Am I the only one in the world who....

jamesron41 · Lion Joined: 16 Dec 2001 Posts: 945 Location: Waco,TX

doesn't fingerpick that well? I mean I can play some things like they are nothing on the guitar but I can't fingerpick. I think the problem might be I have been puting off learning it but I guees I will have to. So I guess I can't fingerpick because of lack of practice.

Anybody have good tips on the best way to learn?

jamesron41 · Lion Joined: 16 Dec 2001 Posts: 945 Location: Waco,TX

BTW, it seems that I am really clumsy with my right hand. Well, clumsy with the fingerpicking part.

[This message has been edited by jamesron41 (edited March 06, 2002).]

owwdatune

you already know the answer--it takes practice--especially fingerpicking !!
i've been a fingerstylist all my life & believe me harry-it don't come easy !!
it will feel clumsey for a while-till you teach your fingers what it is you expect of them...little by little it will happen...its very much consentration--see lance about a fingerpicking lesson video for beginners. it covers the basics to get you going. i recommend it as i've used it to teach a few youngsters.-start out slow..get the basic motions down..then find you music that fingerpicking sounds good with--john denver stuff is a good starting point-love ballads-things of that nature-whatever sounds good to you.
~T~

jamesron41 · Lion Joined: 16 Dec 2001 Posts: 945 Location: Waco,TX

Thanks Terry! I know I have to practice, oh well it will give me something to do.

Lance, what's this about a video?

owwdatune

what is so wonderful about being able to play that style of music harry is that you can sit with yourself & simply play whatever comes out of your soul into your fingertips. I can sit for an hour playing fingerstyle and never sound like anybody elses' music, just making stuff up without thinking-just letting the music happen by itself-it is the most relaxing marvelous music i play-& i play it for me !! (well, my wife says she loves it too)--its the style of music i used to play in the coffe houses as background..heck, it payed the bills & i didn't hafta try to sing-which is a very good thing-thats where the owwdatune comes from !!anyhowwwww...learn it & it will become your favorite also--especially nice for religeous tunes too.
~T~

owwdatune

whoa...who taught me how to spell religious ??
~T~

jamesron41 · Lion Joined: 16 Dec 2001 Posts: 945 Location: Waco,TX

LOL! hey, I can fingerpick with the top fingers, but I have a hard time hitting the bass note(with my thumb, is that what I am supposed to do?) and the top at the same time. Do you know what I am talking about, I don't know if I am making sense?

owwdatune

talk to lance about that video. LOL
~T~

Michael D

Interesting... I just posted about this in the Chords and Tab forum in response to Lance's question.

jamesron41 · Lion Joined: 16 Dec 2001 Posts: 945 Location: Waco,TX

Yeah, I just saw your post over there. Looks like we are having a similar problem with the thumb thing and all.

ACfixer

I haven't had a chance to look at all the goodies Terry sent me, lemme check! I'll take a gander at it then ship it your way Harry if you want.

Okie dokie, I just found it and it's about a buncha videos and tapes and such, well actually it's two vids, a tape and a book. Give me a week to play and make a copy then I'll send it to ya. E-mail me your address.

It's kinda funny, ~T~ also sent me these "Play your first blues riffs" and "Play your first blues rhythms" CD/books. When I first started playing I bought the same exact things for rock (I think I might have sent one to Matt). Well I know most of these little ditties or something similar, but every few tracks is a backing track for practicing the lick in that particular key. Some of these backing tracks are downright infectious! I set my player for repeat, picked up my strat and played the practice lick like once and then it's off to the races, I can't help it!!! These things are fun to mess with! Some of the tracks have a guy soloing with the progression and it's never like what I would come up with, he plays some kinda Peter Pan sounding bippity boppity boo stuff and I like these dirty grinding bends and double stops. That's what I love about music, everybody sees it a little different but it's all cool

matdvd

My advise for fingerpicking is to use the pinky as much as possible, trim your nails close, and don't scratch the inside of your nose...it will bleed pretty bad.

Opps, sorry. Wrong area...

Michael D

Matt, you're not paying attention.... It's my *thumb* I'm having trouble with. It just won't fit.

jamesron41 · Lion Joined: 16 Dec 2001 Posts: 945 Location: Waco,TX

quote:
Originally posted by matdvd:
My advise for fingerpicking is to use the pinky as much as possible, trim your nails close, and don't scratch the inside of your nose...it will bleed pretty bad.

Opps, sorry. Wrong area...

LOL!

matdvd

Ouch....