Right Hand Positioning

here are many different positions for the right hand depending on what type of picking technique you are using. There is the standard pick technique, folk fingerstyle, classical fingerstyle, thumbpick style, ect. This lesson will focus on the most used technique of them all, the standard pick technique.

There are many different types of picks. In fact there are too many coming in all different shapes, sizes and colors. A beginner guitarist needs to pick which type of pick they want to use. It is a good idea to start with a standard pick with a medium gauge (medium thickness) but you should also go to your local music store and take a look at all the different types of picks or anytime you're playing with other guitarists, ask to take a look at their picks and try them out. You will soon find one type of pick that you prefer over others.

During this process and after when you have chosen your favorite type of pick, it's important that you hold the pick the right way. The pick should be held between the index finger and the thumb. More specifically, the side of the index finger and the bottom of your thumb.

When done correctly, your index finger and thumb should be making an X pattern, with the index finger crossing below the thumb. Your pick is wedged between these two fingers with the point of the pick pointing out past the index finger. In this manner, the pick is essentially an extension of your index finger. Everything your index finger does your pick does with the thumb adding stability.

Once you have this position you are almost ready to play the guitar, there are just a few more things you need to know to avoid. First you don't want to have any tension in your right hand. Tension is applied usually when either your right hand is crunched together with no space or you stick out all your fingers like your giving the 'ok' sign. Neither of these are good.

Your hand should feel natural. Anytime your hand is not involved in doing some sort of work your hand is almost in the perfect position to hold a pick. Notice that it takes work to stretch your hand out and it also takes work to curl it into a ball. Its when you dont apply any work on your hand does it curl naturally in a comfortable position. That is our goal. We don't want your right hand to perform any unnecessary work. Other then that make sure your using the bottom of your thumb and the side of your index finger and you should be fine.

You now know how to properly hold a pick. You just need to learn how to strum the guitar and how to pick individual strings. Luckily those lessons are available for you as well.

Comments

Your First Scale / The Pentatonic Scale

The first scale most guitarists learn is the minor pentatonic scale. Pentatonic may sound scary but it really isn't, it simply means 5 notes. So a pentatonic scale is just a 5 note scale. The pentatonic scale is extremely useful for guitarists. This is for a few good reasons. - Music that is commonly played on the guitar (rock, blues, country, pop, ect...) use the pentatonic scale in its melodies and improvisation. - The pentatonic scale is easily playable on the guitar with pentatonic 'boxes'. - The licks and riffs from the pentatonic scale sound amazing. With that said, lets get into the minor pentatonic scale. The following is a tab file and a scale diagram of the minor pentatonic scale in the Key of A. Didn't I say a pentatonic scale was only 5 notes. The above tab file and scale diagram feature alot more then 5 notes. Take a look at the red dots on the scale diagram, for example the 5th fret on the Low E string and High E string and the 7th fret on ...

How To Build A Barre Chord

It should be clear by now that the barre effectively replaces the use of the nut on the guitar. If not, then go back and read Part One . Once understanding the barre replaces the use of the nut, it should make sense that you could use the same basic chords in open position and apply them after the barre. Use the exact same chord shape, just replace the nut with the barre using your first finger and refinger the chord as necessary. While this method will work with all open position chords, there are four particular chord shapes, two major shapes and two minor shapes, that are essential for all guitarists. The two basic open position chords that we will be using to build our major barre chords are the E major and the A major chord forms. Let's start with the E major chord. This chord should already be familiar. If not then read up on the basic chords in open position . The two diagrams to the right is an E major chord in open position followed by an F# major barre chord. T...

Tuning The Rest Of The Guitar

The same method is used to tune the next two strings, the D string and the G string. Fret the 5th fret on the A string and that gives the note D, you can now tune your D string in comparison to the 5th fret of the A string. Once the D string is tuned, do the same for the G string. Fret the 5th fret on the D string and that gives the Note G and you can now tune the G string. The B string is tuned with the same method but instead of fretting the 5th fret of the G string, you fret the 4th and tune in comparison to the 4th fret, not the 5th. You should now just have the High E string to tune. In this case, we go back to the original method of fretting in comparison to the 5th fret of the previous string. The following diagram will help illustrate the entire tuning process. You should now be able to tune your guitar. It may take a while for a beginner but you should get it. If your having trouble, read through the material again. The above diagram should illustrate the method clea...

Grab The Guitar

Search This Blog