Why Is Fingerstyle Guitar So Hard? How to Overcome Challenges and Master the Techniques

Fingerstyle guitar is a beautiful and versatile way of playing guitar. Still, it’s also notoriously challenging for beginners and experienced players alike. Whether you’re playing on steel string or nylon string guitars, fingerstyle requires unique techniques and skills that can take years to master.

In this article, we’ll explore why fingerstyle guitar is so complex. I’ll also share tips and strategies to help you overcome common challenges and develop your fingerpicking skills.

Whether you’re a beginner just starting out or an experienced player looking to take your fingerstyle playing to the next level, this article has something for you.

“Fingerstyle guitar is a technique where you play with every finger instead of a pick.

This style of playing allows for greater control over the sound and dynamics of the guitar. It can be used in various genres, including folk, blues, and classical music.

Fingerstyle guitar is often characterized by its intricate arrangements and melodic lines. It has been iconic sounds for fingerstyle guitar players like Tommy Emmanual, Nick Drake, Bob Dylan, and John Mayer.”

-Song Production Pros

Challenges of Fingerstyle Guitar

One of the reasons fingerstyle guitar is so tricky is because it requires using all five fingers on the picking hand rather than just a pick. Each finger must be trained to pluck the strings with precision and accuracy. Additionally, fingerstyle guitarists must learn to play bass lines, rhythm, and melody simultaneously, which can be overwhelming for beginners.

Becoming competent in fingerstyle guitar requires a significant amount of practice and patience. Developing the necessary finger strength, agility, and muscle memory takes time to execute complex finger movements efficiently.

You’ll soon become proficient at fingerstyle acoustic guitar with consistent practice and dedication.

Common Fingerstyle Challenges

Playing fingerstyle guitar can be a challenging task, especially for beginners. Here are some of the most common challenges that players face:

  • Independence of Fingers: Playing fingerstyle requires independent movement of each finger, which can be difficult for beginners to master. Developing the dexterity and coordination needed to play complex fingerpicking patterns can take a while.
  • Accuracy: Fingerstyle guitar requires a high level of accuracy. Players need to be able to precisely hit individual strings without accidentally hitting adjacent strings.
  • Timing: Timing is essential in fingerstyle guitar. Players need to maintain a steady rhythm while playing complex patterns involving different rhythms and time signatures.
  • Hand Fatigue: Fingerstyle guitar can be physically demanding, especially for beginners not used to playing for extended periods. Players must develop strength and endurance in their fingers and hands to avoid fatigue and injury.

Overcoming Fingerstyle Obstacles

While fingerstyle guitar can be challenging, there are ways to overcome these obstacles and become a competent player. Here are some tips to help you overcome common fingerstyle challenges:

  • Practice: Consistent practice is essential to developing the agility, accuracy, and timing needed to play fingerstyle guitar. Start with simple patterns and gradually work up to more complex ones as you improve.
  • Focus on Technique: Proper technique is essential in fingerstyle guitar. Take the time to learn proper hand positioning, finger placement, and picking techniques to avoid developing bad habits and improve your playing.
  • Use a Metronome: A metronome, or click track, will help you to tighten up your entire performance.. Start slow and gradually increase the bpm to make it more challenging.
  • Take Breaks: Fingerstyle guitar can be physically demanding, so taking breaks is essential to avoid fatigue and injury. Stretch your fingers and hands regularly and take breaks every 20-30 minutes to give your hands a rest.

Overall, fingerstyle guitar can be challenging, but anyone can become a competent player with consistent practice and proper technique. By focusing on the common challenges and taking steps to overcome them, you can improve your fingerstyle guitar playing and unlock your playing potential.

Exploring Fingerstyle Techniques

Contemporary fingerstyle techniques combine fingerpicking and fingerstyle techniques to create a unique and complex sound.

The most common techniques in contemporary fingerstyle include thumb independence, finger independence, and alternate fingerpicking.

Thumb independence is the ability to play a bass line with the thumb while simultaneously playing a melody with the fingers.

Finger independence is the ability to play different notes with each finger. Alternate fingerpicking involves alternating between the thumb and fingers to create a rhythmic pattern.

Understanding Fingerpicking Patterns

Fingerpicking patterns are an essential part of fingerstyle guitar playing. These patterns are created by using a combination of fingerpicking and fingerstyle techniques.

Some common fingerpicking patterns for beginners include Travis Picking and the Carter Family picking pattern. Each pattern creates a unique sound and feels for songwriters; mastering them is essential to becoming competent in fingerstyle guitar playing and expanding on more classical techniques.

