Fingerstyle Guitar Lesson 2

Rhythm Guitar

The MOST important component of any musical performance is rhythm. If a performance loses its rhythmic feel, a musical train wreck is inevitable. Rhythm is what makes the audience dance, bob their heads, or even start a mosh pit. Without rhythm a performance ceases to be music. Achieving a steady rhythmic feel will enable you to play as part of a group with other musicians.

Alternating Bass Pattern

In Phase 1 lessons, you learned how to apply a basic alternating bass line to open chords. When you initially learned this concept, you were most likely playing the bass line and chords with a pick. Now it is time to learn the same process with the right hand fingers. In this case, the thumb will play all of the bass notes. When a chord is struck, it is plucked by the index, middle, and third fingers. These three fingers pluck the three treble strings respectively. Also, when a chord is plucked, the thumb comes in to help out. The thumb will pluck the D string note involved in the chord. Practice this pattern very slowly using an A major chord. Once you feel comfortable playing the pattern with an A chord, practice it with the other chords that you know. Be sure to review the root and fifth locations within these chords. You want to master this exercise to the point that you can do it without even thinking about it. After this lesson, additional parts will be added to this basic technique.

Proper Right Hand Technique

Observe the following rules whenever you play fingerstyle guitar:

1. The fleshy part of the finger where it meats the nail is what makes contact with the strings. Do not dig your fingers too far into the strings! This will produce a poor tone and reduce accuracy.

2. Keep the right hand wrist as straight as possible at all times.

3. Keep the tips of your right hand fingers loose and relaxed.

4. All plucking movement should come from the knuckle joint. The finger should pass directly through the string into the palm of the hand.