Fingerstyle Guitar Lessons

Course One

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Welcome To Fingerstyle Guitar Lessons

To play fingerstyle guitar successfully two things become extremely important. 1. You need to be able to produce clear and perfect chords. This means that if you were to hold any chord and pick down each string one-by-one, each note would ring out clearly. If you cant yet do this then please spend some time on improving the quality of your chords so that each one sounds perfect. Playing fingerstyle guitar will very quickly expose any flaws in your chords since its based upon picking individual strings within chords using patterns and sequences 2. Youll need to organize your fingers into a well rehearsed unit. Its essential to teach your fingers to work together as a team with each one knowing exactly what its responsible for playing - much like an army drill sergeant! Below is the best foundation for organizing your fingers so theyll work together as a unified team. The idea is that each fingers should be responsible for a specific string. Once youve learned and practiced this grouping enough it will become completely automatic and second nature.

3 2 1 T T T

In the first part of the course well be doing some exercises and drills to help this process become naturalized in your playing. The ideal goal is for it to become so well learned that you dont even have to think about it, it will simply happen on its own. Then youll be free of technical limitations and able to concentrate solely upon your chords and producing the best music you can.

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First Things First...

Lets review the rules for getting clear and perfect sounding chords 1. 2. 3. Press down hard enough Bend your joints to form a 90 degree angle Be at the front of your frets

0 0 0 2 2 0 Em 2 3 2 0 2 D Bm 0 2 0 3 G 2 2 0 0 0

3 1 2 2 0 Am 2 1 2 1

0 1 0 2 3 C

F#

The Key of G Major

3 0 0 0 2 3 G 0 1 2 2 0 Am 2 0 2 0 2 Bm 0 1 0 2 3 C 2 3 2 0 0 0 0 2 2 0 Em 2 1 2 1

F#

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Exercise #1

3 0 0 3 G 0 0 0 0 Em 0 1 0 3 C 2 3 2 0 0 D 2 0 2 2 Bm 0 1 2 0 Am 1 2 2 0 2 0 3 2 1 0 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0

3 0 0 0 0 0

3 0 0 2 0 0

3 0 0

0 0 0 2 0 0

0 0 0 2 0 0

0 0 0

0 1 1 0

2 3 2 3 2

2 0 2 0 2 2 4 3

2 3 4 4 4 3

2 3 4

0 1 2 1 2

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Exercise #2

3 0 0 0 3 3 G 2 3 2 0 D 0 0 Em 2 3 2 2 0 0 0 3 C 0 0 2 3 0 1

0 1 0

0 0 0

2 0 2 0 2 Bm 2 Am 0 0 2 2 0 2 1

0 1 2

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Fingerstyle Pattern #1

3 2 1 T T T G 3 2 1 T T T C T 1 2 T 1 2

3 0 0 0 2 3 0 0 0

0 1 0 2 3 3 2 0 1

0 1 2 2 0 Am 2 3 2 0 0 2 2 3 2 0 Bm 2 2 1

2 0 2 0 2 2 0 2 0

0 0 0 2 2 0 2 0 0

Em

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Fingerstyle Pattern #1 Example

3 0 0 0 2 3 G 0 0 0

3 0 0 0 2 3 G 0 0 0

0 0 0 2 2 0 Em 0 0 0

0 1 0 2 3 C 3 2 0 1

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Fingerstyle Pattern #2

3 2 1 T T T G 3 2 1 T T T C T 3 1 2 0 3 T 1 0 2 0

3 0 0 0

0 1 0 2 3

0 1 2 2 0 Am 2 3 2 0 0 0 0 D Em 2 2 3 0 0 Bm 2 2 2 0 2 2

0 0 2 0

0 0 0 2 2

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Fingerstyle Pattern #2 Example

3 0 0 0 2 3 G C 0 3 0 2 3 0

0 1 0 2

2 1 2 0 0 0 3 D7 G 2 0 2 1 0

3 0 0 0

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Fingerstyle Pattern #3

3 2 1 T T T T T T 1 T 1 T 2 1 2

3 0 0 0 2 3 G 3 2 1 T T T T T 1 T T 1 T 2 1 2 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0

0 1 0 2 3 C 0 1 2 2 0 Am 2 0 2 0 2 Bm 2 0 2 2 0 2 2 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 2 2 0 2 2 1 2 1 3 2 3 0 2 3 0 2 1 0 1

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Fingerstyle Pattern #3 cont...

