Kick Snare Thumb Picking

We build upon our kick drum skill using the heel of the hand, by playing it at the same time as picking chords using the thumb.

Exercise 1

Simultaneously, we are looking to hit the guitar body with the heel of the hand and use the thumb to pick notes/strum. Additionally we can use the thumb to add snare sounds too.

Our chords for this exercise are C major, A minor, E minor and G major.

In each bar of the exercise:

• Use the thumb to pluck the root note of each chord with a downstroke (have the thumb resting ready on the string)

• Then, simultaneously use the heel to play the kick drum, (just above the sound hole position)

• Use the other fingers to pluck the remaining strings of the chord

• Use the thumb to play a snare sound

• Finally, with the extra fingers play one more pluck of the remaining strings of the chord

Playing Tips

• Use the flicking momentum of the heel of the hand to help the thumb pluck the root notes (try to make this one whole motion eventually)

• The thumb can also rest on the string and be ready to pluck the note

Remember, the 'flicking' motion will help to merge these two motions together but slow and relaxed practice will produce more consistent results!