19 Mar

Five Guitar Tips that Professional Guitar Players Use all The Time

Posted by BlitzGuitarAdmin Fingerstyle Guitar Lesson

Why some guitar players sound better than others and how can you become better at playing guitar? In this guitar lesson, I am going to show you five guitar tips that professional guitar players use all the time.

Believe it or not, it isn’t about how many chords, scales, or melodies you know but rather HOW you use them.

There are hundreds of guitar tips that you can learn but in this lesson, we will be focusing on dynamics, strumming, fingerpicking chords, and tone.

Becoming a professional guitar player doesn’t necessarily means you have to be the best guitar player in the world and record selling albums.

For me, becoming a professional guitar player is about learning the things that will make you play differently than most of the guitar players out there and the number of notes you play has nothing to do with that.

We will be learning:

Strumming and dynamics.
Fingerpicking chords.
Left-hand position.
Fingerstyle melodies.
Vibrato technique.

Enjoy this lesson.

Tab Available on Patreon!

Tab Here

16 Mar

Guitar Lesson – 5 Fingerpicking Patterns for Beginners

Posted by BlitzGuitarAdmin Fingerpicking Exercises

Fingerstyle is one of the most creative and beautiful guitar technique. Think about acoustic guitar players such as Tommy Emmanuel, Dan Ross, Preston Reed, and Gabriella Quevedo who explored every aspect of the fingerpicking technique and inspired thousands of guitar players.

Classical and Spanish guitar players also use the fingerpicking technique. Musicians like Andreas Segovia, John Williams, Julian Bream, and Pepe Romero devoted their entire life to expand the fingerpicking repertoire by transcribing beautiful compositions from the past.

Fingerstyle music became more complex over the past few years. Techniques like percussive fingerstyle and tapping have now become a standard that many try to reach.

For these reasons, many beginners feel discouraged. Many of my students frequently ask “Can I start learning guitar with the fingerstyle method? Is the fingerpicking technique difficult for beginners?”

The answer is obviously no! However, you should know HOW to get started the right way.

But how do you get started with the fingerpicking technique and what’s the best fingerpicking pattern for beginners?

In this fingerstyle lesson, we are going to take a look at the top 5 fingerpicking patterns for beginners and how to implement them into musical ideas.

Each pattern has different musical examples that you can practice that will help you familiarize yourself with the fingerpicking technique.

Are you Just Getting Started?

There are two categories of fingerstyle players.

Total Beginner: If you just bought a guitar, this is your category!
Fingerstyle Beginners: The ones who already play guitar but they never learned the fingerstyle technique. If you know how to play basic chords and strumming, you fall into this category.

There will be six examples for each one of the five fingerpicking patterns. Start with the first three if you are a total beginner.

Naming the Right Hand Fingers

On the guitar tab, you will find an indication as to which fingers you should use to pluck the strings. Classical guitar players adopted this system, and it has been around for many years.

The letters come from the Italian/Spanish language.

Here is how it works:

Tumb = Pollice, letter “P”
Index = indice, letter “i”
Middle = medio, letter “m”
Ring = anulare, letter “a”

For the left-hand, follow the number on top of the music stave.

Number 1 – index
Number 2 – middle
Number 3 – ring
Number 4 – little finger

Fingerpicking Pattern #1 – Alternate Index and Middle

The fingerpicking pattern number one is called “i-m-i-m.”

This is indeed the most simple and common pattern every guitar players start with. It is simple, intuitive, and works perfectly for simple melodies.

Ex.1 – One String Fingerpicking Melody

In this exercise, we are going to practice the pattern on one string only, the top E string. You can then transpose it to the other strings.

The goal of this exercise is to help you develop strength and finger dexterity.

Ex.2 – Simple C Major Scale

Let me show you how to practice scales with the fingerpicking technique.

In this example, we will learn the C major scale in one octave.

Use the same fingerpicking pattern “i-m-i-m” throughout. Follow the left-hand fingers on top of the music stave.

Ex.3 – Symmetrical Exercise

One of the most effective guitar exercises of all time.

This symmetrical pattern will help you develop not only the fingerpicking technique but also left-hand control, speed, and stretch.

Ex.4 – Beautiful Fingerstyle Melody

One of the awesome things about the fingerstyle technique is the fact that we can combine chords and melody.

Learn how to play this simple melody in A minor using the “i-m-i-m” fingerpicking pattern.

We will also pluck the bass note with the thumb.

Ex.5 – Two Octaves Scale

Once you familiarize yourself with the plucking technique, you should start practicing two octaves scales.

Learn the G major scale below. Remember to follow the left-hand fingers on top of the music score.

Ex.6 – Three Fingers Exercise

Let’s challenge the left-hand by adding more notes to this symmetrical exercise.

Try the 1 2 3 4 patterns on three strings. This exercise will challenge your fingers quite a lot.

Take it step-by-step and stop if you feel pain in your wrist or fingers.

Fingerpicking Pattern #2 – The P i m a

The P i m a is the most common fingerpicking pattern on guitar.

We are going to learn a few chord progressions as well as combining the P i m a pattern with the alternate fingering.

If you are a beginner, start with the first three patterns.

Ex.1 – Two Simple Chords

In this first example, learn this chord progression in A minor.

Pluck the bass note with the thumb and assign a finger to each string. Pluck the G string with the index finger, the B string with the middle, and the top E string with the ring finger.

The two chords are A minor and E major.

Ex.2 – P i m a Reverse

Each fingerpicking pattern can be played reversed.

The reverse of “P i m a” is “a m i P.” This pattern isn’t musical at all, so I decided to change it into P a m i.

Learn this simple chord progression in D major,

Ex.3 – P i m a together

Another awesome variation for the P i m a pattern is to pluck the strings simultaneously.

This pattern works perfectly for rhythmic chords and can be used in many different ways.

In this example for beginners, we are going to pluck together chords in G major key.

Follow the right-hand pattern on the tab.

Ex.4 – P i m a with Intermediate Chords

With such a simple fingerpicking pattern it can be boring to practice things.

Don’t be fooled by the simplicity of this pattern. We can add a beautiful chord progression that will make you love this pattern.

The chords are in E minor key.

Ex.5 – P i m a With Percussive Pattern

Another great thing you can easily add with this pattern is the percussion.

There are a lot of different percussive techniques on guitar, but we will stick with the most simple one called “thumb slap.”

With the thumb slap technique, you strike the bass strings with the thumb while playing the chords. The sound is similar to the snare drum.

This is a simple example using this percussive technique.

