How to Do the Finger Guitar in Desperado
Learning to play “Desperado” by the Eagles in finger-style guitar is a good way to master basic finger-style techniques and gives you a piece to perform with your acoustic. Finger-style guitar is the method of picking the strings using the fingers of your picking hand instead of a plectrum. This makes it possible to play groups of notes together that aren’t on consecutive strings. Learning to play the finger-style version of “Desperado” is a good introduction into finger-style playing.
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Instructions
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Play an open B string twice using your middle finger. Fret the G string at the second fret and play the note with your index finger. Keep the G string pressed down at the second fret and press the low E string down at the third fret. Pluck the low E string with your thumb at the same time as you pick the G string with your index finger again. Play an open G string twice with your index finger and then hit the low E string with your thumb again (still pressed down at the third fret). Play the B string open with your middle finger and then the second fret of the G string with your index finger. Play an open G string with your index finger. These last four notes are the G7 chord section.
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Press down the A string at the third fret and the D string at the second fret as if you were playing a C chord. Pluck the A string with your thumb and the D string with your index finger at the same time. Play the open G string with your middle finger and then the second fret of the D string with your thumb. Play the second fret of the G string with your index finger. Play the third fret of the A string with your thumb, and then an open G string with your index finger. Play the second fret of the D string with your thumb and then another open G string with your index finger. This is the C and C minor section.
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Press down the E string at the third fret and then pluck it with your thumb. Play the open B string with your middle finger at the same time. Press down the B string at the third fret and pluck it with your middle finger. Pick the open B string with your middle finger and then pick an open high E string with your ring finger. This is the G chord section. Play an open E string with your thumb, and then press the B string down at the third fret. Play this twice using your middle finger.
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Play the open A string with your thumb and the open B string at the same time with your middle finger. Play the second fret of the G string, followed by the open G string and then the second fret again with your index finger. Play an open D string with your thumb, followed by the open B string twice with your middle finger. Press down the second fret of the G string and play it using your index finger. Pull off the note to change it to an open G.
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Press down the E string at the third fret and then pluck it with your thumb at the same time as you pluck the open B string with your middle finger. Play the third fret of the B string twice with your middle finger. Play the G7, C and C minor sections again. Then play the G chord section. Pluck the open E string with your thumb, and then play the third fret of the B string with your middle finger. Play an open B string with your middle finger. Fret the G string at the second fret, and pluck it with your index finger. Pull off to change it to an open G.
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Play the open A string with your thumb and the second fret of the G string with your index finger. Play these notes together. Play an open B string with your middle finger. Play an open D string and the second fret of the G string together with your thumb and index finger. Play an open G string with your index finger. Finish by pressing down the E string at the third fret and picking it with your thumb.
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