Playing with a pick

The two types of picking strokes are the down and up stroke.  Picking the strings with consistant down and up strokes is called alternate picking. Note that alternate picking can also start with an up stroke. 

Here is a slide show showing a down stroke, up stroke and alternate picking starting with both the up and down strokes in guitar tab and standard notation.

Move your mouse over the image and change the pictures manually.

Here is a short video going over a down an up and downstroke and basic alternate picking.  Note that alternate picking can also start with an up stroke.

Finger picking

Finger picking is when the strings are played with the fingers instead of a pick. 

The thumb plays notes that are played on the sixth, fifth and fourth strings. I like to think of these as being the bass voices. 

The index finger  plays notes on the the third string.  The middle finger plays any notes on the second string and the annular finger plays notes on the first string. I like to think of these as being the higher voices.

The c finger (pinky) is rarely used but mentioned for completion. When playing with a flat pick, the right hand finger numbers are not used.

Basic Finger picking

Here are some basic guidelines to follow when learning how to play with your fingers.

Note that in finger picking, the right pinky is rarely used.

In the diagram below, I colored each finger and string designation to help visualize the concept better.

Playing with your fingers using the basic guidelines above is helpful when you want to fingerpick the strings or play the strings at the same time. Plucking the strings together at the same time is something that can't be done with a guitar pick.

A guitar pick can only be in one place at a time, but using your designated fingers allows you to play whatever string(s) you want independently at the same time. Being able to play with both a pick and your fingers will make you a well rounded guitar player. 

Here is a short video showing the basic right hand position for finger picking.

Here is an original finger picking piece that I created to show the right hand finger picking position in action.  When watching the video, notice the right hand fingers and how they follow the basic finger picking position throughout the entire piece.  I included the guitar tab for your convenience.

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Unique styles without a pick

Most electric guitar players play with a pick while some don't use a pick at all like Lindsey Buckingham from Fleetwood Mac. Here is a video showing Lindseys unique playing style.  Watch his hands and note how doesn't play with a pick.  Also listen to the unique sound he gets out of his guitar. 

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The sound from playing with your fingers is softer than with a pick. Also, when Finger picking you can play notes at the same time.  A pick takes time no matter how fast you strum across the strings.

Mark Knopfler from the Dire Straits is another fantastic guitar player who uses his fingers instead of a pick who also creating his own distinct sound.  Here is a video demonstrating his unique playing sound and style. 

Below are some techniques mainly used when playing an electric guitar. 

Technique #1 Dynamics

The right hand is responsible for how hard (loud) or soft (quiet) the notes are played which is known as dynamics. The guitar has a very wide dynamic range meaning the sound can range from very soft to very loud.

Here is s video that goes over each of the musical sumbols used to represetn dynamics.

TIP! Try practicing varying dynamics on a single string of your choice. Play the string as soft as you can (barely audible) and then gradually get louder until you are playing very loudly. This can also be compared to whispering the gradually getting louder and end up YELLING! Try the same exercise, but this time try changing the dynamics randomly (soft- VERY LOUD-very soft-medium loud). Add dynamics to everything you play from now on and breathe life into your playing.

Technique #2 Muting

The right hand is also responsible for muting any strings that are NOT being played. This is an very important guitar technique to master. The trick is to lightly lay the side of your right hand palm across the strings at the bridge position.

Mute the strings that are NOT being played without muting the strings that ARE being played. This helps to stop all the notes from blending into each other and making a confusing mess. Mastering this technique alone will make you sound more professional. The left hand can also be used to mute the string(s) by lightly resting your fingers on them.

Palm muting has a percussive sound that depends on how much press sure the right hand is placing on the strings as it is being picked. The lighter the pressure, the more it rings and adding more pressure produces more of a clunky sound.  It is very similar to covering your mouth while trying to speak.  Here is a short clip demonstrating what palm muting sounds like using Guitar Pro 6 woftware.

TIP! Try practicing varying pressure on multiple and or a single string. Listen to the different effects that are produced depending on the amount of pressure you use.

Technique #3 Strumming

Another role of the right hand is to strum the strings. Strumming chords and making clean chord changes takes practice. Strumming is done by brushing the pick across the strings using patterns of up and downstrokes. The combination of up and down strokes create stumming patterns..

Some folk players strum across the strings with their thumb. Strumming chords is best suited to back up another instrument like a vocal or another instrument playing a melody. This is also known as an playing an accompaniment. A good sense of rhythm is one of the basic building blocks of rhythms and lead guitar.

Technique #4 Tapping

The right hand can also be used to tap notes on the fretboard. Eddie Van Halen is the first guitar player to bring fretboard tapping to the mainstream. Tapping is not very difficult to do and is very impressive if played correctly. The critical part of this technique is tapping cleanly AND muting the strings that are NOT being played (Technique #2). It is well worth the effort to master each of these techniques and add them to your playing style.

Here is an original lead lick demonstrating two handed tapping.  Two handed tapping along with hammer on and pull off's creates a nice legato "smoothly connected" sound.  I am working on a lead guitar course at this time to help beginners learn how to master guitar technique.  If you are interested, please leave a message ay my YouTube channel. 

Technique #5 Silence

Don't forget about silence. When used properly it can it can make a statement more powerful than sound. This may be one of the hardest things to do because everybody likes to play as many notes as possible out of habit. If you want a good example of what I am saying, watch Jack Black in School or Rock when is playing his solo. Everybody in the band stops and stares at him as he plays like a madman....sometime less is more.

The left hand