I have completed the first five lessons and liked them, however, I would prefer to play accompaniment with finger picking patterns. I know a number of patterns and intend to do the first lessons over with finger picking patterns and move into more songs with picking patterns. I have a couple of questions:
1. Is their any reason that I should not replace all the beginner's strumming lessons with finger picking (and additional songs as I move into them)?
2. How do you go about finding the best finger picking pattern for a song? I realize that in time I should be able to work out the best sound for myself but that is a ways off.
3. For a person who wants to play accompaniment with finger picking patterns would he/she not be better off starting out with patterns since that would make it easier to move into solo picking as you progress?
4. I have noticed that my talented brother-in-law picks patterns that are actually extensions of different strumming patterns. I noticed in one of Niel's videos that he said you should eventally be able to play a strumming pattern for a song based on what sounds good and not by rembering that a particular pattern works with a certain song. Is there a skill associated with this that dictates one would be best to develop strumming skills before going to picking patterns?
Thanks guys. One of the things I really like about this site is the ability to get advice from those that are ahead of me (most everyone) and have been through all this. Any advice would be appreciated.
Beginners Lessons - Strumming VS Finger Picking Patterns
Hi there. I just went through the beginner lessons as well, and I know what you mean. I have never been much of a strummer, so I am usually finding ways to convert strumming to finger picking. So I would encourage you to do the same. For me, the first thing I have to work out in my mind is the timing. How do I count out my finger picking the same way you would count out the strums? While finger picking, do I want to pick out the melody? That is often the benefit of picking rather than strumming, but also makes it that much more complex.
You are lucky that you have this site, and a talented family member, to listen to, and learn from. I have lots of picking styles I have picked up over the years, and it just becomes which one works best with the song - it's rhythm and overall feeling. In my mind, I can picture how I would finger pick most songs, especially after learning the song in a strum pattern. But I have bumped into some songs that just don't lend themselves to picking, at least to my ear, so don't be discouraged by that. Just have fun and it's okay if it sounds like crap when you first start. Hope this helps..... Izzy
You are lucky that you have this site, and a talented family member, to listen to, and learn from. I have lots of picking styles I have picked up over the years, and it just becomes which one works best with the song - it's rhythm and overall feeling. In my mind, I can picture how I would finger pick most songs, especially after learning the song in a strum pattern. But I have bumped into some songs that just don't lend themselves to picking, at least to my ear, so don't be discouraged by that. Just have fun and it's okay if it sounds like crap when you first start. Hope this helps..... Izzy
JR- excellent questions for which there is no short answer.
In my view, fingerpicking and finger- style playing are very diferent animals. Fingerpicking, also called Travis or pattern picking is all about training your mind to tell your fingers to hit designated strings in a particular sequence.
There are countless books that teach this subject. IF you want to become a Travis picker you need to develop a few basic patterns and then build on those by adding pinches, hammer-ons and pulls offs and other adornments. Learn the PIMA definitions for your fingers because you will see these constantly.
I believe strumming is a very important part of playing the guitar even if you prefer to pick out the song. Some players on this site don't have much interest in the pick or strumming and that's a big mistake. Why limit your playing to one style when they so often go together. For example Is There Anybody Out There by Pink Floyd starts off pattern picking and then goes to a full strum and then back again. It won't sound right with out the strumming. Or Wish You Were Here requires strumming and picking out notes throughout the song.
Finding the best picking pattern starts with the time signature of the song. If your picking pattern has 5 notes in it and you are playing in 4/4 time something isn't going to work out very well. So you have to find the pattern that keeps the tempo and completes the whole pattern just in time to go to the next chord. Once you get good at that you can play around with outside-in or inside-out, forward and reverse rolls etc. Terms often used by banjo pickers as well.
I do believe that learning patterns will make you a better solo fingerstylist for perhaps no other reason than you are training your brain to fire certain fingers when you want them to. And Travis picking really seems to help develop dexterity in your hands and fingers; always good for us old timers!
Hope that helps a little! Cheers! :cheer:
In my view, fingerpicking and finger- style playing are very diferent animals. Fingerpicking, also called Travis or pattern picking is all about training your mind to tell your fingers to hit designated strings in a particular sequence.
There are countless books that teach this subject. IF you want to become a Travis picker you need to develop a few basic patterns and then build on those by adding pinches, hammer-ons and pulls offs and other adornments. Learn the PIMA definitions for your fingers because you will see these constantly.
I believe strumming is a very important part of playing the guitar even if you prefer to pick out the song. Some players on this site don't have much interest in the pick or strumming and that's a big mistake. Why limit your playing to one style when they so often go together. For example Is There Anybody Out There by Pink Floyd starts off pattern picking and then goes to a full strum and then back again. It won't sound right with out the strumming. Or Wish You Were Here requires strumming and picking out notes throughout the song.
Finding the best picking pattern starts with the time signature of the song. If your picking pattern has 5 notes in it and you are playing in 4/4 time something isn't going to work out very well. So you have to find the pattern that keeps the tempo and completes the whole pattern just in time to go to the next chord. Once you get good at that you can play around with outside-in or inside-out, forward and reverse rolls etc. Terms often used by banjo pickers as well.
I do believe that learning patterns will make you a better solo fingerstylist for perhaps no other reason than you are training your brain to fire certain fingers when you want them to. And Travis picking really seems to help develop dexterity in your hands and fingers; always good for us old timers!
Hope that helps a little! Cheers! :cheer:
As an addendum to Bears post, If you are older, Doctors say that learning guitar is awesome for your hands. I was reminded of this by someones post in the last couple of days.
You should try and figure out a finger pick for all of your songs. Learn each song both ways, strumming and fingerstyle. This increases your skill set and makes you a much better player overall.
You should try and figure out a finger pick for all of your songs. Learn each song both ways, strumming and fingerstyle. This increases your skill set and makes you a much better player overall.
Thanks guys. Both your responses are very helpful. I will continue to work on both strumming and Travis style. I actually find that I like solo guitar best when it mixes both strumming and picking. I am an older play and started a few years ago but made little progress on my own.
Thanks again,
JR
Thanks again,
JR
jrboyd wrote:
JR- that's what makes this site so amazing; we're all in there helping each other because we all struggle with the same questions/problems. I hope getting a response encourages you to keep asking questions. There are no dumb questions when it comes to music or the guitar!! It's all Greek at first!
Cheers! :cheer:
Thanks guys. Both your responses are very helpful. I will continue to work on both strumming and Travis style. I actually find that I like solo guitar best when it mixes both strumming and picking. I am an older play and started a few years ago but made little progress on my own.
Thanks again,
JR
JR- that's what makes this site so amazing; we're all in there helping each other because we all struggle with the same questions/problems. I hope getting a response encourages you to keep asking questions. There are no dumb questions when it comes to music or the guitar!! It's all Greek at first!
Cheers! :cheer: