Reasons to Finger Pick Guitar
I've been saying I'll get to this so now here
we are. Consider this for an example. The Gordon Lightfoot
song Early Morning Rain. It is truly a classic song.
That is the song that got Lightfoot's career off the ground. Its
popularity has made for many arrangements by many artists. When Lightfoot
first recorded Early Morning Rain, he strummed it on his 12 string
guitar. Now please understand that one of the things that Lightfoot is
known for is his very smooth and talented strumming abilities. His early
recording of Early Morning Rain is an example of his skill in that area.
In my opinion, though, it is Lightfoot's finger picking style that makes his
music stand out above the crowd. Of course, I would never go so far as to
say that his finger picking is what made him what he is, because that simply
isn't true. Just like any artist, it is a combination of things
that makes them what they are. Lightfoot is first and foremost an
outstanding song writer, as well as a performer. He is also an award
winning vocalist. My point is that his finger picking helped expand his
appeal. That is, it added "size" or "dimension"
to his overall musical sound. It also raises him up above the general
flood of "folk singers, and songwriters" in this world who do not
finger pick. That's something any professional artist should be
interested in doing, including YOU!
Although Lightfoot was the writer and had an
excellent original strumming version of the song Early Morning Rain,
it was Peter, Paul & Mary's version that made that song popular, not Gordon
Lightfoot's. Peter, Paul & Mary's arrangement was one of beautiful finger
picking guitar work as well as outstanding vocal harmonies. This style of
playing and singing is true of many of Peter, Paul and Mary's masterful
arrangements. They made many other artists songs popular with their style
too. Needless to say, THEY are the "Model" that many other folk
singers would imitate for years and years to come. Lightfoots first big hit
was - Read My Mind - it was a finger picking song. There are many
other examples like this. Jim Croces first hits, Time in a Bottle, and Operator
both had finger picking style guitar work. James Taylors first hits, Sweet
Baby James and Fire and Rain, were both finger picking guitar.
Also, one of his biggest hits was Youve Got a Friend.
Although this song was not actually written by James Taylor, the general
public still preferred his arrangement over many others. Why? You
guessed it! No doubt, (I believe) his finger style guitar playing had something
to do with that too. These are just a few examples. There are many, many
more. You can probably think of some yourself. What I'm getting to
is this - it's not just my personal opinion about finger picking.
There is something about finger picking style guitar work that is very
attractive to people in general.
This is not to say that if you learn to finger
pick a song then it will have a better chance of being a hit! Neither am I suggesting that finger picking is just for folk music,
acoustical or classical guitar. That is not the case at all. Folk
music just happens to be a type of music that I like. Eric Clapton is
certainly not a "folk singer" but one of the finest "Rock"
musicians there has ever been. An excellent example of a master at
outstanding guitar work! Some consider him the BEST in the world!
It's not surprising that some of his most beloved songs employ finger
picking guitar. Chet Atkins, or "Mr.
Guitar" was a master at his art too. Well known in the world of
"Country" music. Many artists still love to imitate his finger
style guitar playing. Bonnie Rait is an outstanding
"Blues" artist who sometimes uses finger picks in her unique finger
picking guitar arrangements. There are many, many examples of those who
use finger picking guitar in their composition of songs. Here is the thing Im
getting to - they do this not because they are "folk" singers, or
classical guitarists. They do this for one reason - because of the "appeal"
that finger picking style guitar work brings to their music. By employing
finger style guitar, these professional masters have added that extra "dimension,"
and they have done it with good results!!! That is why they
use finger picking and that is just another reason WHY you should
learn to finger pick guitar too. There are more, so please read on!
Personally, I think it's a crying shame how
many artists playing the guitar today have limited themselves solely to a flat pick
and mostly if not always strumming their instrument. It seems to me that
this has been a dominate trend now for many years. Not that strumming
doesn't take talent, because it does. However, it's a talent that many
artists have. This is another reason why I'm offering finger
picking lessons free of charge to help you learn how to finger pick guitar.
I would very much like to see and hear younger, upcoming artists
incorporate finger style guitar or finger picking guitar work into their musical
arrangements.
If you're already an accomplished guitarist
and/or a professional guitarist of many years, and you still don't do finger
picking and do it well, then please LISTEN UP
to what I'm about to tell you. Your
musical expressions have been limited and it says something about your talent! I'm not trying to offend you. Nor am I trying
to hurt your feelings. I'm trying to WAKE YOU UP! Why not broaden
out your talents? I suggest that you add that appealing "dimension"
of finger style guitar work to your many already accomplished guitar skills.
I'm certain that if you do learn how to finger pick guitar and
incorporate it with your already unique style of playing, you will get a positive
response from your audience and devoted fans. Others have!
So will you!!!
I GUARANTEE THAT!