Ex.6 – P i m a With Different Bass Notes

The last example will have the thumb plucking on two different bass strings.

I recommend that you hold the chords down while you pluck the strings and let it ring out beautifully. Also, try to emphasize the bass notes by playing them louder than the rest of the chords.

Fingerpicking Pattern #3 – P i m a m i

Let’s explore the fingerstyle pattern in six that every beginner should learn. It’s called P i m a m i or sextuplets (six notes).

This pattern can be broken down into two patterns of three. The way you count each pattern will now be 1 2 3 – 1 2 3 as opposed as the patterns in four which we count like 1 2 3 4 – 1 2 3 4.

The P i m a m i pattern can be quite confusing at first especially if you try to use a metronome. You will now have to play three notes per beat which aren’t the most natural thing to do.

Spend a few minutes counting 1 2 3 – 1 2 3 while tapping the foot on the first count only.

From now, there will be three examples of each pattern.

Ex.1 – Minor Chord Progression

In this first example, I am going to show you a straightforward chord progression in E minor played mostly with open strings.

The melody is played on the top E string should be louder than the accompaniment.

Ex.2 – Folk Chord Progression

This pattern works perfectly with folk and country chord progressions.

This is an example in A minor.

Ex. 3 – The Six + Three Pattern

A common variation could be playing the P i m a m i followed by the P i m P i m pattern.

An easy way to spice things up.

Fingerpicking Pattern #4 – Combined Patterns

Even beginners should learn how to combine different fingerpicking patterns. The fact that you are just starting with fingerstyle doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try something challenging.

By combining different patterns, you will also learn the amazing possibilities that fingerstyle offer not only harmonically but also rhythmically and melodically.

You will learn how to combine chords with melody and how to change the rhythm of a pattern simply.

Good luck!

Ex. 1 – P i m i a i m i + Melody in “i-m”

In this example, we alternate chords and melody. The pattern is rhythmically very simple as we only play sixteenth notes.

Assing a finger to each string to each string and alternate when you play the melody.

The chord progression is in A Minor.

Ex. 2 – P i m a m i + Melody in “m-i”

A pattern in six is always challenging at first.

In this example, we are going to play an arpeggio in E minor followed by a melody on the E string.

The long notes at the end of the melody should help you transition between the chords easily.

Speed isn’t important so play slowly and focus on chord change and tone.

Fingerpicking Pattern #5 – The Tremolo

The tremolo is a popular Classical and Spanish technique. It sustains the melody and creates a continuous sound similar to a fast picking.

This technique is achieved by playing three notes with the ring, middle, and index finger on one string while the thumb takes care of the bass note.

On the music score, the tremolo looks like that:

One of the reasons I teach the tremolo to beginners is because it develops many aspects of the fingerpicking technique at once.

By practicing this technique, you will improve your control, speed, plucking, rhythm, timing, and skills.

But how do we get started with the tremolo technique?

Let me show you how.

Ex. 1 – Tremolo Technique Definition

We can apply the tremolo on chords and melody.

In this exercise, I am going to show you how to familiarize yourself with the technique by using a simple chord progression.

Hold the chord down while playing the tremolo.

Ex. 2 – Simplified Tremolo

There is a way to simplify the tremolo by removing one note from the group (usually the ring finger).

In this case, we only play with thumb, index, and middle.

The tremolo is now in three and not in four anymore.

Let’s Wrap This Up

I hope you enjoyed these fingerpicking patterns for beginners.

I know that some of the examples can be quite challenging for a total beginner. I also know that by practicing something that feels difficult you have more chances to make an improvement.

Don’t get me wrong! I am not saying you should practice things that are way above your level. But a little challenge keeps you motivated and determined.

Take each example as a separate exercise and spend time practicing each exercise.

When you feel ready, check the next lesson below and learn 11 Ways to Practice Scales on Guitar!

Good luck.

Marco.

Next Lesson: How to Practice Scales

Check Now!

15 Mar

The Most Simple Fingerpicking Pattern on Guitar

Posted by BlitzGuitarAdmin Fingerstyle Guitar Lesson

Hey guys, Marco here for another fingerstyle lesson. Today I am going to show you the most simple fingerpicking pattern on guitar played with beautiful chords.

This is one of the top 5 essential fingerpicking patterns every guitar player should know. It is also the very first pattern my teacher gave me when I first started playing guitar in 1994.

A simple fingerpicking pattern is worth nothing without a beautiful chord progression as the right-hand only controls the tone, volume, and dynamics.

The left-hand is responsible for playing these amazing chords, and we have to be smart enough to pick the right keys.

In this lesson, I am making it clear that not all the key sound good on guitar.

Think about the F major, G minor, Eb minor key. These keys don’t give you the same chordal possibilities as the E major, B minor, or D major key.

Today we are learning something in E major. A very simple chord progression with beautiful chords and melody.

When you have such beautiful chords, the fingerpicking pattern can be as simple as possible. You don’t need to play crazy stuff at all.

The pattern is called Pima.

I bet you used it at least once in your life.

Enjoy this lesson.

Tab Available on Patreon!

Tab Here

9 Beautiful Chords and How to Actually Play them

14 Mar

9 Beautiful Chords on Guitar and How to Actually Play Them

Posted by BlitzGuitarAdmin Fingerpicking Chords

Chords are probably the very first thing guitar players learn when they start playing guitar.

Think about the hundreds of songs you can play with a handful of chords. If you use a guitar capo, things are even easier because you can transpose the chords in different positions of the guitar neck.

It sounds good, right?

The problem is, playing the same chords over and over again is the main reason why you get bored of playing the guitar.

All the songs sound the same, and after a while you find yourself thinking “How can I learn new chords?” or “When can I learn intermediate chords?”

In this fingerstyle guitar lesson, I am going to show you nine beautiful chords on guitar and how to actually play them.

Once I show you the chord, I will demonstrate how to play it in a beautiful chord progression.

These are the beautiful chords we will learn:

Cadd9
Gsus4
Em9
Am(add9)
Amaj7
Dsus2 and Dsus4
Bb13
C#m9
Emaj7

About Chords and Extended Chords

Before we start playing any chords, you need to learn about extended chords.

The list of chords we are about to learn includes many extended chords. An extended chord is a simple chord (or basic chord) played with additional notes from the scale.

The difference between basic and extended chords is that:

A basic chord has three note only, the root note, 3rd, and 5th. The root note gives the name to the chord; the 3rd determines if the chord is major or minor, and the 5th is the perfect, diminished or augmented interval inside the chord.
Extended notes such as 7th, 9th, 11th, and 13th add beautiful colors to the basic chords.

