With fingerpicking, you don’t strum all the strings together – you play the notes of a chord one after another. It sounds calm and flowing, perfect for lullabies and slow ballads.
p, i, m, a – the picking-hand fingers
The fingers of the picking hand have letters that come from Spanish:
- p = thumb: plays the bass strings (low E, A, D)
- i = index finger: G string
- m = middle finger: B string
- a = ring finger: high E string
That way each finger has “its own” string, which helps because your hand can stay in one place.
Your first picking pattern
Fret an Am. Your thumb plays the root note on the A string. Then follow with i, m, a, m, i – six even notes, which fit neatly into a bar of 3/4 or 6/8.
Am- p – A string
- i – G string
- m – B string
- a – high E string
- m – B string
- i – G string
Once that works, switch to C (thumb also on the A string), G (thumb on the low E) and Em (also low E). Your thumb always finds the lowest note of the chord while the other fingers stay on their strings.
CSongs to fingerpick
Calm songs in three-four time work especially well, such as Amazing Grace or Clementine. How time signatures work is explained in time signatures. And if you prefer reading numbers, check out how to read tab.
Play songs