Fingerstyle Guitar Dynamics: Play Soft, Play Loud, Play Better!
by Simon Candy
Ever feel like your fingerpicking sounds flat, like every note is just the same?
The secret to truly beautiful fingerpicking isn’t just playing the right notes; it’s how you play them.
Imagine a singer who belts every word at the same volume, boring, right? Well, the guitar is the same! If you want to bring life, emotion, and control to your playing, mastering dynamics is key.
In this video, you learn how to take full control of your picking hand so you can shape every note — soft, loud, and everything in between.
Stick around, because by the end, you’ll know exactly how to make your fingerpicking sound more expressive and pro!
You learn:
• How to almost instantly sound more pro fingerpicking guitar
• Two amazingly effective exercises for building dynamics in your playing
• How to sound more expressive as a fingerpicking guitarist
Watch the video below to learn more:
Fingerpicking Dynamics
Below are two incredibly effective drills for making your fingerpicking sound more dynamic and expressive.
Each is applied to an open G chord.
Be sure to watch the video above for a detailed demonstration and breakdown of each drill.
Drill 1: Accenting On Each Beat
(i)
In the first drill, you accent your thumb (p):
(ii)
In the second drill, you accent your index finger (i):
(iii)
In the second drill, you accent your middle finger (m):
(iv)
In the second drill, you accent your ring finger (a):
Drill 2: Accenting On Beat One
(i)
In the first drill, you accent your thumb (p) on the one beat:
(ii)
In the second drill, you accent your index finger (i) on the one beat:
(iii)
In the second drill, you accent your middle finger (m) on the one beat:
(iv)
In the second drill, you accent your ring finger (a) on the one beat:
Discover a step by step online lesson program for fingerstyle guitar