2 3 2 0 D 0 0 2 0 3 2 3

2 3 2 0

0 0 0 2 2 0 Em 0 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 0 0

Fingerstyle Pattern #3 Example

3 0 0 0 2 3 G 3 3 C 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 2 3 0 0 2 3 0 2 3 0 1 0 2 1 0 1

2 1 2 0 0 0 2 0 1 2 1

2 1 2 0

2 0 0 2 3

3 0 0 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 0

D7

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Fingerstyle 3/4 Pattern

3 2 1 T T G 3 2 1 T T C 1 2 1 2

3 0 0 0 3 0 0

0 1 0 2 3 0 1

0 1 2 2 0 Am 2 3 2 0 0 2 3 Bm 1 0

2 0 2 0 2 2 0

0 0 0 2 0 0 0

Em

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Fingerstyle 3/4 Pattern Example

3 0 0 0 3 G 0 0

0 0 0 2 0 Em 0 0

0 1 0 2 3 C 0 1

0 3 0 5 5 Dadd11 4 0

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Practice Progressions

3 0 0 0 2 3 G 0 1 0 2 3 C 3 2 0 0 0

0 0 0 2 2 0 Em 0 3 0 4 5 Dadd11 5 4 0 3 2 0 0

3 0 0 0 3 G 0 0 0 2 0 Em 0 0 0 0

2 0 2 1 2 B7 0 1 0 2 3 C 0 1 2 0

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Practice Progressions

0 0 0 2 2 0 Em 0 1 2 2 0 Am 0 2 0 2 2 0 2 2 1 2 1 0 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 0 0

0 3 0 4 5 Dadd11 3 0 0 0 2 3 G 3 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 4 5 0 4 5 0 4 3 0 3

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Chord Colours and Practice Progressions

0 0 0 4 2 0 Em add9 0 0 0 4 2 0 Em add11 0 0 0 4 2 0 Em add11 4 0 4 0

0 0 0 4 3 C Maj7#11 0 0 0 4 3 C maj7#11 0 0 2 1 2 B7 add11

0 0 2 1 2 B7 add11

0 0 4 3

0 2 1 2

0 3 2 0 2 Dadd9/F# 3 0 0 0 3 G 2 Dadd11/F# Em 0 0 C G 2 2 2 0 3 0 2 3 0 2 3 3 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 3 0

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Chord Colours and Practice Progressions

0 0 2 0 2 D 6/9 3 0 0 2 0 Em 2 D 6/9 G 0 3 C G 2 0 2 0 0 0 3 0 2 3 3 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 3 0

3 1 0 2 3 C

3 1 0 2 3 C 0 3 2 0 2 D add9/F# 2 0 2 2 0 3 3 3 3 G 2 0 0 2 1 0

3 0 0 0 (x 3)

0 3 2 0 2

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Chord Colours and Practice Progressions

(3) 1 0 2 3 Gsus4 3 1 0 2 3 Gsus4 3 2 3 G 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 (X3)

0 9 10

0 7 9

0 5 7

0 4 5

0 2 3

0 0 2

0 0 3 5

3 0 0 0 2 3

0 1 0 2 3 C 3 0 0 0 2 3 G 0 3 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 3 0 2 3 3 G 0 2 1 0 0 2 1 0

3 0 0 0 3 2 5 0 4 0 0 0

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Chord Colours and Practice Progressions

