[Chaotic Kittie]

So... I've decided to have a serious go at fingerpicking/classical guitar, something I've more or less ignored until now, because my main interest lies in flatpicking/electric.
But now I feel I need a little break from it, finding it hard to practice anything, not really knowing where I'm going.
I tried out Kirks lesson on "silent night (easy version)", and found that fingerpicking was very interesting, it felt interesting to start to learn something new, so I decided to use my break from the world of picks to learning fingerpicking/fingerstyle.

But before I go off at that, I'd like to ask...
alternating between index/middle when picking, how strict should I be about this?
That, and any other advice you may have to offer!

Thanks in advance

[Fretsource]

Do you mean alternating them on different strings?
Use the finger that seems best positioned to play that string.

Do your mean alternating them on the same string?
Alternate them. Try to avoid using the same finger twice in succession (chords and intervals excepted). Just as walking is a more efficient way to get around than hopping, so too is alternating fingers rather than using the same finger to play successive notes.

[737blues]

When I first started playing guitar it was at school and we were taught the classical method. Alternating was the thing. that was like, forty years ago and somewhere along the way I gave up trying to alternate because frankly, it confused me. That is, I found I was concentrating more on whether my technique and alternation was correct than just playing. I regret that now because I do think that not alternating has limited my progress somewhat and it's very hard to change now.

As you know, there is lots of debate about this and many great players from either camp but IMHO, If you're going to the trouble of learning something new anyway, it's probably best to take the teacher's advice and try the 'approved' method first.

[Chris C]

Originally Posted by 737blues

As you know, there is lots of debate about this and many great players from either camp but IMHO, If you're going to the trouble of learning something new anyway, it's probably best to take the teacher's advice and try the 'approved' method first.

+1 to that.

I love to 'go my own way' but I still try to keep pace with whatever the 'approved' method in any area might be. Simply because there are often good reasons why certain ways of doing things become accepted or approved in the first place. Sometimes the reasons aren't always obvious until a bit further down the track, so I try to keep my options open as long as I can before I throw out the 'old ways'.

Fingerpicking is a great style once you get the hang of it - and it's pretty much limitless in the different ways you can go about it. I found that the easiest was to start with simple repeating patterns. They don't have to be complex to begin with, and you can just get your right hand plucking away 'in the groove' while your left hand makes chord changes. Later you can do more complicated patterns, or do what Kirk does so well in his lessons, which is vary all the elements. I'm still an absolute newb at trying to do what he can do, but it's a fascinating and absorbing skill to try and master.

All the best with the new direction.

Cheers,

Chris

[coldethyl]

I personally find that when I'm fingerpicking I alternate more between my thumb,index and middle fingers more so and my ring finger gets used a little less.

My classical guitar teacher was quite strict about the traditional method of finger usage and placement on the guitar. But over the years since I've drifted away from that but what I'd call the essential part of that method I've retained.

[scott58]

The "approved method" is a bit difficult for me. My pinky is usually the one that stays dead. i do use a thumb pick, but my index, middle and ring finger work pretty well when my nails are long. Finger picks give me trouble with speed, so I keep the nails on my right hand a bit long. i usually cover the top 3 strings with my thumb. 3rd string/index, 2nd string/middle, and 1st string/ring. Not exactly perfect technique, but I get good speed and accuracy this way.

[Fretsource]

Here's an example of what I meant about alternating a series of notes, both on
A) different strings
B) the same string

-----------0------------0-0-0-0-1-1-1-1-
---------------0-------------------------
-------0-----------0---------------------
-----------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
---0-------------------------------------

The first part contains notes on different strings and everyone would agree the thumb should be used for the bass note followed by index, ring, middle and index again on strings 3, 1 2 & 3. In other words, every string has an allocated finger, ready and waiting. This is the most efficient way to play them.

But the second part is different, with 8 notes all to be played on the first string. If you follow that principle of one finger per string, and try play them all with the same finger, you will be making that one finger work far more than necessary. Unless you take great care, it will sound awkward and jerky. And if it has to be played fast, it's highly unlikely that you could get anywhere near the speed required.
This is a very inefficient way to play.

In all cases the context should determine the best way to play any piece of music, so I would play those last 8 notes with alternating index and middle.

[737blues]

Absolutely no argument here Fret. Interested to hear your opinion though about the problem I always have, (and I wonder if it's common) is that when playing multiple notes on different strings. I find that invariably when I go to the next string, up or down, I'll break the alternation and continue on the next string with the last used finger. In other words, I involuntarily break the alternating free strokes and slip in a rest stroke, going down and start a new sequence going up, at each string change. Hope I've explained that okay.

For example;

(1st string) i,m,i,m,i (2nd string) i,m,i,m,i
instead of,
(1st string) i,m,i,m,i (2nd string) m,i,m,i,m and the same in reverse.

I actually became quite paranoid about this at one stage and that's what I meant about concentrating too much on this, but I've sort of accepted it as a somewhat inevitable bad habit now.

[Chaotic Kittie]

Thanks for all the advice!

Originally Posted by 737blues

(1st string) i,m,i,m,i (2nd string) i,m,i,m,i
instead of,
(1st string) i,m,i,m,i (2nd string) m,i,m,i,m and the same in reverse.

I actually became quite paranoid about this at one stage and that's what I meant about concentrating too much on this, but I've sort of accepted it as a somewhat inevitable bad habit now.

This is a question that's also on my mind, this is where the alternating becomes most confusing, because at string changes I don't seem to have any perception of which finger I'm actually using... so while I may feel that the last finger used on string 1 was the middle, it was in fact the index.

Also, how to approach multiple notes played on the bass strings?

[Fretsource]

Agreed 737 and Kittie - When it comes to string changes as you described, I often do exactly the same as you and break the pattern for an instant. I don't see it as a fault - I see it as making a virtue out of a vice.

[737blues]

Thanks Fret. Glad to hear I'm not the only one! I feel better now.

[BigG]

Hi CK:
The classical tradition teaches us to use the most convenient finger to play.

The Folk tradition assigns a finger to each string. Thumb plays bass 6, 5, and 4 and index plays 3, middle 2 and ring 1. Sometimes you change the rule when it is convenient.

I use the folk style and learned it 10 years ago when I got into the same state you did.

Remember that it might take you 1 to 2 years to master the technique.

I started with fingerpicking patterns such as the Travis Pattern. I now play almost excluvisely fingerstyle and find great challenge in arranging chords/melody for the songs I like.

Guitar has been a life-long 46-year adventure.