Tommy Emmanuel Master Class: Exclusive Tips on Fingerpicking, Flatpicking, Harp Harmonics and More

(Image credit: Alysse Gafkjen)

What I always recommend to anyone getting started with fingerstyle guitar is that you must start with the thumb first. The thumb takes care of most of the “backing”—the persistent rhythm that propels the song along—while the index, middle and ring fingers, and occasionally the pinkie too, add melody and harmony notes on the higher stings. But, first and foremost, you want to get your thumb working independently.

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