Finger picking help - made a discovery tonight

[littlegreenman]

Well, here I sit, after realizing something from a whole long story that I won't get into. *Basically, bottom line is, I really would like to improve on finger picking, and as it sits, my right hand is retarded. *So, can someone either give me a tutorial or something on finger picking? or point me in the direction of a good book? *I don't want to become a world class classical player, but I would like to eventually be able to play Martin Simpson stuff. *Yeah, I know, right now it seems like the impossible dream, but I know if I have the right direction, I can get there. *So, if anyone here is a good fingerpicker, and can give me some good advice on where to start, I would surely appreciate it.

Jeremy

[Jeroenn]

I have found the greatest finger picker, it really helps you, and is a nice tune too.
It's called Etude by Fransesco Tarrega. Another name for the same tune is "Recuerdos de la Alhambra". Its the same song Mike Oldfield used for 'The Killing Fields"
Basicly, you will learn to make a fluid triplet (I think that's what you call it) motion with your first 3 fingers, while you play the bassline with your thumb. If you put some time in it, it won't be all that hard, and impress the hey out of everyone.

[Kevan]

The Alhambra is an amazing place. *One of my favorite parts of Spain. *If you get the chance to go there, check it out.

For fingerpicking, go pick up a Hellecasters CD.

Wow.

[VaiGuy]

Go get a classical guitar book or CD and try to figure it out. *Unless you can't read music, but they usually teach you. *That'll get your hand going in the right direction, then like that other guy said, get a Hellecasters CD. *

[littlegreenman]

See, that's the thing I want to get away from though, is just learning songs. *I can do that, and if I practice, I can play "that" song. *But ask me to improvise something, or even figure out a song by ear, and I'm lost. *It's the techniques I don't understand. *That song that Jeroenn suggested sounds interesting, I'll try to find it. *And I can read music, I have a bunch of royal conservatory crap that is all songs, but I remember learning guitar before, and learning techniques that allow me to do today what I can do in the rock genre, I can improvise anything I want really, I can sit down and figure out Vai by ear, but I put in martin simpson, or oscar lopez, and it's a completely new world that I just don't understand. *I bought a Marting Simpson alternate tunings video that I think will help me with figureing some of it out, because I've noticed that a lot of finger picking is in open tunings. *But what I really need is a guitar teacher, they are just lacking around here, and the one guy who teaches classical, I don't know if their sh!t doesn't stink or what, *but he charges 3 times what a regular teacher would, and I'm not paying $90 an hour for a *******
guitar lesson. *
So, is there any finger pickers here that can recommend any good exercises, you know, the Vai exercises 1234 stuff, but for finger picking, I suppose I could invent them, but it doesn't help my left or right hand when I'm still playing like a rock and roller.
thanks
Jeremy

[jemsite]

threads like this make me appreciate the private classical lessons i took in college, gaining credit, for about a $75 tuition upcharge. 15 weeks of private lessons for less than one "lesson" now. Then there was "ensemble".

i remember the most basic "classical" books had a variety of fingerpicking exercises that get your right hand moving and trained. Same for bluegrass, flamenco or other acoustic styles. One tip that still stands out from my teacher was to really keep the pick hand relaxed... still makes all the difference in your fingerpicking.

Sorry i can't be more helpful but have fun experimenting... glen

[caprile]

what glen said is the most important: keep your picking hand relaxed.
what also works for me is lifting your wrist a little. when y play electric, my arm rests on my wrist. to play fingerstyle, y rest my forearm on the guitar, lifting my wrist so it moves freely. the picking fingers are always bent. *(imagine a spider). i don't know if this is standard technique, but works for me. i recommend anything by Paco de Lucia (just for inspiration, you'll need a lot of practice to play that stuff!) Have fun!!

[littlegreenman]

paco is a god!!!!

Glen, do you have any of those old books anymore? *or can you remember any titles of them? *I've got some lessons off the web now, but I'm still searching, what I really want is a teacher, but not at 90 bones an hour! LOL