Fingerpicking technique

no tricks - practice. you are definitely on the right track...

J

As michael says.right / worng .....who's to say.....!!???

However when it comes to finger style there is a wealth of information out there to be had.........I am amazed at all the videos on the internet now a days.in fact it is information overload...........However......here are some of my 2 cent suggestions......

there are severa; directions you can branch out in to accomplish your goals..........
But the first and the very first I would say is go find your self a top notch "classic guitar teacher".........I know , I know it may mean you will have to learn how to read music but!!!!! the technique you will learn can be used in ANY style of playing and any direction you wish to go in the future.... for example........as I watched you thumb play.......it was just swiping at the bass string..........in order to get more control both dynamically and technique you need to learn how to use a supported (rest ) stroke as well as a unsupported (free ) stroke.....this will give you the percision you are looking for as well as the dynamics (loid vs soft) vs cleanness vs the precision to hit a proper bass line............also your thumb is playing in "Lute" technique......not a guitar technique...........now if you want to do Barouque music this may be fine ........but if you want to further your self then you need the upgrade......

Like Michael said......and I agree you should develop that bass line........now do not get me wrong....a drone bass line is a good thing.........at times......but it should be mixed in with other type of lines..........

People you should listen to are ( and I am going to try not to label these people but in some cases the label will fit and some will not so please take them LOOSELY) Chet Atkins.........country / jazz / all around one of the absolute with out question best fingerstylest players todate.....he covers a LOT of different styles with ease and authority and musicallity.........David Russell Classical guitarist........totally top notch.......VERY Percise.....very musical......an absolute wonder to listen to and to see live..........Andres Segovia......top notch classical guitarist dead on..................very early James Taylor.....develops his bass lines with very intricate rhythmic and melodic passages..........Joe Pass.......jazz guitarsit ........plays with pick and fingers.........Lenny breu.......jazz guitarist..............all types of american blues pickers like elizabeth cotton, John Hurt, stephen grossman, ...blind lemon jefferson......etc........

these are just a very small handful of players I can name........(I can go on for hours!!!)

but search out the internet...........take some lessons..............learn to read standard notation (and TAB)........go hang out at some quality cd (in my day record ) record shops that will let you listen to the music before you buy.............

try to learn.......alternate bass lines..........walking bass lines...........pedal tones (drone ) bass lines............etc so that you develop into a more well rounded player...........

Listen to the flat pickers and old bluegrass players....................listen to a lot of the players on this board like Larry Hanson who is very very good and puts out very clean playing............

these are only a handful of suggestions I can offer...........

Good Luck...........and if you need more direction / help just call out

Cliff

Song is nice.

Playing fingerstyle mean that you control the dynamics of the bass, mids part, and melody with the pressure of each finger.I would suggest you play the melody and bass parts louder, and the mids softer.

Also, fingernail can produce a more brillant , distinc and percussive attack sound that you may like if you try.

Good work!

Trucker,

I've got an extra keyboard I'm happy to send your way...I think the period key is stuck on yours.

J
Everyone is handing you very good advice..........I think what Gary is trying to say.(and I hope I am interperting him correctly) and the way I learned is this ...
Put your ring finger on the high E string
Put your middle finger in the B string
put your index on the G string
As you stroke thru the the string you are going to start from the inside corner (left side of finger and fingernail) where the finger and finger nail meet and stroke THRU THE STRING to about the middle point of flesh (finger tip) and nail. this will be your point of release for the fingers.......so nail strength and length are important......
put your tumb on the D string ahead of your fingers so that when you look down between your index finger and thumb you should see a "V" formed........ your fingers should move 9stroke) from the BIG KNUCKLE in the back of your hand..(kind of like waving Bye Bye).......swinging like a pendulumn..........the thumb should be taught to work both from the big knuckle stiff joint / and stiff knuckle / soft joint so that you have a choice of tone produced by both types of techniques...........at first I know that this will be uncomfortable HOWEVER.......
Proper technique is proper technique.......this will allow you to advance so be patient and pratice untill it feels very natural and soon you will be tearing it up........

Cliff

Holy crap... I somehow feel that you guys are setting the bar a bit high by suggesting I try and study some of the folks you've listed. lol...
I don't think I'm ready just yet.
I should probably go ahead and do like someone suggested and get a tutor.
The whole thing just seems like it could get in the way of my creativity somehow. I guess I could enjoy learning how to do things correctly, but I never really gauged my musical ability in terms of what's accepted as standard. I don't know if I'll benefit from changing that or not.
I could definitely benefit from learning ways to do things differently, but trying to abide by a standard just feels like I'm getting away from myself, if you know what I mean. Not just in mentality and method, but in function and output, ultimately.
I don't know what to view as something that can add to what I'M doing, as opposed to something I can do to add to what everyone else is doing.

I could be flawed in that whole thought process.
It's happened before.

Thanks for the insights though.
J.

I bought an instructional DVD by Stefan Grossman recently... he's did a great job.