Enjoy these chords guys.

1. Cadd9 Chord

The Cadd9 chord is an extended chord that can be used in the C major and G major key as well as relative minor keys such as A minor or E minor.

It’s a basic triad with the extended 9th.

The notes of the Cadd9 chord are C E G D (root, major 3rd, perfect 5th, major 9th)

This is the Cadd9 chord diagram:

The Cadd9 chord is a beautiful open chord that fits perfectly between chords such as G or E minor. The additional note D creates a resonating cluster with the top E string open.

The chord progression I am about to show you is Cadd9 | G | Am | Fadd9|. The F chord is also played as an add9 chord.

2. Gsus4 Chord

The Gsus4 is a very popular chord on the guitar.

Also called “Suspended” chord, the Sus4 is an extended chord played with the root note, 4th, and 5th.

Because this chord doesn’t have the 3rd, it can be neither major or minor. That explained the “Suspended” label.

The notes of the Gsus4 chord are G C D (Root, perfect 4th, and perfect 5th).

This is the Gsus4 chord diagram:

One of the things I like a lot about the Gsus4 chord is that it’s easy to create simple voicings within the chords.

We can move the 4th back to the 3rd and use the voicing to create a simple melodic idea.

Check the example below.

3. Em9 Chord

The Em9 chord I am about to show you is indeed one of the most popular chords on the guitar.

The cluster between the F# and G is pretty much the reason why I love this chord so much.

The m9 is a chord with root, minor 3rd, perfect 5th, minor 7th, and major 9th. We add the minor 7th even though it doesn’t show in the chord name.

The notes of the Em9 chord are E G B D F#.

This is the Em9 chord diagram:

As I was saying, I love the cluster between the note F# and G and between the note D and E.

With this chord we can come up with a simple yet beautiful chord progression like this one: Em9 | Cadd9 | G | D |

Check the example below.

4. Am(add9) Chord

The Am(add9) chord is another great chord that will take you from beginner to intermediate level.

This chord can be quite stretchy on the little finger, so I highly recommend that position your left hand correctly (more info in this article).

The add9 chord is a basic chord played with the major 9th. The notes of the Am(add9) chord are A C E B (Root, minor 3rd, perfect 5th, and major 9th).

This is the Am(add9) chord diagram:

I love the exotic sound of the Am(add9) chord. Once you overcome the initial struggle, you will find yourself playing this chord over and over again.

The chord progression is Am(add9) | Am(add9)/G | Fmaj7 | % |. Repeat the Fmaj7 for two measure.

5. Amaj7 Chord

There is one word that best describes the Amaj7 chord, and this is “Dreamy.”

The maj7 is indeed one of the most satisfying chords family to explore, learn, and put into practice.

The Amaj7 chord is a basic chord with the extended 7th. The notes are A C# E G# (Root, major 3rd, perfect 5th, and major 7th).

This is the Amaj7 chord diagram:

It’s easy to write a beautiful chord progression when you work with such an amazing chord.

In this example, we are going to play Amaj7 | Dmaj7 | Amaj7 | Esus4 |.

6. Dsus2 and Dsus4

Let’s explore more suspended chords in D major key.

You already learned that the suspended chord is a chord played without the 3rd.

The difference between the Sus2 and Sus4 chord is that

With the Sus2 we lower the 3rd of the chord down to the 2nd.
With the Sus4 we raise the 3rd of the chord to the 4th.

The notes for the Dsus2 are D E A (root, major 2nd, and perfect 5th). The notes for the Dsus4 are D G A (Root, perfect 4th, perfect 5th).

This is the chord diagram of both chords.

Using both DSus2 and DSus4 in the same chord progression make it easy to write awesome chord progressions. You can actually write a song with just these two chords.

Let me show you an example.

7. Bb13 Chord

Let’s explore a Jazzy chord progression with the Bb13 chord.

The 13th chords are extended chords played with root, 3, 5, 7, and 13. Just like the Em9 chord, the Bb13 will also have the 7th.

For the Bb13 the notes are Bb D F Ab G (Root, major 3rd, perfect 4th, minor 7th, and major 13th).

This is the chord diagram:

With such a jazzy chord we can’t help but playing jazzy chord progressions.

In this example, we are going to play Ebm9 | Bb13 | Dbmaj7 | Dbmaj9 |. Some of these chords are stretchy so take it step-by-step.

8. C#m9 Chord

Let me show you one of my favorite chord on the guitar, the C#m9.

This chord is insanely beautiful, and it can be played with both strumming and fingerpicking technique. It’s a basic chord with the extended 7th and 9th.

The notes of the C#m9 chord are C# E G# B D# (Root, minor 3rd, perfect 5th, minor 7th, and major 9th).

This is the diagram of this beautiful chord:

This chord works beautifully with chords such as A, E, F#m, and B major. If we also add extensions to these chords, the result is guaranteed.

This is a chord progression with the C#m9 chord.

9. Emaj7 Chord

Last but not least the Emaj7 chord made it to this awesome list.

This chord is a basic chord with the extended major 7th.

The notes are E G# B D# (Root, major 3rd, perfect 5th, and major 7th).

This is the diagram for the Emaj7 chord:

The Emaj7 chord is a beautiful dreamy chord that can be played along with the Amaj7, C#m9, or B major. In this example, we are going to focus on a simple example using Emaj | Amaj |x2

Let’s Wrap This Up

I hope you enjoyed learning these beautiful chords.

The goal for this lesson is to show you that you can quickly implement beautiful chords into your playing as long as you put them into practice.

Good luck with this lesson.

Next Lesson: Fingerstyle vs Strumming

Watch Now

13 Mar

The Five Notes that Will Make you Happy – Pentatonic Fingerstyle Melodies

Posted by BlitzGuitarAdmin Fingerstyle Guitar Lesson

The Pentatonic is a music scale that contains five notes.

It is indeed one of the most popular scales on the guitar and also one of the simplest to memorize.

There are thousands of articles and lessons about this useful scale, so today I am going to take you to an exciting guitar trip to explore three possible ways of using this scale.

You will learn:

The E major pentatonic scale and how to play it melodically. I am going to show you how to use the scale horizontally in three different positions.
The A minor scale and how to use it rhythmically. We are going to talk about the riff and how to repeat the same musical idea to create a constant groove.
The A major and A minor pentatonic scale played over a twelve-bar blues. We will mix both scales in a simple yet beautiful blues solo.

