Skip to main content
Music Radar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
(opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)
  • Plugin Week 2023
  • Guitars
  • Amps
  • Pedals
  • Drums
  • Synths
  • Software
  • Pianos
  • Controllers
  • Recording
  • Buyer’s guides
  • Live
  • DJ
  • Advice
  • Acoustic
  • Bass
  • About us
  • More
    • Reviews
Magazines
  • Computer Music
  • Electronic Musician
  • Future Music
  • Keyboard Magazine
  • Guitarist (opens in new tab)
  • Guitar Techniques (opens in new tab)
  • Total Guitar (opens in new tab)
  • Bass Player (opens in new tab)
More
  • Plugin Week A-Z
  • Best free lo-fi plugins
  • Top EQ plugins
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Free music samples
  • Best free music-making software

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Guitarist

Playing acoustic guitar: fingerstyle

By Guitarist
published 20 November 2012

The secrets of playing without plectrums

  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
Playing acoustic guitar: fingerstyle
Think of your fingers like an orchestra...
(Image credit: Ryan Hidson/Design Pics/Design Pics/Corbis)

Playing acoustic guitar: fingerstyle

ACOUSTIC WEEK Fingerstyle playing can be an extremely rewarding experience for several reasons.

Firstly, you feel much more 'connected' to the guitar, and the combination of finger tip and nail imparts a really warm sound from both nylon and steel strings. Many of the guitarists featured in our following Style File section are exponents of this technique.

The basic concept of fingerstyle, is to use the thumb and first three fingers to pick the strings. This provides plenty of scope to construct interesting arrangements for the acoustic guitar. In fact, to use the analogy of an orchestra, think of your thumb as the basses, bass drum and timpani, providing the low notes and fundamental rhythm. The fingers represent the rest of the orchestra, adding harmony and melody and reinforcing the basic rhythm set down by the thumb. When you think about it, every music from classical, to country to hip hop works pretty much on this concept!

There is no single way to play fingerstyle guitar. Many famous players use completely different approaches, and all manage to achieve great results. However, the following technique is a very effective starting point: Avoid resting the hand or wrist on the guitar for support. Relax your right hand just above the soundhole so you can comfortably reach the strings with the tips of your thumb and fingers.

Now, starting with your thumb, practise gently plucking downwards on the 6th (E) string four times slowly. Then move onto the next string and so on until you reach the 1st (E) string and then work your way back again. You should maintain an equal volume at all times. Your arm and wrist should remain relaxed and move as little as possible and the plucking action should come from the whole of the thumb (not just from the upper joint). Now repeat the exercise with your first finger, plucking upwards. The power of the stroke should come from your knuckle. You should see your finger gently curl as it hits the string and continue to follow through afterwards.

Try not to 'snatch' the string. Repeat the same exercise with the middle and ring finger. At first you may have difficulty accurately targeting the strings, but you'll be surprised how quickly this improves with practice. Your patience will be rewarded!

Page 1 of 5
Page 1 of 5
Playing acoustic guitar: fingerstyle
Example 1

Playing acoustic guitar: fingerstyle

As we mentioned earlier, it’s a good idea to think of the thumb and fingers acting independently of one another in fingerstyle.

The thumb’s main purpose is to provide solid bass and rhythm. A common way to achieve this, is to have the thumb play the root note of the chord on beat 1 of the bar, and the fifth note of the chord on beat 3. So, in our first example, using a G Major chord, we will have the thumb play the root note G on beat 1 and the fifth note (D) on beat 3.

Page 2 of 5
Page 2 of 5
Playing acoustic guitar: fingerstyle
Example 2

Playing acoustic guitar: fingerstyle

Now we have the foundations in place, we’ll bring in the fingers to provide the rest of the harmony and ‘secondary’ rhythm.

Use your 1st, 2nd and 3rd fingers to simultaneously pluck the top 3 strings in the chord. (Notes G, B and G). Alternatively you can strum these top notes instead using the nail of your 1st finger in a downward motion.

Page 3 of 5
Page 3 of 5
Playing acoustic guitar: fingerstyle
Example 3

Playing acoustic guitar: fingerstyle

Now let’s look at a different style. Instead of counting in 4, we’ll count in 6.

The thumb plays the root note G on the first beat of the bar. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd fingers go up down in an arpeggio on beats 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.

Page 4 of 5
Page 4 of 5
Playing acoustic guitar: fingerstyle
Example 4

Playing acoustic guitar: fingerstyle

You can vary this sequence in many ways by getting the fingers to play in a different order.

Nowadays, many acoustic players have discovered the benefits of using both a pick and fingers. The pick naturally gives you more volume, which helps to drive your bass lines along confidently, whilst the fingers can often add more detail than just using a pick.

As a general rule, use the pick to replace any notes that were played by the thumb and first finger. The action of your 2nd and 3rd fingers will remain the same. Armed with these techniques and a handful of chords you’ll be surprised at how much you can achieve. Many hit songs have been written in this way!

Page 5 of 5
Page 5 of 5
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
  • (opens in new tab)
Guitarist
Guitarist
Social Links Navigation

Guitarist is the longest established UK guitar magazine, offering gear reviews, artist interviews, techniques lessons and loads more, in print, on tablet and on smartphones
Digital: http://bit.ly/GuitaristiOS
If you love guitars, you'll love Guitarist. Find us in print, on Newsstand for iPad, iPhone and other digital readers

  1. Mindful Harmony
    1
    Mindful Harmony is a free online chord progression composing tool based on the circle of fifths
  2. 2
    Here are our 5 favourite effects in Kilohearts Essentials, the biggest free plugin bundle on the internet
  3. 3
    16 inspiring guitar chords that are great for clean tones
  4. 4
    Google says that its MusicLM AI model is the best text-to-music generator yet, and the audio examples might just prove it
  5. 5
    “He got a lot of his style playing with Ringo, because Ringo’s a very basic drummer" - Denny Laine on Wings as a three-piece with Paul McCartney on drums
  1. IK Multimedia ToneX Capture
    1
    IK Multimedia ToneX Capture review
  2. 2
    Here are our 5 favourite effects in Kilohearts Essentials, the biggest free plugin bundle on the internet
  3. 3
    Google says that its MusicLM AI model is the best text-to-music generator yet, and the audio examples might just prove it
  4. 4
    “He got a lot of his style playing with Ringo, because Ringo’s a very basic drummer" - Denny Laine on Wings as a three-piece with Paul McCartney on drums
  5. 5
    Rick Astley hires Blurred Lines lawyer to sue rap artist over vocal impersonation

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab).

  • About Us (opens in new tab)
  • Terms and conditions (opens in new tab)
  • Privacy policy (opens in new tab)
  • Cookies policy (opens in new tab)
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers (opens in new tab)

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.