Finger Picking Acoustic Guitar Exercise 1

[jackcoltman]

Imagining im holding a tennis ball has just improved my playing alot, great technique(s). Thankyou for sharing brother. JC

[AcousticMax]

@jackcoltman great, glad it was of some help. Max :o)

[Dasaniism]

This was great. Thank you. I love finger picking, I just don't want to get into any bad habits. You broke this down nicely...

*New Viewer*

[AcousticMax]

@Dasaniism Many thanks, enjoy the other lessons as you go. :o) max

[SwordAndFaith]

new viewer

[AcousticMax]

@SwordAndFaithHey thanks, it's been jammed for over a week now. Enjoy. Max :o)

[AcousticMax]

The view count has not moved for several days!! 101,177 Let me know if you are a new viewer. :o)

[Darkreaper71]

i was wondering, ive been playing guitar for 5 months, and i have a teacher as well but im not going to bother him to teach me this style of picking, but i play to do probably 30 minutes of practice on this style everyday, how long do you recon this would take me to become at least a novice at?

[AcousticMax]

@Darkreaper71Cut it done to 15 minutes, play through slowly and in 21 days it will be fluent, maybe not fast but fluent. Then learn a tune like Freight Train from the RGT grade 4 book. I hope to post a lesson soon. By 10 weeks you should feel comfortable with the technique. Try my Open D lesson for more alternate picking. Max :o)

[Darkreaper71]

@AcousticMax okay thx a lot! ^^

[herrifick420]

I personally think finger picking sounds absolutely beautiful. Thanks! Very helpful and easy to understand

[celticsraiderskings]

hey please help what is a good way to practice keeping your thumb infront of your fingers, my index always wants to come infront and straighten :(

[AcousticMax]

@celticsraiderskings try picking up a plastic bottle with the fingertips of the fretting hand and look at the shape of the hand. Try and mimic that hand position when playing chords. :o) Max

[tchering]

Is there any intermediate lession sir?

[AcousticMax]

@tchering Check out Exercise 2 and 3 then try Walking Bass exercise. Then Go for Song For Eric. I can send you the music. have fun. Max ;)

[eduardocenter]

Thanks!

[AcousticMax]

@eduardocenter No problem, check out some of the other lessons. best wishes. Max

[rurounisld]

now thats very helpfull thanks mate.

[AcousticMax]

@rurounisld No problem many thanks for watching, check out some other lessons I have done. Nearly 90,000 views! Didn't realise!

[mbodermusic]

Maybe you can get a little inspiration from my new video. I was sick and couldn't sing, so I sat on the sofa and played a little guitar, only finger picking.

[ilovenewseveryday]

Thank you for the lesson . I needed a very basic lesson . This was most helpful.

[AcousticMax]

@ilovenewseveryday Hope you're onto part two now :o) Enjoy. Max

[ChinnamastaBln]

Thx so much! I just started playing the guitar and I really appreciate your videos, they are very helpful :)

[waluigi319]

its a very basic lesson but extremely helpful, thanks man!

[AcousticMax]

@waluigi319 Yep basic is the name of the game as it's exercise 1. More to follow soon. :o) Max

[pro24proamp]

@AcousticMax thnkz

[Pantera5171]

EXTREMELY helpful!!!!

[AcousticMax]

@Pantera5171 Many thanks and stick with it there will be more lessons soon. Max

[AcousticMax]

@Pantera5171 Glad to be of service. max

[Brooksj34]

Great lesson, thanks for this.

[AcousticMax]

@Brooksj34 You're welcome, best wishes Max

[AcousticMax]

Thanks I appreciate your comments. All the best. Max 

[alvee33]

Thanks for this excersise. Great stuff.

[m0sesm01]

is that an ibanez..

[AcousticMax]

@m0sesm01 Hi It's a Martin 00028EC. This size if guitar is great for finger picking.

[Godsuhn]

And thanks for the lessons. they help!

[Godsuhn]

Oh i see it has been a couple of years.I hope you are doing well.

[AcousticMax]

@Godsuhn It's all well many thanks.

[Godsuhn]

I pray you recover man. keep doing what you love. Hotep!!!

[larrylex100]

out of tune

[AcousticMax]

Thanks for your informative message, it's a free lesson. get over it. Shortly after posting these I was admitted to hospital for major surgery for cancer so your comments are the least my problems.

