Simple Fingerpicking Exercise

If you've been playing guitar for a few months and are curious about fingerpicking, now is your chance to practice a little. Here are some basic fingerpicking exercises for you to try out. Remember, the thumb plays the 3 bass strings (6, 5 and 4) and the index, middle and ring fingers play the treble string (3, 2 and 1). The pinky is seldom used, but can be useful at times. I often rest it on the pickguard and use it as a base to steady my hand.

C Major

e--------------------------------------------------
B-----------1-----------1-----------1-----------1--
G--------0-----------0-----------0-----------0-----
D-----2-----------2-----------2-----------2--------
A--3-----------3-----------3-----------3-----------
E--------------------------------------------------

Now try varying it up a little.

e--------------------------------------------------
B-----------1-----------------1-----------------1--
G--------0-----0-----------0-----0-----------0-----
D-----2-----------2-----2-----------2-----2--------
A--3-----------------3-----------------3-----------
E--------------------------------------------------

e--------------------------------------------------
B-----------1-----------------------1--------------
G--------0-----0-----0-----------0-----0-----0-----
D-----2-----------2-----2-----2-----------2-----2--
A--3-----------------------3-----------------------
E--------------------------------------------------

Now try another chord.

D Major

e-----------2-----------2-----------2-----------2--
B--------3-----------3-----------3-----------3-----
G-----2-----------2-----------2-----------2--------
D--0-----------0-----------0-----------0-----------
A--------------------------------------------------
E--------------------------------------------------

e-----------2-----------------2-----------------2--
B--------3-----3-----------3-----3-----------3-----
G-----2-----------2-----2-----------2-----2--------
D--0-----------------0-----------------0-----------
A--------------------------------------------------
E--------------------------------------------------

e--------------2-----------------------2-----------
B--------3--------3-----3--------3--------3-----3--
G-----2-----2--------2--------2-----2--------2-----
D--0-----------------------0-----------------------
A--------------------------------------------------
E--------------------------------------------------

Now let's try combing the two chords.

e-----------------------2-----------------------2--
B-----------1--------3--------------1-----------2--
G--------0--------2--------------0-----0-----0--3--
D-----2--------0--------------2-----------2-----0--
A--3-----------------------3-----------------------
E--------------------------------------------------

e-----------2--------------------------------------
B--------3-----3-----------------1-----------1--1--
G-----2-----------2-----------0-----0-----------0--
D--0-----------------0-----2-----------2--------2--
A-----------------------3-----------------3-----3--
E--------------------------------------------------

That's it for this tutorial. Check back for more later.