Here comes the sun

Darcy · #1 November 25th, 2005

On Bar 11 is Kirk using his index finger for the open D note then grabbing the next three strings leaving the index in position or using his thumb for both the first two notes of the bar?

Kirk Lorange · #2 November 25th, 2005

Index finger, Darcy. The thumb only plays the bottom strings ... but there are no rules. If you feel more comfortable doing it another way, go for it.

Darcy · #3 November 25th, 2005

Kirk,

Thanks - It makes playing it easier if I think that we are playing it the same way

mrpb · #4 December 25th, 2005

I've been working on this lesson for almost 4 weeks using only my thumb and index finger to strum with. Should I try to relearn using the correct fingers? Also, I can play all of the sections ( 2 or 3 chords) in a fairly musical way. But I need a lot of work on moving from one section to the next. This will be my first song, if I ever get it. Should I stick with it until I get it down? Or is it OK to move on to the next lesson (for a change of pace) and return to this one: practice both lessons each day. It really feels like it may take another month before I get this first lesson lesson down. Could working on the next lesson help me with this one? Or will it just take even longer to learn to play this song all the way through?

allthumbs · #5 December 25th, 2005

By strum do you mean pick? If strumming, the chords thumb and finger are fine. If your picking with just your thumb and index finger than that would explain your problems. Try using your third finger for the top string ,second for the second string and index for the 3rd string. You can just rest your fingers on each string as a guide to where they are. Makes it a lot easier to pick smoothly without so much hunt and pick and should let you focus more on your left hand changes.

mrpb · #6 December 25th, 2005

Yes, I meant pic. So, I've been doing it wrong for all this time. At least now, I can fix it. Thanks allthumbs.

allthumbs · #7 December 25th, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrpb

Yes, I meant pic. So, I've been doing it wrong for all this time. At least now, I can fix it. Thanks allthumbs.

Hey, your time wasn't wasted. If you look through the lessons you will see it is quite common to play the bass note with the thumb and another note at the same time with your index finger so you have just been practicing one part of fingerpicking. Nothing wrong with that. You were still doing good practice that will stand you in good stead later.

mrpb · #8 December 26th, 2005

Thanks again allthumbs. It's good to know I haven't wasted the entire time.