Guitar How-To

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If you have considered learning how to finger pick guitar, try Piedmont blues style. It is easy to learn and guaranteed to please your audience. Once you learn a few of these finger picking patterns you will feel like an expert at how to finger pick guitar.

The Piedmont blues emerged as people listened to ragtime piano and imitated what they heard on the only musical instrument they had nearby, which was the guitar. To pick guitar Piedmont style, you are alternating your thumb on the bass strings while you use your first and second fingers on the first and second strings. Like all finger pick styles, you will be able to vary this basic style once you get the hang of it.

A lot of the Piedmont blues style songs are in the key of C so you won’t have to learn any hard chords. To start, form a C major chord shape in the first position. You can use the first, second and third fingers on the first second and third frets:

e——–0————–|

B——–1————–|

G——–0————–|

D——–2————–|

A——–3————–|

E———————–|

Use your right hand thumb to start an alternating bass on the fifth and fourth strings. Play the alternating bass until it comes naturally. You can play other chords if you tire of playing the C chord. See how different chord changes sound. Now start experimenting with picking the first, second and third strings with your first and second fingers. Persevere with using the first finger on the first and second strings or the first and second fingers together on the top strings using different chords.

If you prefer a sharper, cleaner sound you could use a thumbpick. Go to a guitar store and get a selection of thumbpicks in different shapes, sizes and materials. Go home and practice your alternating bass or any finger pick patterns you know, and see how playing using a thumbpick feels.

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