5 Fingerstyle Patterns You Need to Know

👉 Video Chapters
00:00 Lesson Welcome
03:08 Pattern 1
09:03 Pattern 2
10:37 Pattern 3
12:30 Pattern 4
15:44 Pattern 5
17:01 FAQ & Extra Tips

[maureenhanley]

I am 60 years old and decided to learn picking style guitar from strumming guitar. I have to say, Justin you are an amazing teacher. Thank you so much for sharing your expertise. I tell everybody "This guy is amazing"

[thaddeusweerts]

That's one of the coolest, if not THE coolest, description for practice. "Practice doesn't make perfect, it makes permanent. So practice perfect." Amazing lesson!

[herrunsinn]

That "Thumb, thumb, thumb, index, middle, ring" right-hand finger assignment became my "home configuration" when I first began studying finger-style a few years ago (after years of only flat-picking). Similar to how tennis players or karate students have a "home stance" to always be their "get ready to react" position, the "TTTIMR" always welcomes me back. I can step out of that pattern when I need/want to... but it always feels natural to go back to my "home stance" as a point of reference.

Thanks Justin for yet another fantastic lesson!

[christopharaujo]

It still blows my mind how good justin is as a guitar teacher.. 👏👏👏

[RyanPortugal]

You’re awesome, Justin.
Thank you for all these wonderful lessons!

[MarkHarrop]

I’ve always found it hard to play fingerpicking style. Must try these exercises. Thanks for the lesson.

[earthb]

I had to snap myself out of it. At about 5:26, I think I was being hypnotised! Thanks Justin. Really motivated me to chuck the pick and get back into fingerstyle. Not sure if you have been back to AU yet or are about to, but if you have, I hope you had a ball, and if you haven't yet, have fun! Airlie would be awesome. Adelaide is super cold!

[laurifunderburk]

Thank you so much for going slow with the lesson. I’m just learning the first pattern before I go to the next one. You are truly the best teacher!!

[dakota]

Thanks, I'd love some more complicated ones

[bigbadbrad]

Thanks, I love to find patterns online and then make a song from them. I find its a very good creative excersize :)

[christg]

Your timing is impeccable. Just started experimenting a ton with fingerstyle recently, and started playing 4 months ago. Thank you! Having so much fun

[Michael-ynjj]

Hi Justin, i always notice, the blanket behind you, we had one very similar, for our children, we live in Sydney

[malcolmjamesturner]

What guitar are you using Justin? Is it a Martin?

[ServiceOrchestramegastore]

finger style was simple. but things you told to do is some serious practices. I think that there is very impotent lesson. thank you you are a good teacher

[lohndavis]

Roy Clark used an anchor finger and he was among the top notch best !

[tp]

pattern 5 sounds to my ear like it has better resolution... or comes home... more than pattern 4. I guess either could be right depending on the intent of the song.

[farquarfarkle]

I wonder if you have done finger-style versions of "House of the Rising Sun" and "Knockin' on Heaven's door"?

[phoenixia]

Can I request a lesson on lucy by skillet? It's a good song and I can't figure out how to play it

[robertsweeney]

Hi Justin would you consider doing a lesson on The Speed of the Sound of Loneliness ?
It's great song to practise fingerstyle guitar.

[joesbanjointerests]

Way too much talking sir. Play more without vocal accompaniment