Fingerpicking can open a world of new possibilities for your playing. It allows you to break chords down to their individual notes and then deliver the notes in varying order with rhythm and syncopation. You can create intricate patterns, delicate or driving, that are captivating to listeners. I still remember being blown away by the talent of my 10-year-old friend Howie Hoffman at summer camp who could fingerpick lightning-fast patterns on his banjo. Here was a kid my own age who could wail! He immediately became a major inspiration behind my own desire to be a good player.
Most fingerpicking is done by the thumb and first two fingers. Occasionally, the third finger gets involved, especially for pulling out specific chord voicings. But your fourth finger also has an important job in the process—it rests on the face of the guitar just below the strings, providing stability for the active fingers to stay positioned above their strings. This is known as anchoring your fourth finger, or pinkie.
Try this by placing your thumb on top of the low E string, your first finger below the B string and your second finger below the high E string. Then, allow your fourth finger to drop onto the face of the guitar wherever it’s comfortable. This will eliminate the problem of your fingers drifting out of position while you’re fingerpicking.
[photo: Vintage Collective]