There are many things about the Pentatonic scale that you can learn in this lesson. If you are searching for practical examples of how to implement this scale into your fingerstyle, you will probably enjoy this lesson.

As always, take things step-by-step and learn one musical idea at a time.

Good luck!

Tab Available on Patreon!

Tab Here

12 Mar

How to Get Started with Fingerstyle Guitar – 8 Great Fingerpicking Exercises

Posted by BlitzGuitarAdmin Fingerpicking Exercises

How do I start learning fingerstyle guitar? Which one is the best fingerpicking exercises for beginners?

Whether you want to become the next Singha Jung or want to be able to play your favorite fingerpicking songs the beginning looks the same for every guitar player.

You need to start by learning the basic fingerpicking concepts that will take you from zero to fingerpicking hero.

In this fingerstyle lesson, I am going to show you eight great fingerpicking exercises that you should know.

As there is already a ton of basic fingerpicking stuff online, I decided I would try to give you more practical and musical exercises. I will also talk about useful resources and fingerpicking books you should check out.

In these 12 lessons we will cover:

Learn where your fingers should be.
Classical fingerpicking arpeggios.
Fingerstyle chords.
Common fingerpicking chord progressions.
Fingerpicking scales.
Simple fingerstyle melodies.
Popular fingerstyle songs.
Fingerpicking technique exercise
Simple Spanish melody

1. Learn Where your Fingers Should Be

The very first step to getting started with fingerstyle technique is to learn the name of the fingers and how to position your right-hand correctly.

When you read the music score in this lesson, you will notice four letters written at the bottom of the tab. The letters are P i m a.

Pima stands for thumb, index, middle, and ring finger. These letters come from the Italian/Spanish language.

Thumb = Pollice, letter “P.”
Index = indice, letter “i”
Middle = medio, letter “m”
Ring = anulare, letter “a”

We don’t use the little finger to pluck the strings, even though some guitar players do.

If you want to learn how to pluck the strings correctly, there are three golden rules you should always follow.

Rule 1. Keep the thumb in front of the finger and pluck the strings with the side of the fingertip.
Rule 2. Pluck the strings with the index, middle, and ring finger with a 45-degree angle.
Rule 3. Keep the right-hand on top of the sound hole for better tone and dynamics.

2. Classical Fingerpicking Arpeggios

One of the best ways to getting started with the fingerstyle technique is learning classical fingerpicking arpeggios.

Classical music is mostly played on the Classical guitar. As you probably know, Classical guitar players are well known for their advanced fingerpicking technique, speed, control, and musicality.

Classical guitar player practices a lot of fingerpicking patterns that allow them to achieve an impeccable and fluid technique.

An arpeggio is a right-hand pattern that repeats itself. Think about the P i m a pattern.

If you are just getting started with fingerpicking guitar, you should practice these four fingerpicking arpeggios from the Mauro Guiliani guitar method called 120 arpeggios for classical guitar.

Practice each arpeggio slowly and speed up as you improve.

Fingerpicking Arpeggio #1 – P i m a

In this very first fingerstyle guitar exercise we are going to learn the first pattern called P i m a which is indeed one of the most common fingerstyle patterns on guitar.

Because this is the very first arpeggio you are learning, I decided to keep the chords very simple.

You will be playing a C major and G7/B chord. The tempo is set at 80 bpm which is a reasonably slow speed if you play two notes per click.

The right-hand pattern is written below the guitar TAB.

Fingerpicking Arpeggio #2 – P i m a m i

The next fingerpicking pattern is six notes long, and it is called sextuplet.

A sextuplet has six notes per beat. If you struggle playing it with the metronome, start with three notes per beat.

The chord progression is different. We are going to play Am | C | Dm | E |.

I use my index finger as a reference to the first fret, and it helps me with the chord change a lot.

This is the first time you are plucking with the ring finger. Take it step-by-step.

Fingerpicking Arpeggio #3 – P/i – m/a

In this fingerpicking pattern, we are going to pluck the strings simultaneously with thumb and index followed by middle and ring.

This is a common fingerstyle pattern in classical music.

The chord progression is similar to the one we used in the first example.

Make sure you keep the right-hand close to the strings.

Fingerpicking Arpeggio #4 – P i m i a i m i

One of the most popular classical fingerpicking patterns played with a group of two sixteenth notes. Each group is four notes per beat.

The chord progression sounds very classical. Am | E | Am | E7 | Am | E | A |

3. Fingerstyle Chords

With fingerstyle guitar, we can transform simple chords into beautiful sounding chord progressions.

If you have been playing guitar for a while you probably already learned basic chords such as C major, A minor, D minor, E minor, G major, D major, etc. Most beginners only focus on strumming because it is a more straightforward way to get started with chords.

However, you can easily play all the chords you already learned in fingerstyle too.

How can you practice chords with the fingerpicking technique? Does fingerstyle make chords more challenging to play?

In this section, I am going to show you how to play simple fingerpicking chords and how to change chords quickly. Playing chords with fingerstyle will simplify the way you have been playing chords.

Let me show you five different chord exercises played with fingerpicking technique.

Fingerpicking Chord Exercise #1

We are going to work on a simple chord change such as C major and G major.

A lot of beginners struggle with this chord change because of the different chord shape.

With fingerstyle though chords become very simple to play.

The C major and G major chord look like this.

If you strum the chords, you have no choice but changing the C to the G as quickly as possible.

With fingerstyle though you can play one string at a time and make the chord progression very simple.

If you play the chords with the P i m a pattern, you can add one note at a time on the G chord as you perform the arpeggio. Also, you don’t have to play the full chord as you will only be plucking four strings.

Notice how the G major builds upon each round.

Let me show you a practical example.

Fingerpicking Chord Exercise #2

You can apply the same concept on all the chord progressions you struggle with the chord change.

When I first started the D major and B minor were always a struggle.

The chords look like this.

In this example, we are going to break down both chords.

So we will start by playing the bass note of each chord than add more notes as you progress.

4. Common Fingerpicking Chord Progressions

Some chord progressions never die.

Let me show you the most common fingerpicking chord progressions every beginner should know. The reasons why these progressions are so famous is because they are simple, beautiful and fun to play.

To make things more interesting, I also decided to show you how to play a few basic extended chords.

We are going to learn:

Chord progression 1: Cadd9 | G | Am | Fadd9
Chord progression 2: Gadd9 | Em7 | C | Dsus4
Chord progression 3: Em9 | Dadd11 | Cadd9 | Dadd11

Chord Progression#1

Chord Progression#2

Chord Progression#3

5. Fingerpicking Scales

Scales are great for developing your fingerpicking technique.

