm Fingerstyle Exercises

Let's try a couple of exercises that combines eighth note and quarter note rhythms. These exercises will give you more of a loping feel.

The right fingers are abbreviated this way:

p=thumb
I=index
m=middle
a=annular (ring)

Fingerstyle Exercise 1 (G Chord)

You need to know the G chord (below) for this exercise.

Metronome - 1/4 note = 50 to 120

Don't move the hand notes should be at equal volume keep desired hand position while picking try alternating between G, C, G, C, etc..

Fingerstyle Exercise 1 (C Chord)

You need to know the C chord (below) for this exercise.

Metronome - 1/4 note = 50 to 120

Now let's make things a little more interesting. The next two exercises feature syncopated rhythms. This just means that one or more of the up beats are accented. Downbeats are beats 1, 2, 3, and 4, upbeats are the & of 1, & of 2, & of 3, and & of 4.

Fingerstyle Exercise 3 (C Chord)

metronome - 1/4 note = 50 to 120

Don't move the hand notes should be at equal volume keep desired hand position while picking try alternating between G, C, G, C, etc..

Fingerstyle Exercise 3 (G Chord)

metronome - 1/4 note = 50 to 120

Check out our first fingerstyle tip in the Tip Archives!!