Article by Karl VCohen
There are basically hundreds of 1000's and maybe of acoustic guitar players around the world. It's the most preferred musical instrument by far, because of it's portability and the simple fact that you can get an elementary tune out of it in a couple of weeks.
I'm going to discuss 'acoustic blues guitar' due to the fact this is my most important interest and I want to talk about finger picking tactics. Generally, electric guitarists use a plectrum of some sort to pluck the strings in and up down motion. Naturally, there are constantly exceptions, similar to Mark Knopfler, who uses his naked fingers to play both electric and acoustic guitars.
His uncommon style induced Chet Atkins to say "I don't know how he's doing, but he can sure do it! " You don't have to adhere to the norm - we can generate our own rules, but we have to start off somewhere. This starting point is normally focused on preceding master players. In the genre of acoustic blues guitar, this means individuals like Robert Johnson, Lightnin' Hopkins, Doc Watson, Reverend Gary Davis and a lot of others.
Naturally there are quite a few variations in style, but pickers can be broadly divided into two classes - individuals who wear finger picks and those that don't. We'll disregard how many picking fingers these folks utilized for now. I've seen ragtime blues artists perform competently with up to three finger picks on the right hand, which didn't include the thumb! At the other end of the spectrum, most master pickers only use one, either steel or plastic.
Finger Picks
I prefer a steel finger pick, as it can be bent a little so that the tip of the pick lines up with the contact point of a naked finger plucking a string. This implies that there's no adjustment necessary for the angle of attack. Plastic finger picks are typically thicker and stick out a little more, so an adjustment in plucking technique is necessary. This is important if performing some music which require picks, and some that don't, for instance.
Thumb-pick versus naked thumb.
Commonly, the pick provides a sharper, harder sound and amplifies somewhat. Some striking techniques are simpler to obtain in this way, such as 'throwing' the thumb onto the string producing a percussive effect. A substantial benefit is that it saves the thumb from getting sore. Bare finger guitarists need to play very regularly to develop a thick callous so these folks can perform in comfort. Generally, picks are much easier to get between the strings, so are excellent for plucking individual strings in rapid succession.
Bare fingers style.
A bare thumb can hook underneath a string, pull it away from the body of the guitar and let it snap back, creating an accented note which can be attractive in some styles of blues. Generally, bare fingers are really precise and can create a good bouncy technique if playing ragtime guitar, either Scott Joplin-type piano rags or old ragtime blues in the fashion of Blind Blake. The thumb rolls and triplets showcased in the latter's guitar pieces make it really tricky to perform with finger picks.
Many of the later stylists, similar to Chet Atkins, utilized strengthened finger nails. I question if a lot of legendary blues guitarists utilized this approach, but who can say? A lot of Texan guitarists favored a plastic thumb pick and naked fingers, generally just utilizing one finger of the picking hand with spectacular dexterity. Blind Blake appeared to have used bare fingers and and some contemporary blues men recollected that he had a hole in his picking hand thumb, exactly where it was worn down by the bass strings of his guitar.
The mysterious Willie Walker, who only recorded two sides in the 20s, appeared to be a real king of the ragtime technique. His music showcase lightning quick solitary string runs which appear hard if employing the thumb and first finger alternately striking the strings. It would seem probable that he used a plectrum gripped between thumb and forefinger, using this to alternate the bass rhythm whilst picking with one or two fingers.
There are quite a few types of finger picking and we can rely on the example of the stellar guitar masters to assist us to produce our own approach as we search for the ideal blues guitar lessons.
About the Author
Find more info on finger picking guitar and play the blues.
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