12 0 10

10 0 9

8 0 7

7 0 5

5 0 3

3 0 2

1 0 0

3 0 0 0 2 3 G /B 3 0

0 0 0 2 3 Cmaj7 3 0 0 0 2 3 G 0 7 5 3 0 0 (X3) 8 0 7 0 5 0

3 0 2

1 0 0 2 D6/9 2

0 0 3 G

3 0 0 0 2 3 G Am7 0 2 0 0 3 0 1 0 0 0

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Chord Colours and Practice Progressions

3 0 0 0 0 3 G 3 0 0 0 0 3 G 2 0 0 2 0 0

0 1 0 2 3 C 0 1 0 2 3 C 3 1 2 0 3 0 2 1 0

3 3 3 0 2 3 G 1 0 0 2

0 3 3 C 3 0 2 3 0 3 3 0 2 0 2 D6/9 5 0 0 3 G 1 0 2 0 0 0 3

3 3 0 0 X2

3 1 0 0 2 Am7 D6/9 3 G 3 1 0 0 2 Am7 3 0 2 3 0 3 5 0 0 2 D6/9 3 G 3 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0

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Chord Colours and Practice Progressions

3 0 2 0 3 Gadd9 3 0 2 0 3 Gadd9 3 /B C 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 3 3 Gadd9 2 0 2 0 2 3 0

0 0 0 7 8 Cmaj7/13 0 0 2 0 3 8 Cmaj7/13 7 8 0 7 0 0

0 1 0 2 3 C 3 Fadd9 2 0 3 1 2 3 1

3 1 2 3

0 1 0 2 3 C 3 3 G 2 0 0 2 1 0

3 0 0 0

0 1 0 2 3 C

0 1 0 0 2 /B 0 Am7 2 0 0

0 1 0 2 3 F 3 3 2 3 3 3 C G 1 2 2 1 0 0 1 0 0

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Chord Colours and Practice Progressions

0 1 0 2 3

3 0 0 0

0 1 2 2 0 0 2 3 Fmaj7 2 3 3 1 2

0 1 2 3 3 3 C G 2 0 0 1 0 0

3 C G Am

0 1 0 2 3

3 0 0 0

0 1 2 2 0 0 2 0 D7/A 2 0 0 1 2

2 1 2 0 3 0 2 G 0

3 0 0 0

3 C G Am

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Fingerstyle Guitar Lessons: Swing Feel

In this section were going to wave a magic wand and create a totally new and fresh style of finger picking based solely upon what weve already learned. We can do this, very simply, by changing the rhythm of how we play fingerstyle. Take a look at the example below...

3 2 1 T T T (T) T 1

You can see how Ive simply taken a pattern weve already learned and simply changed its feel to a shuffle. Tap Tap Tap Tap Tap Tap Tap etc...

The effect is instantly recognizable and totally different from playing in straight 4/4 time. All weve done is change the rhythm. As an exercise, try playing the pattern with a straight feel and then with a shuffle feel, comparing the two as you go. Feel free to use any chord you like and once youre comfortable get into some to the progressions which follow.

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Pattern #1 - Swing Feel

3 2 1 T T T G 3 2 1 T T T C T 1 2 T 1 2

3 0 0 0 2 3 0 0 0

0 1 0 2 3 3 2 0 1

0 1 2 2 0 Am 2 3 2 0 0 2 2 3 2 0 Bm 2 2 1

2 0 2 0 2 2 0 2 0

0 0 0 2 2 0 2 0 0

Em

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Pattern #2 - Swing Feel

3 2 1 T T T G 3 2 1 T T T C T 3 1 2 0 3 T 1 0 2 0

3 0 0 0

0 1 0 2 3

0 1 2 2 0 Am 2 3 2 0 0 0 0 D Em 2 2 3 0 0 Bm 2 2 2 0 2 2

0 0 2 0

0 0 0 2 2

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Fingerstyle Swing Pattern #2 Example

