Fingerstyle Guitar Accompaniment Practice Patterns
The following fingerstyle exercises can provide useful practice material for moving your picking-hand fingers in specific sequences. The aim is to attain smoothly flowing arpeggio patterns with all the notes ringing out clearly and together. The patterns below use various chords just as examples - you can use any chords you like. The diagram on the right shows the standard classical guitar fingering designations.
Picking-hand fingers are designated using the standard Spanish guitar convention: p (thumb) i (index) m (middle) a (ring). Apart from pattern 4, use your thumb to play strings 6, 5 & 4 and i for string 3, m for string 2 and a for string 1. This is considered a default fingering system, but is often modified in real music where necessary for greater efficiency in certain contexts. |
Pattern 1 - Six beat
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Pattern 2 - Four beat
This pattern introduces two strings played at the same time with m & a fingers. On 5 string and 6 string chords, the bass notes alternate between string 5 (or 6) on beat 1 and string 4 on beat 3. On 4 string chords, the bass starts on string 4 and can't move to a higher string for beat 3 as the upper strings are in use by the fingers - so just repeat string 4. If using this pattern as a song accompaniment, it's best to use 5 or 6 string chords only for a more interesting bass line.
This pattern introduces two strings played at the same time with m & a fingers. On 5 string and 6 string chords, the bass notes alternate between string 5 (or 6) on beat 1 and string 4 on beat 3. On 4 string chords, the bass starts on string 4 and can't move to a higher string for beat 3 as the upper strings are in use by the fingers - so just repeat string 4. If using this pattern as a song accompaniment, it's best to use 5 or 6 string chords only for a more interesting bass line.
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Pattern 3 - String crossover
This pattern features crossing over of the strings and is good for developing independence of finger movement. The rhythm and timing are the same as pattern 2.
This pattern features crossing over of the strings and is good for developing independence of finger movement. The rhythm and timing are the same as pattern 2.
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Pattern 4 - Alternating bass (Travis picking)
This pattern is the most difficult to play as it has a syncopated (off beat) feel because of the missing 2nd beat and also because it needs to be played fast to get the syncopated effect. Many variations of this pattern can be heard heard in early up-beat country music by virtuoso guitarists such as Merle Travis, who pioneered a unique 'thumb and index only' version of it.
This exercise uses standard 'thumb and three fingers' fingerstyle technique, but note that the default fingering is abandoned in bar 3 because it's a 4-string chord. The alternating bass must be preserved for this style to keep the distinct rhythmic effect, so the thumb (p) alternates between strings 4 & 3 and the fingers move up one string (i plays string 2 and m plays string 1). The audio file starts with a slow version to let you hear the timing of the notes followed by a fast version to let you hear its proper rhythmic effect.
This pattern is the most difficult to play as it has a syncopated (off beat) feel because of the missing 2nd beat and also because it needs to be played fast to get the syncopated effect. Many variations of this pattern can be heard heard in early up-beat country music by virtuoso guitarists such as Merle Travis, who pioneered a unique 'thumb and index only' version of it.
This exercise uses standard 'thumb and three fingers' fingerstyle technique, but note that the default fingering is abandoned in bar 3 because it's a 4-string chord. The alternating bass must be preserved for this style to keep the distinct rhythmic effect, so the thumb (p) alternates between strings 4 & 3 and the fingers move up one string (i plays string 2 and m plays string 1). The audio file starts with a slow version to let you hear the timing of the notes followed by a fast version to let you hear its proper rhythmic effect.
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Pattern 5 - Simple triple time
This is just a simple pattern that works as a basic accompaniment for most songs in triple time (3 beats per bar). It has no special technique value.
This is just a simple pattern that works as a basic accompaniment for most songs in triple time (3 beats per bar). It has no special technique value.
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Pattern 6 - Four beats with triplets
Use this pattern to practise fast triplet playing between the notes of the alternating bass. It only really works as an accompaniment if played at a fast tempo.
Use this pattern to practise fast triplet playing between the notes of the alternating bass. It only really works as an accompaniment if played at a fast tempo.
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