[CanuckTodd]

Hey folks,
I'm pretty much a strummer, but I keep trying my darndest to figure out a song or two played fingerstyle. I tried this intro (it's piano in the original) to Coldplay's Clocks. I used my electric for the fingerstyle playing (with thumb pick) then added some chords with my 12 string.

I have to tell you, this doesn't come easily. This song is also quite fast and those fingers are struggling to keep it going. But I'm trying. Feedback and advice welcome!

And for fingerstyle Masters Chammon and Kirk: Ya got nothing to worry about!

[Jim]

Nice job Todd!

As a person struggling to regain my old fingerpicking abilities, I know how hard it is to do what you did - and you did a fine job!!

Excellent work!

Jim

[seagull]

Way to go Todd, very cool.

[allthumbs]

That is pretty nice stuff there.

[joe_strummer]

Very nicely played Todd, i saw coldplay doing this live a couple of years ago, sounds really great on guitar rather than keyboards, well done

[scotty_b]

Well done Todd
Sounds great

[CanuckTodd]

Thanks for the positive feedback!
I'd really hate to admit how many times I had to practice that simple rhythm over and over again. Getting my fingers and thumb to move independently and quickly is no mean feat!
Every time I watch one of Kirk's videos (like Fire and Rain) I think... I'll never be able to do that! But I'll keep plugging away.

[scotty_b]

Originally Posted by CanuckTodd

Every time I watch one of Kirk's videos (like Fire and Rain) I think... I'll never be able to do that! But I'll keep plugging away.

Hey Todd
it is easy to feel that way, but there is no reason why you couldn't do it. The cost is time and discipline. I really think that is what seperates most people musically. There are the occassional people who I think fall into the 'genius' category (Eric Clapton, Miles Davis, the Beatles for instance) but most of them will talk about how hard they worked to get to their level of playing. John Coltrane is possibly my favourite musician ever, and I think very few others have attained the 'musical heights' that he did. Towards the end of his life he was still practising for 10-12 hours a day whenever he could. Most of us don't have that opportunity, or even if we did, the interest to do that.
But that doesn't mean we cannot become good players in our own right. So sticvk with it, think carefully about what you wish to achieve and what you are willing to do to achieve that, and then find out the best way for you to get there.
There are never enough fingerpickers in the world!

[CanuckTodd]

Originally Posted by scotty_b

Hey Todd
it is easy to feel that way, but there is no reason why you couldn't do it. The cost is time and discipline. I really think that is what seperates most people musically. ...So stick with it, think carefully about what you wish to achieve and what you are willing to do to achieve that, and then find out the best way for you to get there.
There are never enough fingerpickers in the world!

Thanks for the pep talk Scotty! I wish I had 10 or 12 hours a day for guitar, but until I win the lottery... I'm happy with the progress I'm making, but I'm realizing that it's going to take a long time to be able to play the way I'd like to.

[D-Dawn]

Sounds great! I knew the song right away

[CanuckTodd]

Thanks D-Dawn!
If you recognized it I must have hit one or two notes correctly!
I found a good beginners fingerstyle lesson for this song, and figured, what the heck, make the plunge. When I get better, I'll dig deeper into Kirk's lessons.

[Misty2u]

Nice one CT You did a great job and it was easily recognizable

[737blues]

Sounded pretty good to me. Well done.

[Rockerbob]

SOunds good. Your rhythm is very steady.

[nowhere-man]

Nice one Todd, well done. Sounds good to me. Now you are at this stage, I think you'll start to improve rapidly.