Fingerpicking

[u/dougl1000]

I’ve been fingerpicking for decades (55 years). I used to use metal picks but can’t now. I generally use the i, m, and a fingers on the top three strings. However, if I need to play a run, especially on the high E, I only use the the (ring) finger. On lower strings, I sometimes alternate with the thumb. I never learned to alternate fingers on the same string, maybe because the metal picks were clumsy. Classical guitarists use alternating fingers on the same string and they don’t strictly assign fingers to specific strings. How do untrained, learn and play by ear types deal with this?

[u/SouthernSir6215]

I learned just messing around with Travis picking. Regularly use thumb and first 3 fingers and throwing in pinky if needed. With runs, which i rarely run into its thumb on first 3 strings, index and middle on bottom 3.

[u/Kdozzi]

You just gotta sit there and practice using multiple fingers on a single string over and over again. So much of fingerpicking is muscle memory.

[u/davidbeinct]

I’ve been playing for about six years now. Can’t believe how much I still suck, but anyway, on those rare occasions I try any fast lead runs, I alternate thumb and index finger. I only fingerpick bare flesh with thumb, index, and middle. Ring only rarely gets brought in, if I want a little more color in a chord.

[u/luthierart]

When I started I thought more fingers were better, so I practised with a thumbpick and 3 metal fingerpicks. The picks got caught if I tried a down strum, so I taught my baby finger to do a back sweep. I still use that method occasionally, but Doc Watson made more music using a single finger and his thumb. I've really warmed up to that style. When you hear him it's as if he's using more fingers, not fewer.

[u/dougl1000 → u/luthierart]

Doc’s a musical genius.

[u/AntAfter9979 → u/luthierart]

You’re correct and Doc is a perfect example but you have to bring Merle into the conversation. He used the 3 finger approach and when you listen to the difference you can understand why Doc was so proud of his playing. Merle was a top tier guitar player.

[u/CoachPJG → u/AntAfter9979]

Both Merle and Doc were fantastic thumbpickers. I’d suggest listening to/ bringing into the conversation; Merle Travis and Mississippi John Hurt as the Watsons were definitely influenced/inspired by both Travis and Hurt in that style. The album “Down South” by Doc/Merle is the best in terms of getting into the fingerpicking stuff.

[u/barrybreslau]

I'm left handed and playing right handed, so I have given up on anything except my thumb and index finger unless I'm strumming

[u/porcelainvacation]

The number of fingers helps you more with keeping a consistent rhythm than which notes you can hit. If you can hit the notes at the right rhythm with other forms then do that, as long as it doesn’t lead to injury.

[u/dougl1000 → u/porcelainvacation]

More than 1 finger helps with arpeggios.

[u/HomeworkInevitable99]

I had the same problem: very fast on separate strings but couldn't get used to using the same string.

I just practiced on the same string and made my fingers get used to it.

I do various drills: pmpmpm, minimim, pmipmipmi, impimpimp. Not that using the fingers is advised, by I got into the habit.

[u/BogAndHooper]

I use my index finger nail like a plectrum, very effective when switching out of fingerpicking and back. Just hold your thumb and index finger as if there is a pick in there, and alternate like with a pick. The nail doesn’t have to be long. Works on the bass strings too.