Just like the classical arpeggios we learned earlier, scales are another powerful tool classical guitar players use a lot.

A scale is a progression of notes. The first note, called root, gives the name to the scale.

The most common music scales are Major scale, Minor scale, Harmonic minor scale, Melodic minor scale, Major Pentatonic scale, and Minor Pentatonic scale.

If you are a beginner fingerstyle guitar player, I highly recommend that you start practicing scales.

In this section, I am going to show you a couple of useful scales that every beginner should know.

#1 The C major scale

The notes of the C major scale are C D E F G A B C.

This scale (as well as any other scale) can be played in many different shapes and positions. This is possible because on the guitar the notes repeat on each string.

Let’s take a look at the note C for example. This note can be played in many different frets up and down the fretboard.

In this example, we are going to play the C major scale horizontally.

This is a great exercise not only for the fingerpicking technique but also for the left hand.

The fingerstyle pattern is i-m or m-i throughout.

Refer to the numbers next to the notes for the left-hand fingers. Number 1 is the index, 2 is the middle, 3 is the middle, and 4th is the little finger.

#2 The A Natural Minor Scale

The Natural minor scale is built on the 6th degree of the major scale. Because they are the same scale, they share the same notes.

The A Natural minor scale is the relative minor of C major. The notes are A B C D E F G A.

In this example, I am going to show you how to play an A minor scale

6. Simple Fingerstyle Melody

Beginners love melodies.

A great thing about fingerpicking technique is that it allows you to combine chords and melody. This is great for people who don’t want to sing but still want to play the theme of the song.

But how do you learn how to play a melody on guitar?

As always, we are going to approach everything step-by-step.

There are three music elements you must combine to create a fingerstyle melody. First, you need a melody. The second element is a chord progression. And last, but not least, you need rhythm.

How can we combine all these elements to create music?

This is step one.

How to Write a Melody

A melody is a progression of notes that sound good together. These notes come from the scale.

If, for example, I am writing a melody in A minor, I will have to refer to the notes of the A minor scale.

Let me show you the difference between scale and melody in the example below.

For the Melody in A minor, I also implemented different chords such as the F major, D minor, and G major. It is important to realize that we are only playing the root note of the chord (the bass note) and not the full chord.

This is a significant aspect of fingerpicking guitar, which is the ability to play the bass note of the chord with the thumb while the index, middle, and ring finger play the melody.

Melody #1 – Example on One String

In this example, we are going to learn a simple melodic pattern on the E string.

This is a straightforward way to get started with learning a melody because it is easier to determine the notes on one string first.

We are in E minor key. The notes we are going to use are E F# G A B C D E.

Melody #2 – Melody in One Position

Let’s try a fingerstyle melody in D major.

This time we are going to play the melody in one position only. The notes of the D major scale are D E F# G A B C# D.

The chord progression is D | Em |A7 | D |.

7. Popular Fingerstyle Songs

Fingerstyle technique has been around for a long time.

Over the years, a lot of songs and classical pieces have become the most popular songs to play with the fingerpicking technique.

Think about songs such as Spanish Romance and how you can easily recognize it after hearing just a few notes.

There are also a lot of modern songs such as Here Comes the Sun or Black Bird by the Beatles, Hotel California by the Eagles and More than Words by the Extreme.

All these songs are played with fingerstyle technique and inspired so many people. A lot of guitar players start playing guitar because of the one song that they love.

Let me give you a list of some of the most popular fingerstyle songs worth giving a try.

Classical guitar pieces:

Spanish Romance – Anonimous
Lagrima – Francisco Tarrega
Malaguena – Ernesto Lecuona
Asturias – Isaac Albeniz
Studio in B minor – Fernando Sor
Allegretto – Mauro Giuliani

Classical pieces rearranged for fingerstyle guitar:

Fur Elise – Beethoven
Four Seasons – Vivaldi
Minuet in G – Bach
Canon in D – Pachelbel

Modern fingerpicking songs:

Don’t think twice; it’s alright – Bob Dylan
Black Bird – Beatles
The sound of silence – Simon & Garfunkel
Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin
Fast Car – Tracy Chapman

8. Fingerpicking Technique Exercise

If you are serious about becoming a good fingerpicking guitar player, you should spend time practicing a few basic fingerpicking exercises.

For me, a fingerstyle exercise is a mechanical or symmetrical exercise that is designed to improve your technique, control, and speed.

Most of these exercises use repetitive patterns or numeric shapes. Think about the popular 1 2 3 4 exercises every guitar player play.

Let me show you my top five fingerpicking technique exercises and how to practice them.

#1 – Symmetrical Fingerstyle Exercises 1 2 3 4

This is one of the most popular exercises for both acoustic and electric guitar.

By plucking this symmetrical exercise, you will be able to improve not only your fingerpicking technique but also speed, control, tone, plucking, stretch, and dynamics.

I like to call it “The 1 2 3 4” exercise due to the numeric patterns involved.

The exercise is simple: Assign a finger to each number and come up with different finger combinations.

In this first example, I am going to show you the pattern 1 2 3 4 | 4 3 2 1. The exercise is played on one string, but it can be transposed easily.

2# Symmetrical Scale Pattern

Another popular fingerpicking exercise involves scale patterns up and down the fret.

A scale pattern is a set of notes from the scale that is repeated on two or three octaves.

The first pattern is played in alternate fingering i-m or m-i.

The second pattern is more stretchy and difficult to play. It can be hard on your tendons so, take it step-by-step.

Let’s Wrap This Up

Getting started with fingerstyle guitar is never simple. There are so many different techniques involved that it can be overwhelming and frustrating especially if you don’t know where to start.

In this article, you learned a lot about arpeggios, scales, fingerpicking patterns, and chord progressions that can be easily played.

When you learn something new, start slow. Learn one scale or pattern at a time if you have to.

Use a metronome to track your results and don’t be afraid to do your research.

I will be around on my social media so, don’t be afraid to ask questions if you need to.

Enjoy this lesson.

Marco.

11 Mar

How to Practice Scales on Guitar – 11 Effective Ways that WORK!

Posted by BlitzGuitarAdmin Fingerpicking Scales

One of the questions I get asked the most is “Marco, How should I practice scales on guitar?” Because there are so many different scales and shapes, how do you know which guitar scale should you learn first? And most importantly, how much time should you spend practicing scales on guitar?

