Why I Prefer Finger Style Guitar

Finger picking certainly does appeal to me!  Of course, I first started to play the guitar in the 60’s when folk music was entering its prime and that may have something (probable a lot) to do with my preference for finger picking.  However, I believe there is much more to WHY you should learn how to finger pick guitar than just because it's my personal preference.  I’ll explain more about that later but first let me tell you why I prefer playing finger style, because you might see that you feel the same way.

For me personally, I can hear a popular song performed by many different talented artists and many times my favorite version is by the artist that used finger picking in their arrangement.  Finger style guitar is just very attractive to me.  I'm not sure exactly why that is, but it just is!  For example, in my early days, like every red blooded boy I loved the Beatles and tried to learn as many of their songs as I could.  However, the songs that had the most appeal to me or really stood out were those that employed finger picking.  For example the first time I heard Black Bird, I just had to learn how to finger pick that song.  Other artists that I was personally ‘drawn to’ were Peter, Paul and Mary, Joan Baez, Gordon Lightfoot, John Denver, Jim Croce, Paul Simon, James Taylor.  There were other artists that who were not quite so popular that I liked too, like Steve Goodman.  But it was because they often used finger style guitar.  If you are like me, and you find yourself ‘drawn to that kind of sound', and you really want to learn finger picking too, please believe me when I say, you can learn to do it too.  Just realize this fact - they had to learn to finger pick when they started.  So you too can learn just like those artists did.  Just like I did!  Trust me, if I can learn finger picking, so can you.  I say this because in all honesty, my abilities at finger picking guitar are more the result of shear determination then natural raw talent.  So I know what I’m saying when I say – “you can learn finger picking too.”  That is if you are determined enough and really put your mind to it.

Now that I do know how to finger pick it is not surprising that it is usually the style that I will prefer to use when pick up my guitar to play.  This is not just because finger picking is more appealing to hear but also because when I learn a song with this style of guitar playing I get more satisfaction out of the learning.  Learning a song that has finger picking is a song that has challenged me.  Finger picking guitar is more challenging then other styles.  So because it is more challenging it is also more rewarding then others.

I often use a flat pick too but I must admit that I’m not as skilled as many when it comes to using it.  Still I do prefer the flat pick when it comes to strumming the guitar because it is smoother and more manageable.  This is especially true with a 12 string guitar.  Although I love to finger pick a 12 string guitar too, when it comes to strumming, I prefer the flat pick.  I very seldom strum a 6 string guitar using a flat pick but this is only because when I have a 6 string in my arms I’m usually wearing my finger picks.  You can very effectively strum using finger picks too but using a flat pick for this is smoother especially with a 6 string guitar. 

Knowing how to finger pick guitar has also helped me in my use of the flat pick as well.  This is another reason WHY you should learn how to finger pick.  There are other reasons WHY you should learn to finger pick guitar but I’ll be explaining them later.  For now I want you to realize that learning to finger pick can help you improve your flat picking skills too.  This is because finger picking helps you to “know where the strings are” in relationship to one another in a way that no other style of guitar playing can.  Finger picking has helped me to be better oriented with the strings so that when I need to pick out certain strings and hit only that one string, I “know where that string is”.  When a “signature” note or two needs to be played to give the song it’s identity.  That can be a difficult thing to do in among all the strumming.  So this is a very valuable skill to have.  Learning to finger pick will help you to develop that skill as too.  Being able to finger pick has made it possible for me to even pick (with a flat pick) certain finger picking patterns.  However, when this is done it is usually much slower then what I can do using finger picks.  The truth is that even the best flat pickers can’t keep up with what can be done using finger picks.

Generally speaking I play alone.  What I mean by that is I’m a solo artist.  I’ve never played much with a “band” or other guitarist or singers.  I generally play the guitar to accompany my singing and song writing.  So it’s usually just me and my guitar.  The use of a flat pick and strumming has its place, but that alone can quickly become repetitive and boring.  Finger picking on the other hand can add variety and life to a song that could have otherwise just been another song done like everyone else does.  

So finger picking is not just more enjoyable for me to listen to.  It is also more challenging to learn to play and for that reason it is more rewarding as well.  It has also helped me to develop some of my flat picking skills and as I’ve been told it has even made my music more enjoyable to listen to too.    

There are two things that I want to help you to realize.

1. - If you learn how to finger pick guitar, it is certainly worth the effort it takes to do so.

2 - I can help you to learn to finger pick and it won't cost you anything but your time and effort.

That is, I can help you only if you really want to learn.  But you have to really want it.  I mean you have to have a real desire to learn how to finger pick.  Finger picking guitar is more complicated, and therefore, much more difficult and challenging to learn than just strumming or simply using a flat pick. Many people give up on the endeavor to learn, especially when learning to finger pick using plastic finger picks.  As I have explained before this has been my experience over the years.  So you are going to need that motivation and I'm trying to help give that to you. I don't want you to give up like so many do.  This is why I want to impress upon you WHY you should learn finger picking guitar. I'm trying to give you "reasons" to want to keep with it.  So before we get into HOW you can learn let me give you some more reasons WHY you should learn finger style.