  • Travis Picking: Travis picking is a fingerstyle guitar technique named after Merle Travis, an American country singer, songwriter, and guitarist. The method involves using the thumb to play a steady bass line on the guitar’s lower strings. In syncopation, the fingers pluck the higher strings to create a melody and chord progression.*

    The basic Travis picking pattern involves alternating between the thumb and fingers in a continuous pattern, starting with the thumb playing the bass note and then alternating between the fingers to play the melody and chords. This creates a syncopated rhythm and a walking bass line, giving the music a lively, bouncing feel.

    Travis picking is commonly used in country, folk, and blues music. Still, it can be applied to a variety of genres. It’s an excellent technique for any guitar player wanting to add depth and complexity. It can be a lot of fun to practice and master.

    *For additional instruction, please check out this article from Fender for an in-depth tutorial.
  • Carter Family Picking: The Carter Family fingerpicking technique is characterized by a unique strumming pattern known as the “Carter scratch,” which involves brushing the thumb across the lower strings in a rhythmic, percussive manner while the fingers play melody and chords on the higher strings. This creates a distinctive sound often associated with traditional American folk and country music.

    Carter Family picking is an excellent technique for any guitar player who wants to play traditional folk or country music. It’s a great place to start your fingerpicking journey because it mixes rhythm and finger independence well. With practice, it can add depth and complexity to your playing.

Improving Fingerstyle Guitar Performance

Improving your fingerstyle guitar performance involves more than just practicing techniques. It also involves developing your sense of rhythm, dynamics, and expression. This helps you to play with feeling and emotion that genuinely brings a song to life.

One way to improve your fingerstyle guitar performance is to practice with a metronome. This can help you develop your sense of rhythm and timing. Practicing with other musicians can also help you to improve your ability to play in a group setting.

Another way to improve your fingerstyle guitar performance is to record yourself playing. This can help you identify areas to improve and track your progress.

Ways to Become Competent in Fingerstyle Guitar

Fingerstyle guitar can be challenging for beginners, but with the right approach, you can overcome the obstacles and master this intricate technique. Below are some practical ways to become competent in fingerstyle guitar:

Utilizing Online Resources

Numerous online resources, like YouTube, are available to help you learn and improve your fingerstyle technique. These include tutorials, video lessons, and courses dedicated to fingerstyle guitar. Use these resources to learn new techniques, troubleshoot issues, and get inspired by other players.

Another fantastic resource is TrueFire All-Access. There are over 55,000 high-quality videos with expert instructors on this platform. They also have specific videos tailored towards fingerstyle playing.

Taking Private Lessons

Private lessons provide personalized instruction and valuable feedback on your technique, helping you develop your skills more efficiently and effectively.

Joining Guitar Communities

Getting involved in guitar communities, both online and in-person, can be beneficial for your growth. Engaging with fellow guitarists allows you to share advice, learn from others, and stay motivated in your practice. You may also discover new fingerstyle guitarists to learn from and be inspired by.

https://www.acousticguitarforum.com is a great place to start.

Consistency and Patience

Developing proficiency in fingerstyle guitar requires consistent practice and patience. Dedicate time to working on your technique daily, and understand that progress may be slow at first. With persistence, your skills will gradually improve, leading to more advanced and expressive fingerstyle playing.

Play the Right Acoustic Guitar

When learning fingerstyle guitar, having the right acoustic guitar can make all the difference. While any guitar can be used for fingerstyle playing, certain guitars are better suited to the unique demands of this style.

The best fingerstyle acoustic guitars are typically those with a wider neck and a lower action, which makes it easier to play complex fingerpicking patterns with precision and speed.

Additionally, guitars with a smaller body size, such as parlor or concert models, can be more comfortable to hold and play for extended periods and have less string tension.

Whether you’re a beginner just starting out or an experienced player looking to upgrade your instrument, investing in one of the best fingerstyle acoustic guitars can help you achieve the tone, playability, and comfort you need to take your fingerpicking skills to the next level.

The Bottom Line

While fingerstyle guitar may seem daunting initially, with patience, practice, and the right approach, anyone can learn to master this beautiful and rewarding playing style.

By understanding the challenges of learning fingerstyle guitar on both nylon and steel string acoustic guitars and following the tips and techniques outlined in this article, you’ll be well on your way to developing the skills and confidence you need to play fingerstyle guitar with ease and grace.

So don’t be discouraged by the difficulty of fingerstyle guitar – embrace the challenge, and let your passion for music guide you towards mastery.

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AUTHOR
Brad Johnson
Brad is the creator of Song Production Pros. He writes songs and surfs on the weekends when he's not too busy with family or this website. He writes music under the moniker FJ Isles, and can be heard on all streaming services.

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