To effectively practice scales on the guitar commit to play each scale for at least 10 minutes a day. You should learn no more than two scales at a time. Practice each scale in one position of the guitar neck before moving on to more complex type of scales.

There are eleven steps you should follow to learn how to practice scales on the guitar.

1. Practice scales for at least 10 minutes every time you exercise.
2. Start by learning the chromatic scale.
3. One octave scale
4. Practice the scales vertically
5. Practice the scales with different rhythmic patterns.
6. Practice the scales horizontally.
7. Play the scales with triplets.
8. Symmetrical pattern
9. Scales in Thirds
10 Scales in Sixth
11. The Melodic Minor Scale

1. Practice Scales for at Least 10 Minutes

If your goal is to learn how to practice scales on guitar the very first step is about making sure you are committed. Make scales a priority and practice them for at least 10 minutes every time you play the guitar.

I highly recommend that you play scales with a metronome.

Practicing with a metronome helps you track your results. Start with a low speed and focus on playing each note correctly. Increase the speed when you can play the scale without making mistakes.

Focus on tone and dynamics. Even scales deserve to sound beautiful so make sure you pluck the strings smoothly for better tone and plucking control.

It can be frustrating at first, but with commitment and consistency, you will become a better guitar player.

Before We Get Started

There are a few terms you should learn before we get started.

Learning these musical terms is of paramount importance because you can’t improve something if you don’t know how to name it!

Here are some of the terms we will be using a lot:

Scale: A scale is a progression of notes. The most popular scales are the Major scale, Minor scale, Hamonic Minor scale, and Melodic Minor scale.
Intervals: An interval is a distance between two note. The root note and the next note we play. The two most essential intervals you must learn are the Semitone (also called half-step or just H) and the Tone (also called whole-step or W).
Interval scales: An interval scale is a scale played with two notes. The most popular is the scale in 3rd and 6th.
Measure: The space between two vertical lines in which we write the notes.
Triplets: A triplet is a set of three notes played in one beat. It is usually indicated with a number 3 on top of the three notes.
Chromatism: Any piece of scale that we play between two frets is called chromatism. You will learn more about it in the Chromatic scale section.

2. Start by Learning the Chromatic Scale

The chromatic scale is the musical scale that includes all the twelve notes available in music. This scale is also called the half-step scale because of its interval constructions.

Each note of the chromatic scale is a half step (or a semitone) from the next one. On the guitar, a semitone is a distance between one fret.

If we play the chromatic scale in C, we will have the following notes: C C# D D# E F F# G G# A A# B C.

There are only twelve pitches due to the natural semitone between E-F and B-C.

C – C# = Semitone.
C# – D = Semitone.
D – D# = Semitone.
D# – E = Semitone.
E – F = Natural semitone.
F to F# = Semitone.
F# to G= Semitone.
G to G# = Semitone.
G# – A = Semitone.
A – A# = Semitone.
A# – B = Semitone.
B – C = Natural semitone

IMPORTANT: There are different ways of naming these intervals. The Semitone is also called Half-step or just “H.” The Tone can also be called Whole-step or just “W.” We will refer to W and H when we talk about the Harmonic Minor Scale.

How to Practice the Chromatic Scale on Guitar?

The chromatic scale is one of the best guitar technique-building exercises.

Its symmetrical shape makes it easy to create many finger patterns that you can practice to develop speed, control, timing, stretch, and accuracy.

Let me show you how the chromatic scale looks like on the guitar fretboard.

Chromatic Scale Ex.1 – The Basic Chromatic scale Pattern.

In this very first exercise, play the chromatic scale in the first position of the guitar neck.

With the left hand play the 1st fret with the finger 1, the 2nd fret with finger 2, the 3rd fret with the finger 3 and the 4th fret with the finger 4.

Pluck the strings by alternating index and middle finger. You can also pick the strings with a guitar pick if you prefer.

Chromatic Scale Ex.2 – The One String Chromatic Pattern

Let’s find a more interesting way to play the practice the chromatic scale.

With the one string chromatic pattern, we play the chromatic scale on one string up and down the neck.

This exercise is extremely beneficial for fingers stretch and finger dexterity.

There are a few points you MUST follow when practicing this exercise.

Follow the numbers on top of the music score for the left-hand fingers.
Lower the left-hand thumb down to the middle of the guitar neck.
Position the fingers close to the fret-wire.
Pluck the strings with alternate fingering or with a guitar pick.

When you feel ready, practice the exercise on the other strings.

Chromatic Scale Ex.3 – The Spider Exercise

The spider exercise is one of the most popular guitar technique exercises on guitar.

Many guitar players practice the chromatic scale using this approach in many different combinations and patterns.

In this example, we are going to learn the spider exercise in only one position of the neck. Once you learn it, you can then transpose it up and down the neck.

With the spider exercise, we are going to play the chromatic scale on two adjacent strings, but you can also practice with skipping strings too.

3. One-Octave Scale

An octave is a distance between two notes that have the same name but a different pitch.

When I play a C major scale I am playing the seven notes of the scale, C D E F G A B, plus the note that complete the octave, C.

Practicing one-octave scales is probably one of the easiest ways to getting started with scales.

In this lesson, I am going to show you three different one-octave scales and how to practice them.

One-Octave Scale Ex.1 – Scale Sequence in Thirds

In this exercise, we are going to practice a G major scale in one-octave range.

The major scale formula is G A B C D E F# G.

The scale is very simple to memorize so I am also going to add a few rhythmic variations that will challenge your rhythmic skills and timing.

One-Octave Scale Ex.2 – Four Notes Sequence

In this exercise, we are going to practice the one-octave scale in C major key with a four notes sequence.

The idea is to play the scale in a group of four notes. Each group of notes starts from a different degree of the scale.

Check the example below:

Group 1: C D E F
Group 2: D E F G
Group 3: E F G A
Group 4: F G A B
Group 5: G A B C

Because we are playing a one-octave scale, we can only have five groups of notes.

Check the example below.

4. Practice the Scales Vertically

Things become interesting once we move to vertical scales.

Vertical scales are scales played in one position of the guitar neck in a range between three and six frets and can be used as a technical exercise as well as for improvisation and guitar solos.

In this section, I am going to show you how I like to practice vertical scales and the patterns I like to play the most.

Vertical Scale Ex.1 – Descending Scale Pattern

In this exercise, we are going to play a descending scale in G major key.

Practicing descending scales is always more challenging at first as we are more accustomed to playing scales from the lowest to the highest note.

On top of that, we will play the descending G major scale with a repetitive pattern of four and eight notes.

One of my favorite exercises.

