Transform your Fingerstyle with this ONE pattern - Week 14

Welcome to week 14 of the Technique weekly challenge!

This week, we look at the number one picking pattern that opens the door to the world of fingerstyle playing! 

Exercise 1 - Finger Pattern

Mute the strings first to practice.

• Thumb on string 5 (for root 5 chords)

• Index/first finger plays string 3

• Middle finger plays string 2

• Pattern - Thumb, Index, Thumb, Middle

This pattern is to a count of… ‘1 - & - 2 - & - 3 - & - 4 - &’

Exercise 2 - Recommended Chords 

• C major chord - thumb alternates between root (string 5) & major 3rd (string 4)

• G/B - this is just a G chord but with a B note as the root (& no finger on string 1 needed)

• Am7 - perfect chord to end this progression as it’s just 1 finger away from the C chord

To keep the pattern the same, the focus is on root 5 chords here but be aware root 6 chords require a different pattern.

This pattern is a great starting point, which eventually leads to: 

• Step 2 - includes string 6 & go into full ‘Travis Picking’ style 

• Step 3 - includes the 3rd, 2nd & 1st string!