Beginner Acoustic Guitar
Finger Picking, Nail Care & Basic Techniques

Beginner acoustic guitar will cover areas like finger-picking, using the nails or a thumb-pick.

Finger Picking

Finger picking is an area of interest to most acoustic guitar players. Many popular folk tunes, the bossa nova, and acoustic music, do require the use of the fingers to create beautiful arpeggios; chordal movements and great bass lines. The Steel-string, Flamenco and Classical guitars are played with the fingers. Good right- hand techniques of approach will develop a good foundation for technical abilities.

Finger Picks for Beginner Acoustic Guitar Playing

Some steel-string guitar pickers use finger picks to help get the required tone. Chet Atkins developed a great technique in using the thumb pick. The use of a plectrum with the fingers is a great technique. Many acoustic guitars use a combination of a plectrum and the fingers.

Acoustic Guitar Right Hand Development for Beginner Acoustic Guitar Playing

The development of both hands is an asset to good performance. The right hand technique enables you to develop a good plucking style.

Please refer to acoustic guitar right hand development diagram below or download the pdf file.

Symbols in Beginner Acoustic Guitar Playing:
- p, i, m, a

Beginning with the first measure.

1. The thumb is written with a (p)

2. The index finger is written as a (i)

3. The middle finger is written as an (m)

4. The ring finger is written as an (a)

The thumb also marked (p) is used to play the 6th open string E note for four counts.

In the 2nd measure the thumb is also used to play 5th open string, A note for four counts.

The 3rd measure is played with the thumb, on the 4th open string D note.

The 4th measure G note, is played on the 4th open string, with the Index finger or (i).

The 5th measure has a B note, which is played on the 2nd open string, with the Middle finger or (m).

The 6th measure has an E note, which is played on the 1st string using the ring finger or (a).

Combining the Thumb and Fingers in Beginner Acoustic Guitar Playing

Measure 7-10 is played with the thumb, index and middle fingers.

The thumb is used on the 6th, 5th, and 4th strings.

The index, middle and ring fingers are used for the 1st-2nd and 3rd strings.

The 1st note in measure 7 is an A note. It is played with the thumb; the index and middle play the Band E notes.

Measure 8th has a low E note and the same B and E note it is approached in the same manner.

Measure 9 has a D note for the bass and two other notes a G and a B.

Measure 10, has a low E, A, D note in the bass and ends with the Emi chord.

Practice playing with a plectrum, fingers, thumb pick, and choose the technique that best suits you.

Combining the Thumb and Fingers in Beginner Guitar Lesson
Please refer to the diagram below or download the pdf file.

Beginning with measure 1: It has an A for a bass note and an Amin chord shape.

Measure 2: Similar as measure 1.

Measure 3: D for its bass note and a Dmin chord shape.

Measure 4: Low E for its bass and a E7 chord shape.

Measure 5: Outlines an Ami chord.

Note: If you spend some time on this lesson, you will see differences in your playing. The ability to play with agility and speed requires constant practice. Review this lesson again and then move to the classical guitar playing.

Overview for Beginner Acoustic Guitar and Classical Guitar Playing

At this juncture, we will look at the classical guitar development. Some of these classical guitar techniques can also be incorporated into acoustic guitar playing.

Nails for the Beginner Acoustic Guitar Player

The care of the nails in acoustic/classical guitar development is important. In the classical, steel string or nylon string type guitar technique, the nails are an integral part in producing the tone. The technique of development and care of the nails is a must to get a good tone. The length of the nails depends on the individual, if it is comfortable for you, go for it, After a few nail cutting experiences, you will find different preferences,.For example, whether a more rounded or straight edge would be to your advantage. As constant practice may cause the nails to break, false nails can be bought from the manicurist's salon.

Nail-Care for the Beginner Acoustic Guitar Player

Nail lengths affect the speed and fluency of playing. Broken nails produce bad scratching sounds. When shaping the nails, always use a file, position the nails so that you are able to see it. Put the file underneath the nail at a slight angle so you can observe the file. Try to get a straight line and bring the file to the edge of the nail and across its width.

The Right Hand in Beginner Acoustic Guitar Playing

The Thumb is abbreviated with a p

The Index finger is marked with an i

The Middle finger with a m

The Ring-finger with an a

The word P I M A written above the staff is used to indicate the fingerings for playing arpeggios, chords, scales, etc.

Classical Acoustic Guitar Techniques for Beginner Acoustic Guitar Playing

The forearm rests on the upper edge of the guitar, the right hand (if you are right handed) is held at an angle to the strings and comfortable for the fingers to play the strings. Let the fingers have the freedom to move from one string to the other. The thumb is used to play the lower bass strings, the fingers are held in a curved position to pluck at.

