fingerstyle-guitar-lessons-course-book.pdf

Fingerstyle Guitar Lessons Course One www.fingerstyleguitarlessons.org

Welcome To Fingerstyle Guitar Lessons

3

2

1

T

T

T

Copyright © 2011 www.fingerstyleguitarlessons.org. All Rights Reserved

To play fingerstyle guitar successfully two things become extremely important.

1. You need to be able to produce clear and perfect chords. This means that if you

were to hold any chord and pick down each string one-by-one, each note would

ring out clearly.

If you can’t yet do this then please spend some time on improving the quality of

your chords so that each one sounds perfect. Playing fingerstyle guitar will very

quickly expose any flaws in your chords since it’s based upon picking individual

strings within chords using patterns and sequences

2. You’ll need to organize your fingers into a well rehearsed unit. It’s essential to

teach your fingers to work together as a team with each one knowing exactly what

it’s responsible for playing - much like an army drill sergeant!

Below is the best foundation for organizing your fingers so they’ll work together as a

unified team. The idea is that each fingers should be responsible for a specific string.

Once you’ve learned and practiced this grouping enough it will become completely

automatic and second nature.

In the first part of the course we’ll be doing some exercises and drills to help this

process become naturalized in your playing. The ideal goal is for it to become so

well learned that you don’t even have to think about it, it will simply happen on its

own. Then you’ll be free of ‘technical limitations’ and able to concentrate solely

upon your chords and producing the best music you can.

First Things First...

0 3 0 0

0 0 1 1

0 0 2 0

2 0 2 2

2 2 0 3

0 3

2 2 2

3 0 1

2 2 2

0 0 1

2

3 0 2 0 2 0 2

0 1 0 1 3 0 1

0 2 2 0 2 0 2

0 2 0 2 0 2 1

2 0 2 3 2

3 0


Let’s review the rules for getting clear and perfect sounding chords

1. Press down hard enough

2. Bend your joints to form a 90 degree angle

3. Be at the front of your frets

The Key of G Major

G Am Bm C D Em F#º

Em G Am C

D Bm F#º

Exercise #1


2 2 2 2

0 0 0 0 3 3 3 3

2 2 2 2 4 4 4 4

0 4

2 2

0 0

1 1 1 1

2 2 2 2

2

0

3 3 3 3

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0

2 2

3

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

2

2 2

0

0 0

1 1 1 1

0 0 0 0

2

3

2 2

3 3 3 3

2 2 2 2

0

0

G

Em

C

D

Bm

Am


3 0

0 0 1 1

0 0 0 0

0 2

3 3

3 3

2 2 0

3 3 0 0

2 2 0 0

0 0 2

0 0

2 0

0 0 1 1

2 2 2 2

0 2

2 2 0 0

G C

D Em

Bm Am

Exercise #2


3 3

2 2 0 0

1 1 0 0

T T 0 0

T 2

T 3

3 0

2 2 1 1

1 1 0 0

T T 2 2

T T 3 3

0 2

1 1 0 0

2 2 2 2

2 2 0 0

0 0 2 2

2 2 2 0

3 3 0 0

2 2 0 0

0 0 2 2

2

0

G

C

Am Bm

D Em

Fingerstyle Pattern #1

3 3

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0

2 2

3 3

0 0

0 0 1 1

0 0 0 0

2 0 2 2

2 3 3

0

Copyright © 2010 www.spanishguitarlessons.org. All Rights Reserved

Fingerstyle Pattern #1 Example

G G

Em C


3 3

2 0

1 1 0 0

T T 0 0

T 2

T 3

3 0

2 1

1 1 0 0

T T 2 2

T T 3 3

0 0

1 0

2 2 2 2

2 2 0 0

0 0 2 2

2 0

3 3 0

2 2 0 0

0 0 0 2 2

2

0

G

C

Am Bm

D Em


3 0

0 1

0 0 0 0

0 0 2 2

2 3 3

3

2 3

1 1 0

2 2 0 0

0 0 0 0 0

2

3



G C

D7 G


0

1 1 1

2 2 2 2

2 2 2 2

0 0 0 0

2

0 0 0

2 2 2 2

0 0 0 0

2 2 2 2

3

2 2 2

1 1 1 1

T T T T

T

T T T

3

0 0 0

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0

2 2 2

3

3

2 2 2

1 1 1 1

T T T T

T T T T

0

1 1 1

0 0 0 0

2 2 2 2

3 3 3 3

G

C

Am

Bm



2 2 2

3 3 3 3

2 2 2 2

0 0 0 0 0

0

0 0 0

0 0 0 0

2 2 2 2

2

0 0 0

D

Em

Fingerstyle Pattern #3 cont...

