Acoustic Guitar Lesson – Right-Hand Technique Without a Pick

At first, playing acoustic guitar may appear to you as a strumming and finger–picking only instrument. As you run along the dusty path toward becoming a mature musician, however, you will find new ways to incorporate your right hand to further develop your playing. In this article, we will take a look at a few fancy ways to use your right hand… to play the guitar.

Strumming

To strum a guitar without a pick, you can pinch your pointer finger and thumb together as though you do have a pick, and then strum with the fingernails of your pointer finger and your thumb. Picture and Audio

Another option for strumming is to use your pointer finger and thumb but in an open position, where the thumb strums the down strokes (toward your feet) and the finger strums the upstrokes (toward your noggin). Use the pads of your fingers in this case, not your finger nails. Picture and Audio

You can also use all four of your fingers (not your thumb) to “flick” the strings back and forth much like Raul Midon or similar to a lot of Flamenco style players. Audio

Flamenco players also use a flicking style of strumming that is much like a rake. This technique creates a laid–back rumba feel. To do this, you fan out your fingers like you are counting, starting with your pinky. Each finger will follow the next down all of the strings and make an “out of time,” but still in time, rhythm. Audio

Finger Picking

Finger picking is a popular acoustic guitar style. “Stairway to Heaven” is probably the most popular beginning song for those learning to finger–pick, on acoustic or electric guitars. Finger picking is simply picking out single notes with each of your fingers, usually arpeggios, but not always. You can also use hybrid picking for the “Stairway to Heaven.”

Hybrid picking involves using your fingers and a pick in unison to pluck out those two–note harmonies. For instance, you might play the G# with your pick and the high B with your ring finger. Picture and Audio

Tapping

Acoustic tapping is also gaining popularity. Artists such as Antoine Dufour and Justin King use tapping to play the melody while using their fret hand to play the rhythm. Often, you will see acoustic players smack the 12th fret to ring out the harmonic note of the open strings. Try it out! Audio

Thumpin'

Many solo acoustic artists may be viewed playing their guitars more like a drum than a guitar. Jack Johnson uses a technique where he hits the strings against the frets after strumming a chord. This gives a percussive feel, adds more glorious funk, and helps him to keep and time while really grooving. Audio

Other artists, like Tommy Emmanuel, use a move that is more closely related to wrestling, where they hit the guitar above the strings on the body with the join of their wrist. Tommy can also be found in the tall grass slapping his thumb and finger against the corner of his guitar to create drum beats. Audio