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Hi there
A rather basic question from someone whos had a guitar for a long time, but has only just started picking. I am currently trying to get to grips with Neils exelent lesson on Windy and Warm, but am a bit conffused on the fingering. In the home position do the Index, middle and ring fingers stay on there resective G,B and top E strings, or can they help out on the same string if the melody is just played on one string for a couple of measures. In Neils lesson on "Grandfathers Clock" , in the first measure he indictes that the index and middle fingers both play the B string.
Many thanks
Pete, Isle of Wight, England

Pete,
Try and keep your fingers in the home position. The big advantage of using more than one finger on a string is speed. So if you can play it with them in the home position, then that's the way to go.

Hello Pete on the Isle of Wight,

As a general rule, I'd agree with Andy's comment. There are some times, however, when you need to pick several successive notes on the same string and -- depending on the tempo -- I then find it easier to keep time by alternating fingers, especially if the sections immediately before and after would require alternating fingers on the home position strings.

-Stuart

Hi Pete, I agree with Stuart and Andy with the idea of shifting from home position to using alternating fingers on the same string is important then back to home to position. You are refering to Windy in warm where on measure 4 and 5 where the B string is hit twice in a row and right after the G string gets the same treatment. If you do not alternate fingers you will slow down the rhythm. If you try Classical gas you will find that you have to do that as well sometimes and Neils talk about that in that lesson (part A). I am working on Mood for a day and without alternating fingers, it would be impossible (for me anyway)to get close to the speed required.

Marc

Thanks for all the tips AndyT, sws626 and Lavallee, very helpfull. Im trying to undo all the bad habits Ive picked up over the years without aquiring new ones.