2 2 2 3

1 1 1 1 0 0 0

2 2 2 2 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

2

3 3 3

3 0

0 0 0 1 1 1

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 2 2 2 2

2 3 3 3 3

3 3 3


G C

D7 G


3 3

2 2 0 0

1 1 0 0

T 0

T 3

3 0

2 2 1 1

1 1 0 0

T 2

T 3

0 2

1 0 0 0

2 1 2 2

2 0

0 2

2 0

3 3 0 0

2 2 0 0

0 0 2

0

G

C

Am Bm

D Em

Fingerstyle 3/4 Pattern

3 0

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0

0 2

3 0

0 0

1 1 3 0

0 0 0 4

2 5

3 5


Fingerstyle 3/4 Pattern Example

G Em

C Dadd11

Practice Progressions


3 0

0 0 0

0 0 0 0

0 0 2 2

2 2

3 0

0 0

1 3 3

0 0 0 0

2 2 4 4

3 3 5 5

G Em

C Dadd11

0 0

0 0 1 1

0 0 0 0

2 2

3

0

3 2

0 0 0 0

0 0 2 2

0 1

2

3

G B7

Em C


0

0 0 0

0 0 0 0

2 2 2 2

2

0 0 0

0

1 1 1

2 2 2 2

2 2 2 2

0 0 0 0

0

3 3 3

0 0 0 0

4 4 4 4

5 5 5 5

3

0 0 0

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0

2

3 3 2

Em

Am

Dadd11

G

Practice Progressions

Chord Colours and Practice Progressions


0

3

2

0

2

3 0 0 0 3

0 3 0 1 1 0

0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 0 2 2 2 2 0 0

2 3 3 2

3 2 0 3

0 0 0

0 0 0

0 0 2

4 4 1

2 3 2

0

0 0

0 0 0

0 0 0 0

4 4 4 4

2 3 3

0

0 0

0 0 0

0 0 2 2

4 4 1 1

2 2 2

0

Em add9 C Maj7#11 B7 add11

Em add11 C maj7#11

Em add11 B7 add11

Dadd9/F#

G Dadd11/F# Em C G


0

0

2

0

2

3 0 3

0 0 0 1 1 0

0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0

2 0 0 0 2 2 0 0

2 3 3 2

0 2 3 3

3

1

0

2

3

3 3

1 1 0

0 0 0 0 (x 3)

2 2 0 0

3 3 2

3

D 6/9

Em D 6/9 G C G

C

C G

0 0

3 3 3

2 2 3 2

0 0 0 0

2 2 2 2

D add9/F#



0 3

1 1 1 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

2 2 2 2 0 0 2 4

3 3 3 3 2 3 5 0

3

3

0

0 0 0 0 0

0 0 2 0

2 3 2 0

3

(3)

1

0

2

3

3

1 1 0

0 0 0 0 (X3)

2 2 0 0

2

3 3 3

3

0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

9 7 5 4 2 0 0 0

10 9 7 5 3 2 3 2

5 3

Gsus4

Gsus4 G

C G

G



3

0 3 1 0

0 0 0 0

0 0 0

2 2 0

3

12 10 8 7 5 3 1 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0

10 9 7 5 3 2 0

3

3 0

0 3 0 0 8 7 5

0 0 0 0 (X3) 0 0 0

0 2 0

2 3 7 5 3

3

3

3 1 0 0 0

0 0 2 0 0

0

2 0 2

2 3 3

G /B Cmaj7 G

D6/9 G

G Am7


3 0

0 1 1

0 0 0 0 0

0 2 0 2

0 2 3 3

3


3

1 3 3 5 1 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 2 0

0 0

0 2 3 0

2 2 3 3

3 0

0 1 1

0 0 0 0 2 0

0 2

0 2 3 3

3

3 0 3

3 3 3 3 1 0 3 3

0 0 0 2 0 0 X2

0 0

2 3 2 0

3 2 3

3

1 3 3 5 1 0 0 0

0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0

0 0 0

0 2 3 0

2 2 3 3

G C

G C

G C D6/9 G

Am7 D6/9 G

Am7 D6/9 G



0 0 0

1 1 1 1 1 1 0

0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0

2 0 2 2 3 3 2 0

3 2 0 0 3 3 3

3

3 0

0 0

2 0

0 7

3 8

3 3 0

0 0 0 0 0

2 2 0 0 2 2 0 0

0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 7 7

2 3

3 3 3 3 8 8

0 3 0 3

1 1 1 1 1 1 0

0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0

2 2 3 3 3 2 2 0 0

3 3 3 3 2

3

Gadd9 Cmaj7/13

Gadd9 /B C Gadd9 Cmaj7/13

C Fadd9 C G

C /B Am7 F C G



0 3 0 0

1 0 1 1 1 1 0

0 0 2 2 2 2 0 0

2 0 2 2 3 3 2 0

3 0 0 3 3 3

3 3

0 3 0 2 3

1 0 1 1 1 0

0 0 2 2 2 2 0 0

2 0 2 2 0 0 0 0

3 0 0 0 0 2

3 3

C G Am D7/A G

C G Am Fmaj7 C G


Fingerstyle Guitar Lessons: “Swing Feel”

3

2

1 1

T T

T

T (T)


In this section we’re going to ‘wave a magic wand’ and create a totally new and fresh

style of finger picking based solely upon what we’ve already learned.

We can do this, very simply, by changing the rhythm of how we play fingerstyle.

Take a look at the example below...