Vertical Scale Ex.2 – Ascending Scale Pattern

Same example as exercise 1, this time we are going to practice this beautiful ascending E minor scale played with a pattern of six notes.

This E minor scale is played in position VII (seven) and starts on the 5th string. Make sure you follow the left-hand fingers on the top of the music score.

More Examples of Vertical Scale

In this section, I am going to show you some of the most popular vertical scales on the guitar you should know.

You can practice each scale to improve your technique by implementing the scale sequences we learned above. You can also use this scale to create beautiful solos and melodies.

Learn how to play these following vertical shapes:

A minor scale
C major scale
E major scale
B minor scale
D minor scale

Notice that not all the scales start from the root note.

A minor Scale

C Major Scale

E Major Scale

B Minor Scale

D Minor Scale

5. Practice the Scales with Different Rhythmic Patterns

Can we play music without rhythm? Well, the answer is no.

Rhythm is one of the three elements that make music possible: Harmony, Melody, and Rhythm.

If you know how to clap your hands or tap your foot to a steady beat, then you know about rhythm.

In this section, I am going to show you how to practice scales with different rhythmic patterns so that you can challenge not only your fingers but also your inner rhythm.

Before we get started, learn the basic duration of the notes and how to name them. We are going to combine different note value to make the scales more challenging to play.

Basic Duration of the Notes

Whole note (semibreve).
Half note (minim)
Quarter note (crotchet)
Eight note (quaver)
Sixteenth note (semiquaver)
Thirty-seconds note (demisemiquaver)

There are also shorter notes such as the 64th note and the 128th note, but they are insanely short for most music.

The Time Signature

Simply put, the time signature defines how to count the rhythm of the song.

Also called “meter,” it is written at the beginning of the score with two numbers displayed in a fraction style.

Some of the most common time signature are the 4/4, which has four quarter notes in a measure, or the 3/4 which only has three.

The measure (also called bar) is the space between two vertical lines where we write the notes.

Learn more about how rhythm works in music by reading this beautiful article written by WikiBooks.

Different Rhythmic Pattern Ex.1 – Quarter Notes and Eight Notes Combined

In this first exercise, we are going to combine eight notes and quarter notes.

The scale we are learning is the A minor Phrygian scale, which is the scale built on the 3rd degree of the Major scale.

The notes are: A Bb C D E F G A

Play one note per beat for the quarter note and two notes per beat for the eight note.

In the measures with the quarter note, count 1 2 3 4 and play one note per beat. In the measures with the eight notes, count 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and. Play two notes per beat.

Different Rhythmic Pattern Ex.2 – Eight Notes and Sixteenth notes Combined

Let’s spice things up and try something more fun to play.

In this example, I am going to show you how to play a beautiful E major scale with both eight notes and sixteenth notes.

To make it more interesting, we are going to create a melodic pattern that sounds like classical music.

Remember to play two notes per beat for the eight note and four notes per beat for the sixteenth notes.

Different Rhythmic Pattern Ex.3 – Chromatic scale in 4 and 6

Another great way to practice scales with different rhythmic patterns is what I call “Scale in 4 and 6”.

When you practice the scale this way, you will play four sixteenth notes followed by six sixteenth note, called sextuplet.

It is easier to use this rhythmic pattern with the chromatic scale because of the symmetrical shape that the scale offers.

Learn the exercise below.

6. Practice the Scales Horizontally

Horizontal scales are one of the most exciting and fascinating guitar exercises you’ll ever practice.

Opposite to the vertical scales, which are played in one position, the horizontal scales are played up and down the guitar neck between five and twelve frets.

When you see the horizontal scale on a diagram, you get a clear idea of how complex it is.

Remember to play each note from the bottom left just as you would read a book. You will start with the 5th string fret 3 and 5, then the 4th string with fret 2, 3, 5, and 7, etc.

The horizontal scales reminds me of when I was studying classical guitar. When you play classical music, you spend a lot of time working on your technique. Scales and arpeggios are among the guitar exercises you will practice the most for years.

I still remember me practicing all these beautiful horizontal scales up and down the neck and how good it felt to play them.

A great exercise for your technique, neck memorization, speed, and control.

Horizontal Scales Ex.1. E major scale

Let’s get started with this E major scale played in three octaves played in three positions of the neck.

The notes of the E major scale are E F# G# A B C# D# E.

Follow the left-hand fingers on top of the score.

Horizontal Scales Ex.2. E Minor Scale

Let’s play the same scale shape in the minor key.

The E minor scale is E F# G A B C D E.

Horizontal Scales Ex.3. A Harmonic Minor Scale

The Harmonic minor scale (also called Aeolian #7) is a Natural minor scale with the 7th note sharpened.

Let’s compare the A Natural minor scale with the A Harmonic minor scale.

The sound of the Harmonic minor scale reminds me of the Spanish flamenco music as well as Arabic and Classical.

In this section, I am going to show you the B minor Harmonic scale played horizontally. Play the scale with alternate fingering index-middle or middle-index.

7. Play the Scales with Triplets

Playing scales with different rhythmic patterns is indeed one of the most effective ways to take your technique to the next level.

The triplet is the rhythmic pattern I usually give to my students once they master the sixteenth notes. Some guitar players call this “switching between 4 and 3,” and the reason for that is because we refer to triplets as three notes per beat as opposed to the sixteenth note which is four notes per beat.

The triplet looks like this.

So, how do we count the triplets?

In the examples below, one beat takes one triplet. We call it “Three notes per beat.”

There is a very simple system that a lot of guitar players and musicians use to count the triplets correctly.

Split the three notes as it follows: one-tri-plet, two-tri-plet, three-tri-plet, four-tri-plet. Start again from number one for each measure.

Let’s practice two scales with triplets.

Ex.1 – G Major Scale Played with Triplets

In this example, we are going to learn the G major scale with triplets.

Remember to play three notes for each beat.

Ex.2 – B Minor Scale Played with Triplets

Another scale played with triplets, this time in B minor key: B C# D E F# G A B

Notice how the scale is played differently on the way back.

8. Symmetrical Patterns

A symmetrical, pattern is a set of notes that can be repeated on different octaves.

It is called symmetrical because it’s played with the same shapes over a different set of strings.

Look at the G minor below and how the six notes G A Bb C D Eb are repeated one octave higher on a different set of strings with the same shape.

This way of playing scales works perfectly on the electric guitar due to the number of frets available. However, I find that some of these patterns can also be played on the acoustic guitar.

Let me show you a few examples.