3 0 0 0 2 3 G C 0 3 0 2 3 0

0 1 0 2

2 1 2 0 0 0 3 D7 G 2 0 2 1 0

3 0 0 0

Pattern #3 - Swing Feel

3 2 1 T T T T T T 1 T 1 T 2 1 2

3 0 0 0 2 3 G 3 2 1 T T T T T 1 T T 1 T 2 1 2 3 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

0 1 0 2 3 C 0 1 2 2 0 Am 2 0 2 0 2 Bm 2 0 2 2 0 2 2 0 0 2 0 0 2 0 2 2 0 2 2 1 2 1 3 2 3 0 2 3 0 2 1 0 1

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Pattern #3 - Swing Feel cont...

2 3 2 0 D 0 0 2 0 3 2 3

2 3 2 0

0 0 0 2 2 0 Em 0 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 0 0

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Swing Practice Progressions

3 0 0 0 2 3 G 0 1 0 2 3 C 3 2 0 0 0

0 0 0 2 2 0 Em 0 3 0 4 5 Dadd11 5 4 0 2 0 0

3 0 0 0 2 3 G 2 1 2 0 0 0 2 1 0 0

0 1 0 2 3 C 3 0 0 0 2 3 0 0 0 3 2 0 1

D7

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Swing Practice Progressions

0 0 2 0 2 D 6/9 3 0 0 2 0 Em 2 D 6/9 G 0 3 C G 2 0 2 0 0 0 3 0 2 3 3 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 3 0

3 1 0 2 3 C

3 1 0 2 3 C 0 3 0 4 5 D add9/11 5 4 5 0 4 5 3 0 4 0 0 3 3 3 G 2 0 0 2 1 0

3 0 0 0 (x 3)

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Swing Practice Progressions

(3) 1 0 2 3 Gsus4 3 1 0 2 3 Gsus4 3 2 3 G 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 (X3)

0 9 10

0 7 9

0 5 7

0 4 5

0 2 3

0 0 2

0 0 3 5

3 0 0 0 2 3

0 1 0 2 3 C 3 0 0 0 2 3 0 3 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 3 0 2 3 3 G 0 2 1 0 0 2 1 0

3 0 0 0 3 2 5 0 4 0 0 0

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Swing Practice Progressions

12 0 10

10 0 9

8 0 7

7 0 5

5 0 3

3 0 2

1 0 0

3 3 0 0 0 2 3 G Am7 0 2 0 0 3 0 1 0 0 0

0 1 0 2 3 C 3 Fadd9 2 0 3 1 2 3 1

3 1 2 3

0 1 0 2 3 C 3 3 G 2 0 0 2 1 0

3 0 0 0

0 1 0 2 3 C

0 1 0 0 2 /B 0 Am7 2 0 0

0 1 0 2 3 F 3 3 2 3 3 3 C G 1 2 2 1 0 0 1 0 0

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Swing Practice Progressions

0 1 0 2 3

3 0 0 0

0 1 2 2 0 0 2 3 F 2 3 3 1 2

0 1 2 3 3 3 C 2 1 2 2 2 0 0 D7 2 0 0 3 G 1 2 0 2 0 2 1 0 0 0 G 3 0 2 0 0 1 0 0

3 C 0 1 0 2 3 3 C G Am 0 0 0 G 3 0 Am 0

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Have I Told Y ou Lately - Van Morrison

0 0 0 2 0 3 G 0 3 3 C 3 1 0 2 0 0 2 3 2 0 1

0 0 0 2 3 G 0 0 3 3 C 0 3 1 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 1

0 1

3 2

0 3 2 2 Bm 3

0 3

0 0 2 2 0

3 C

3 0 2 2 0 3 Am D G 0 0 1 3 0 2 0 0 0

0 1 0 0

See Y ou In Course 2 where well focus more on fingerstyle songs with the melody and chords put together - Practice!

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