[idonotcair]

thanks man for this and i hope you kicked it ass

i wish the best of health

[Nisp]

@AcousticMax Dude..... I hope youre ok.

[AcousticMax]

@Nisp Hi thanks yea doing really well and I put some new stuff up recently.

All the best,

Max

[fogimymate]

thanks cheers

[AcousticMax]

Nice one, thanks . Stick with it and enjoy.

Max

[prankstare]

hi

what is this exercise good for? thx

[AcousticMax]

Alternate picking, so if you fancy playing tunes like "Jolene", "Windy and Warm" or "Anji" it will help with technique. It's used on more songs than I could ever play in a lifetime! max

[SoAdKId]

Wow, this helps A LOT, danke

[nosleeplisa]

Thought I"ve been noodling around playing straight chords for years and years, I've never really taken it any farther. Watching this inspired me to pick up my husband's guitar and give it a go--thank you! (I'm sending you my sincerest wishes that you're recovering from your surgery--I battled breast cancer last year. hang in there!)

[AcousticMax]

I'm glad you got some help from the lesson, that's great. I hope you have continued good health to you and yours.

I've had two really good weeks and everything seems to be onwards and upwards.I have another check in January to check I'm all clear.

Thanks and best wishes Max

[Sooperball]

I enjoyed this. Thanks.

[AcousticMax]

Hi Thanks for the kind comment. I'm currently recovering from major surgery for bowel Cancer.

I was given the all clear at the end of August and I'm getting stronger each day.

Hope to put some up soon.

Max

[mcewanschampion]

Get well soon Max.. very good lesson! cheers

[Somumeranaam]

@AcousticMax thanx a lot...god bless u....!!!

[9988115206]

hey buddy this is fantastic lesson i hav jus startd fingerpicking coz it realy attracts me thanx for the lesson please put sum more fingerpicking lessons for beginners as well as pro's

[YeaYouHeardMe]

thank you, this is an excellent exercise. it is fun and feels like a great intro to finger picking.

[sudarmabaruna]

This lesson is realy make me wake up again. I learn to play guitar by my self. but I realy want to to improve my guitar picking like bob dyland, counting crow and some some picking country guitar.

[AcousticMax]

Thanks for the kind comment. I hope to post some more soon when things quieten down a bit. I'm currently recording a new acoustic blues album with Cherry Lee Mewis.

Good luck.

[stringslayer]

That looks like a nice guitar, who's it made by?

[AcousticMax]

Hi it's a Martin 00028EC. It plays beautifully and i love the tone. It's fitted with a Fishman Matrix system under the bridge for live playing and I plug that into a Fishman Aura using the 00028EC image to get rid of the piezo quack sound. That then goes into the house P.A. and I use an AER 60watt on stage amplifier. I usually use with a Feedbackbuster in the sound hole.

Thanks Max

[MinigunFiend]

These lessons are great - really inspiring me to try and learn more than just mindless strumming!

Thanks for posting, and I hope you will do more soon!

[AcousticMax]

Thanks.,

Keep up the practice and have fun. I'll try and post some more lessons soon.

I'm busy gigging with Cherry Lee Mewis at the moment.

All the best Max

[ElvisBluntman777]

should i use my nails or just the tip of the skin?

[Heinrick192]

tip of the skin is easier imo, but what ever is comfortable for you

[Ditch785]

As someone who has always struggled to learn even the basics of guitar, Thank you! This is my first video of yours, but I already have noticed a mental change, from a place of 'i can't do this' to now a 'i must keep practicing!'

I'm hitting the subscribe button right now, much obliged!

[thepossessor]

thanks man, that's a neat litle exercise to work the coordination with my fingers

[bhabooshka]

i killed the poor mouse first few times ..

but your exercises are really helping me.

i had no idea how to start picking .

Thank you

[AcousticMax]

Ha! well stick with it and practice slowly.

Imagine there's a little mouse under your hand and you don't want to crush it.

Good luck!

Max

[bhabooshka]

i crushed the tennis ball :P

[lewman911]

this should help me alot thank you

[baseballdude3430]

yeah. nice video man. helped me a lot. on to lesson 2!

[AcousticMax]

Thanks for your kind comment and stick with it.

Check out some vintage Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed for inspiration.

