In this lesson you will be learning two different examples that use a new finger picking pattern. The first example uses only one chord and is pretty simple for your picking hand. The second example changes chords and gets a little bit more difficult for your picking hand.
Let’s take a look at the finger picking pattern before we get into the two examples. Start with your thumb on the 5th string and then roll through the 4th, 3rd, and 2nd strings with your 1st, 2nd and 3rd fingers on your picking hand. Now come back down the 3rd, and 4th strings with your 2nd and 1st fingers. That is the whole picking pattern. Look at the TAB and you will see T I M A M I under the notes that you should be playing. This pattern is pretty simple and easy to remember but you should still practice it until it is smooth and even sounding.
Now that you know the finger picking pattern you need to apply it to the first variation. Place your 2nd finger on the 2nd fret of the 4th string and your 3rd finger on the 2nd fret of the 3rd string. This is the chord that you will keep in place throughout the entire first variation. Play the finger picking pattern with your thumb on the 5th string and your 1st, 2nd and 3rd fingers on the 4th, 3rd and 2nd strings. The only thing that will change throughout the rest of the first variation is the bass note on the 5th string. Keep your chord with your 2nd and 3rd fingers in place and put your 4th finger on the 3rd fret of the 5th string. Play the finger picking pattern. Take your 4th finger off of the 5th string and grab the 2nd fret of the 5th string with your 1st finger. Play the finger picking pattern again. Finally, move your 1st finger down to the 1st fret of the 5th string and play the finger picking pattern one more time. That is the entire first variation. Loop this over and over again until you have it down cold.
The second variation uses a G, C, E minor, D progression. This variation uses the same finger picking pattern but you will be changing which strings your fingers play on when you change chords. Every time you play a G or an E minor chord your thumb will play the 6th string and your 1st, 2nd and 3rd fingers will play the 4th, 3rd and 2nd strings. When you make a C chord your thumb will play the 5th string and your 1st, 2nd and 3rd fingers will play the 4th, 3rd and 2nd strings. Finally, when you make a D chord your thumb will play the 4th string and your 1st, 2nd and 3rd fingers will play the 3rd, 2nd and 1st strings. Take some time to go through the finger picking pattern with each chord. Get each one down and then put them together to play the entire example.
Remember to relax and start out slowly. Once you can change from chord to chord smoothly you can speed up your playing a bit. Take this finger picking pattern and apply it to some other chords that you already know. Before long you will be coming up with your own songs.
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