You can see how I’ve simply taken a pattern we’ve already learned and simply

changed its ‘feel’ to a shuffle.

Tap Tap Tap Tap Tap Tap Tap etc...

The effect is instantly recognizable and totally different from playing in straight 4/4

time. All we’ve done is change the rhythm.

As an exercise, try playing the pattern with a straight feel and then with a shuffle

feel, comparing the two as you go. Feel free to use any chord you like and once

you’re comfortable get into some to the progressions which follow.


3 3

2 2 0 0

1 1 0 0

T T 0 0

T 2

T 3

3 0

2 2 1 1

1 1 0 0

T T 2 2

T T 3 3

0 2

1 1 0 0

2 2 2 2

2 2 0 0

0 0 2 2

2 2 2 0

3 3 0 0

2 2 0 0

0 0 2 2

2

0

G

C

Am Bm

D Em

Pattern #1 - Swing Feel


3 3

2 0

1 1 0 0

T T 0 0

T 2

T 3

3 0

2 1

1 1 0 0

T T 2 2

T T 3 3

0 0

1 0

2 2 2 2

2 2 0 0

0 0 2 2

2 0

3 3 0

2 2 0 0

0 0 0 2 2

2

0

G

C

Am Bm

D Em


3 0

0 1

0 0 0 0

0 0 2 2

2 3 3

3

2 3

1 1 0

2 2 0 0

0 0 0 0 0

2

3

Fingerstyle Swing Pattern #2 Example

G C

D7 G


0

1 1 1

2 2 2 2

2 2 2 2

0 0 0 0

2

0 0 0

2 2 2 2

0 0 0 0

2 2 2 2

3

2 2 2

1 1 1 1

T T T T

T

T T T

3

0 0 0

0 0 0 0

0 0 0 0

2

3 3 3

3

2 2 2

1 1 1 1

T T T T

T T T T

0

1 1 1

0 0 0 0

2 2 2 2

3 3 3 3

G

C

Am

Bm



2 2 2

3 3 3 3

2 2 2 2

0 0 0 0 0

0

0 0 0

0 0 0 0

2 2 2 2

2

0 0 0

D

Em

Pattern #3 - Swing Feel cont...


2 3

1 1 0 0

2 2 0 0

0 0 0 0 0

2

3

3 0

0 0 0

0 0 0 0

0 0 2 2

2 2

3 0

0 0

1 3

0 0 0 0

2 2 4 4

3 3 5 5

3 0

0 1 1

0 0 0 0

0 0 2 2

2 3 3

3

G Em

C Dadd11

G C

D7 G

Swing Practice Progressions


0 0

3 3 3

0 0 0 0

4 4 4 4

5 5 5 5

0

0

2

0

2

3 0 3

0 0 0 1 1 0

0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0

2 0 0 0 2 2 0 0

2 3 3 2

0 2 3 3

3

1

0

2

3

3 3

1 1 0

0 0 0 0 (x 3)

2 2 0 0

3 3 2

3

D 6/9

Em D 6/9 G C G

C

C G

D add9/11


(3)

1

0

2

3

3

1 1 0

0 0 0 0 (X3)

2 2 0 0

2

3 3 3

Gsus4

Gsus4 G

0 3

1 1 1 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

2 2 2 2 0 0 2 4

3 3 3 3 2 3 5 0

3

3

0

0 0 0 0 0

0 0 2 0

2 3 2 0

3

3

0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

9 7 5 4 2 0 0 0

10 9 7 5 3 2 3 2

5 3

C G



12 10 8 7 5 3 1 0

0 0 0 0 0 0 0

10 9 7 5 3 2 0

3

3

0 3 1 0

0 0 0 0

0 0 0

2 2 0

3

G Am7

0 0 0

1 1 1 1 1 1 0

0 0 0 0 2 2 0 0

2 0 2 2 3 3 2 0

3 2 0 0 3 3 3

3

0 3 0 3

1 1 1 1 1 1 0

0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0

2 2 3 3 3 2 2 0 0

3 3 3 3 2

3

C Fadd9 C G

C /B Am7 F C G



0 3 0 0

1 0 1 1 1 1 0

0 0 2 2 2 2 0 0

2 0 2 2 3 3 2 0

3 0 0 3 3 3

3 3

0 3 0 2 3

1 0 1 1 1 0

0 0 2 2 2 2 0 0

2 0 2 2 0 0 0 0

3 0 0 0 0 2

3 3

C G Am D7 G

C G Am F C G



Have I Told You Lately - Van Morrison


0

0 3 1 0 1

0 2 2 0 0

0 0 2 2 0

3 3

3 3

0

0 0 3 1 0 1

0 2 0 2 0 2 0 0 0

0 2 0

3

3 3

0 3 3 0 0 0 0

1 3 3 3 0

2 2 0

2

3 2 2

3 0

0 0 1 3 0 0 0 1

2 2 0 0

2 0 0

0

3

G C

G C

C Bm

Am D G

See You In Course 2 where we’ll focus more on fingerstyle songs with the melody and chords put together - Practice!

Documents

fingerstyle-guitar-lessons-course-book.pdf