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Home of The Young Christians' Guitar Method series.
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When the tones of a chord are played one at a time, it is known as an arpeggio. Finger-picking often utilizes these arpeggios as an accompaniment style. In the following examples the T - m - f represent the right thumb (T), middle finger (m) and first finger (f). In classical guitar they will be seen as P - I - M - A (A = 3rd finger) For our uses we will keep it simple. Notice that the diagram is a representation of the strings not the staff. While holding the associated chords, play the strings with the prescribed finger, reading the string diagram from left to right. To demonstrate this the 1st example will hold a G chord and with the right hand play string 6 with the thumb, then string 3 with the middle finger, then string 4 with the first finger, then string 5 with the thumb. The second half of the measure begins with the 2nd string being played with the middle finger, then the 3rd string with the first finger, then the 4th string with the thumb and then the 3rd string with the 1st finger. |
| Use this pattern for all open G's and E's (this includes G7, Emi, etc.) |  |
| Use this pattern for all open C's and A's (this includes A7, C7, Ami, etc.) |  |
| Use this pattern for all open D's and F's (this includes D7, Dmi, etc.) Special note: If the 1st note is a fretted note, the 4th note should also be fretted at that location on the 5th string. (For an F chord this would be the 3rd fret for both the 1st and 4th notes. |  |
This particular pattern uses straight eighth notes (notes that are worth one half of a beat each). This allows that each pattern is one measure long in four-four time. For three-four time, simply omit the last two strokes (or one beat). With a little bit of practice and experimentation you should be able to devise your own finger-picking patterns! |
To hear an example playing the chords G - Emi - C - D click here for slow, and click here for faster. |