All the best Max

[emilythestrangest123]

dude u are a great teacher thanks a bunch :]

[AcousticMax]

Thanks for your kind comment, sorry it's been a while I've been so busy. I'll try and put some more stuff up soon. Max

[AcousticMax]

Thanks for your kind comment, I hope it's helpful. I plan to get some new lessons up soon.

Good luck.

max

[rugshort]

Er..., Jolene please.

[AcousticMax]

Some of the chords for Jolene are covered in Picking ex 2. Am to C then it goes to G and back to Am.

It was played with a capo at the 4th fret on the original.

[dagrava]

u are the beginning of a new era of education.. props respect thanks the lot.. 5/5

[AcousticMax]

Nice one, glad you are enjoying the classes.

Check out my favourites there's some good stuff there.

All the best,

Max

[GorgonFace64]

Hey Max, its one of the guys your teachin in absolute beginners class and just wanna say your really helpful and i've learnt a hell of a lot in three weeks, thanks again. See you next week! :P

[juliebeanss]

this was very helpful! thanks!

[AcousticMax]

No problem, I hope to put some new videos up soon. Good luck.

[sonicshori]

thanks man that helped a lot

[AcousticMax]

Thanks a lot, good luck with the picking. I'll put some new stuff up soon.

Cheers Max

[kutatishh]

You're the best! Thanks.

[AcousticMax]

Hi Kutatishh ,

thanks for your kind comment, I hope to put some more up soon,

best wishes max

[Metaalheid]

I just started to play the guitar and your video is very helpful to me !! You're a good teacher ! Greetings from the Netherlands.

[jpb1576]

Great video Max. Thanks

[chargers9505]

thankyou for the great video!

[yamahajii]

you are a good teacher!!! Do you sell any cd that teach me how to play step by step? I love to buy your cd.I love finger picking,thank for show us how to play.greeting from u.s

[Sjjags]

Although I've been fingerpicking for quite a while, your video is really helping me get better. Thanks!

[barryoconnorsa]

hi can you post some more vids on the picking

I think ur a exelent tutor,and help me so much with just two vids show and can you pick country roads????/

[AcousticMax]

Hi, I've been really busy lately but I'll see what I can do soon.

Max

[ekatime]

What's with the insults, buddy? Let me see how it sounds when you play it using a rusty guitar with high action. Mind your own business.

PS that's an OLD video.

PPS IF you're going to insult me, try using correct grammar. thanks.

[AcousticMax]

Hi Ekatime,

I'm not sure what you are referring to as I've never a left a comment on any of your videos.

But thanks for your support anyway.

Cheers Max

[ekatime]

Hi AcousticMax,

Sorry, wrong page. It was meant for Aleximov. He's been leaving hate messages for me. I dunno how you got my replies. Maybe i was listening to your videos and accidently posted it on your page instead. sorry for the inconvenience.

[twobrokenarms]

hey man, where do you leave your pinky when you fingerpick acoustic? i remember someone telling me that the pinky shouldn't lean on the guitar, is this right?

[AcousticMax]

Well I just keep it relaxed because when I hybrid pick  (that's using a plectrum and fingers ) I use the pinky a lot. I hold the pick with my thumb and index finger. middle finger then plays the G string most of the time. ring finger plays B string and pinky plays the top E 1st.

Having said that, Tommy Emmanuel rests his pinky on the face of the guitar when he's playing and it works for him.

If it works for you go for it. Cheers Max

[harlow76]

If it was in tune when you bought it, I would definitely take it back to those crooks ;)

Thanks for the vid

[hunterxaz]

do you need to have fingernails on the fingers to do this most effectively?

[AcousticMax]

Hi Hunterx no I usually play with the flesh of my picking hand because I prefer a warmer tone.

Cheers Max

[NailedSolo]

you are the man !

thanks

[AcousticMax]

Thanks for your kind comment I hope it helps.

Cheers Max

[Fordz]

brilliant

[Dantimal]

hey this is a really good video! i am a beginner playing the guitar and i had a very easy time following your instructions. i am still working on the picking but i can tell that it sounds awsome. just a hint for you-change the angle of the camera so you can see better. but overall this is a great video! thanks!

[wolfgangrocker]

awesome lesson, ive been struggling with fingerpicking

[Turbo9987]

So have I. this vid definitely helped

[skiminal]

good stuff