Fingerstyle guitar

What we will be covering

Fingerstyle techniques covers everything from simple accompaniment to full-blown, self-contained solo performances.

Learn how to fingerpick songs that you usually strum or go as far as playing self-contained pieces where you’ll use the guitar as a band i.e. playing melody on top of chords and a bass line (with maybe a few percussive effects thrown in for good measure).

Technniques include:

• Picking hand: general position, how to pluck strings cleanly, best finger assignment for accuracy
• Fretting hand: general position, finger placement (especially the thumb), bridging strings, fingertips and much more
• Adapting chords for ease of changing and fretting only what you need using the principle of economy of movement
• Syncopated notes
• Using a capo and some simple but cool altered tunings
• Accompaniment picking patterns for different time signatures and styles
• Tumb independence, Travis picking
• Accenting melodies within a chord
• Adding in double stops as 3rds and 6ths (even 10ths)
• Building some percussive effects
• Picking approaches for specific genres/styles
• Building the groove
• How to go about building a tune using chord melody
• How to learn and practise a self-contained piece
• Walking bass lines
• Rhythmic strumming using only the fingers
• One man band – melody, chords, bass lines and dynamics
• And much more …

There will be lots of exercises to help build dexterity, strength accuracy in both hands and get the right tone out of your instrument. In addition you’ll learn songs from the fingerstyle masters to add to your repertoire.

More information on artists/songs to follow.

Who’s this course suitable for?

We encourage most levels of guitarists to come along; it’s definitely not for a Beginner. Average-and-above players who have a few songs under their belt, have started fingerpicking and can play most open chords and have attempted barre chords should be fine for the course.

Our courses are designed to accommodate not only teach techniques and songs but also to suitable for most players and is based on iconic songs that will add to your repertoire and provide you with extra tools and confidence to improve your playing.

Materials

Any hand-outs will be provided during the course we’ll make available all supplementary PDFs, copies of flip chart diagrams, any audio and video recordings.

Remember

Unlike our online sessions these Full Weekend courses can only accommodate limited group numbers – book early to avoid disappointment. This type of course is a residential mini-break (but non-residential and spouses/partners are very welcome).

As with all our courses, having a sociable weekend with other guitar hobbyists and having some fun is as important as the teaching and playing. We take things at a steady pace with lots of breaks to stretch the legs and backs and get some air into our lungs and have some quiet time to take in and discuss what’s being taught. Lots of fun in the company of other guitar hobbyists.