Please refer to Fingerstyle Chart below.

There are three variations to give you an idea of how to practice using your fingers.

The 1st variation. In the first measure the thumb or P is used to play the 6th string low E note. In the second measure, we have the third or ring finger a, playing the 1st string E note. In the third measure the middle finger m, is used to play the B note. In the fourth measure we have the first or index finger i, playing the G note.

Producing the tone: right-hand in beginner acoustic guitar playing

Developing a good tone is important in classical guitar playing. The nails, its length, its shape, the type of strokes that are use to execute the free or rest strokes; all these play a part to produce a good tone. The preparation of the fingers, the pressure and the release; all are important factors to be noted. Placing the fingertips at the proper angle will produce a good tone.

The Thumb in Classical Guitar Development and Beginner Acoustic Guitar Playing

The development of the thumb (P) is crucial to good technique. The thumb is always used on the notes of the lower strings (sixth, fifth and fourth strings).

Practice moving the thumb up and down between the sixth, fifth, and fourth strings. This exercise helps to build thumb independence.

Thumb Exercises:

You may use the free or rest strokes and approach the note in a downward notion. If you use the rest stroke, follow through with the motion and rest the thumb on the adjacent string.

In the Thumb diagram above in the first measure, play the low E with the thumb.

In the second measure do the same with the A note.

In the third measure do the same with the D note.

Rest Stroke (Apoyando) in Beginner Acoustic Guitar Playing

To produce a good tone, we need to prepare the fingers by placing the fingertip on a string and bringing about the intended stroke. By preparing, we are able to be more in control and avoid much string noise. The pressure produced by the fingertip on the string will effect how loud a note will sound. The release determines the sound and it helps the fingers get prepared for the next note.

Rest Stroke Exercises:

In the first measure, prepare the Index fingertip and strike the note E and follow through with the finger to rest on the second string. Continue with the Middle and Annular and Index fingers in the same manner. Do the same procedure for measures two, three and four.

Free Stroke (Tirando) in Beginner Acoustic Guitar Playing

In classical guitar, the free stroke and the rest stroke requires basically the same approach. In a free stroke, the fingers follow through towards the palm of the hand. When using the free stroke try to make the strings vibrate as much so as to affect the soundboard and the fingers must follow through towards the palm of the hand. The fingernails are used to pluck the strings across the sound-hole, near the bridge, and this causes the tone to be brighter. The thumb is used in a downward motion, while the fingers move in an upward motion towards the palm of the hand.

Note: When plucking, avoid touching the other strings.

Fingerstyle Chart

Technique of Using the P, I, M, A in Classical Guitar and Beginner Acoustic Guitar Playing

We will now try some variations using the P, I, M, and A technique. In variation 2. We have P P P P, I I I I, A A A A, M M M M, In variation 3. We have mixed fingerings P P P P, I M A M, A I M I, A M A I,.

Practice this exercises to get a feel of the different combination's.

Lets try the free stroke on a C major chord followed by an Ami chord.

Free Stroke Exercises:

Method:

In the first measure, we have the P, I, M, and A.

In the second measure we have I, M, A, and M.

In the third measure we have P, P, I, M.

In the fourth measure we have I, M, A, and M.

Try out different variations of fingerings and work out some combinations which you feel comfortable with. Work out in other keys like A, D, E and G major.

Legato Technique in classical Guitar:

(ascending and descending legato in beginner acoustic guitar playing)

This technique is played smoothly with the notes sliding smoothly into each other. The procedure is to hit a note and the left hand fingers are hammered-on or pull off to the target note. Using a rest stroke or free stroke, strike the third string open G and hammer on to the A note second fret third string. Hit the third string A note and hammer on to the B note third string. Hit the B note third string and pull off (descending) downwards to the A note third string. Hit the A note on the same string and pull off to the G open note.

Tremolo Exercises:

The tremolo is played with the thumb, which plays the lower strings and ima plays on a single string. In the diagram at the first measure, we use the thumb to play the low E and ami playing the B note. In the second measure the thumb plays the A note and ami plays the G note. In the third measure the thumb plays the E note and ami plays the E note.

Rasguedo Technique:

A popular technique which is used a lot in flamenco music. The individual fingers of the right hand are used to strum across the strings in a rapid succession. When playing the rasguedo, the fingers are unfurled as a four-stroke movement. The rasguedo is often written in semi quavers.

Conclusion

This lesson should give you an understanding of the different types of finger picking to be developed for beginner acoustic guitar playing. There are many valuable materials that can help you go deeper into this subject. All types of disciplines require one to invest the time to bear much fruit. Read over this lesson and get familiar with the exercises.

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