F minor Symmetrical Scale Ex.1

In this example, we are going to combine two patterns on the same set of strings in F major key. The notes are F G A Bb C D.

The scale starts on the first fret so the positions can be quite stretchy.

Take it step-by-step and save your tendons.

9. Scales in Thirds

Practicing scales in thirds is indeed one of the best ways to develop the fingerpicking technique on guitar.

A 3rd is a music interval. Precisely, it’s the distance between one note, called root, and its third.

The 3rd can be major or minor depending on how many tones and semitones there are between the two notes.

Let me show you the difference between major and minor 3rd.

Because we are plucking two notes at the same time, it is obvious that playing interval scales like the one we are about to learn can be beneficial for your plucking technique as well as finger’s stretch and control.

There is a lot of plucking patterns that we can use to play scales in 3rd.

Let me show you a few of them.

Ex.1 – Scale in Thirds in C major

In this example, pluck the strings with the index and middle finger.

Use the left-hand fingers shown on top of the music stuff. The passages with the little finger are the most stretchy. Take it step-by-step.

Ex.2 – Scale in Thirds in B Harmonic Minor

Another example in 3rd in B Harmonic minor key.

This scale is played without open strings.

Ex.3 – Scale in Thirds with Different Plucking Pattern

You can practice the scale in 3rd by playing a combination of notes called “Root/3rd – 3rd/Root”.

With this combination, the first chord starts with the Root note followed by its 3rd. The second chord starts with the 3rd first.

Pluck one string at a time and play the notes as evenly as possible. If the plucking hand gets tired, stop immediately.

This is a very simple example in C major. You can then extend this concept to any other scale you know.

10. Scales in Sixth

You can also practice scales in sixth.

The 6th is a musical interval just like the 3rd but with the distance of six notes between the root and its 6th. This interval can also be either major or minor.

This is an example of major and minor 6th on guitar.

Ex1 – A major Scale in Sixth

The first example in position one in very simple.

The A major scale is: A B C# D E F# G# A

11. The Melodic Minor Scale

The Melodic minor scale is just like a Natural minor scale with the 6th and 7th degree raised.

This is the scale formula of the Melodic minor scale.

One of the main characteristics of this scale is that it is played differently ascending or descending.

The ascending scale is the Melodic minor scale. In C minor the scale looks like this: C D Eb F G A B C.
The descending scale becomes Natural. C D Eb F G Ab Bb C

This is how the scale looks like:

Difference Between Classical and Modern music

You can practice and play the Melodic minor scale in two different ways.

In Classical music the scale is played with the formula we learned above with the descending scale becoming natural.

In Jazz music, the scale is played the same both ascending and descending as it mainly used for improvisations and solos.

Let me show you an example of Melodic minor scale.

Remember to apply all the concepts you learned above to practice the Melodic scale. Symmetrical patterns, thirds, sixths, different rhythmic patterns. They all work on the melodic minor scale too.

Ex.1 – C# Melodic Minor Scale

In this very first example, we are going to explore the C# Melodic minor scale.

The notes of this scale are C# D# E F# G# A# B# C# in its ascending shape and C# B A G# F# E D# C# in the descending shape.

Let’s Wrap This Up

I hope you find all the information inside this blog useful guys.

I know! It’s a lot of stuff to take in one go. I recommend that you practice one scale at a time.

Practicing scales should be something you do consistently over the years. A few months won’t do the job.

Practice guitar scale for at least 10 minutes a day. Use it as warm up or for your solos.

Keep your fingers busy but save your tendons.

Good luck with this lesson guys.

Marco.

11 Mar

7 Chord Progressions Perfect for Songs and How to Actually Play Them

Posted by BlitzGuitarAdmin Fingerstyle Guitar Lesson

What’s the best chord progression for a song and how can you write beautiful yet simple chord progressions on guitar?

In this fingerstyle guitar lesson, I am going to show you 7 chord progressions perfect for songs. Each example is played in a different key and shows you how to make a simple chord progression beautiful and song friendly.

For me, the perfect chord progression for a song should be simple. After all, the chords are there to enhance the melody and provide a solid background to the song.

The 7 chord progression we are checking out today are:

G major: Gadd9 | Em | Cadd9 | Dadd11
C major: Csus4 | Em7 | Fadd9 | C | G
D minor: Dmadd9 | Bb(##11) | C
D major: Em9 | A7(13) | Dmaj7 | B7(b13)
D major: D | Cadd9 | G
A minor: Am | Am/G | D/F# | F6
C# minor: C#m | Bsus4 | F#m/A | E/B | F#m11/C# | B

Enjoy this lesson.

Tab available on my Patreon page.

Tab Available on Patreon.

Tab Here

10 Mar

Lagrima by Francisco Tarrega Fingerstyle Guitar Lesson

Posted by BlitzGuitarAdmin Fingerstyle Guitar Lesson

Hey guys, let me show you how to play this beautiful piece by Francisco Tarrega called Lagrima.

This is indeed one of the most famous classical pieces on Classical guitar and today I am going to teach you how to play it step-by-step.

We will take a look at the melody and chords as well as the fingerpicking patterns.

Overall, this is a very simple piece that almost every guitar player learn or attempt to learn. It alternates easy and more challenging parts which make it cool to learn.

This is a top 5 pieces you should know if you like fingerpicking guitar.

The full tutorial is available on my Patreon page. By becoming a Patreon you will access all the YouTube tabs as well as all the courses available on this website. You also support my work and become an active member of the BlitzGuitar family.

Enjoy this lesson.

Listen to Lagrima by Francisco Tarrega down below.

09 Mar

Combine Strumming with Fingerstyle … (beautiful chords and melody)

Posted by BlitzGuitarAdmin Uncategorized

Hey guys, welcome back to another lesson.

Today I am going to show you how to combine strumming with fingerstyle technique over a simple yet beautiful chord progression in D major.

Strumming and fingerstyle technique are the two main guitar technique available on acoustic guitar.

What’s the difference between strumming and fingerstyle?

With the strumming technique, you brush the strings up and down with your fingers or a guitar pick. Mainly used for playing chords, it is probably the number one technique most guitar players start with as it is simple, intuitive and very rhythmic.
Fingerstyle, on the other hand, is a guitar technique in which we pluck the strings with the right-hand fingers. With the fingerpicking technique, you can combine chords, rhythm, and melody.

In this guitar lesson, I am going to show you how you can combine both techniques to create dynamics, colors, and movements within your favorite chords and melodies.

Enjoy this lesson.

Tab Available on Patreon.

Tab Here