How to Use Hand Picking Techniques on a Guitar

Using your hand and fingers effectively to play the guitar can take months and years of practice to perfect. Although it can take time, practicing correctly from the beginning will ensure that your playing not only sounds good but stays consistent.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Sit with the guitar in a comfortable position. Rest the guitar on your left leg if you prefer the classical style, or on your right leg, in the folk style.

2. Rest your forearm on the top front edge of the guitar. Keep your wrist straight, but relaxed. Place your hands in front of the strings, but far enough away to allow movement.

3. Arrange your fingers so that your index finger is above the G string, your middle finger is above the B string and your ring finger is above the high E string. These 3 fingers are generally responsible for playing the stings they are above; however, this can change depending on the song.

4. Rest your thumb on the A string, closer to the neck of the guitar. The thumb is primarily responsible for low E, A and D strings.

5. Pluck the G string with your index finger, by moving the top joint of the finger. Next, pluck the B, E and A strings with the corresponding fingers.

6. Practice a variety of exercises and patterns to build strength and accuracy.

7. Practice slowly at first, increasing your speed only when you are proficient at a particular pattern.

Tips & Warnings

• The wrist should remain still while plucking the strings of the guitar.
• Many guitarists grow their nails long on their picking hand because nails act as a natural pick.
• Don't increase speed too quickly, as this can result in an increased rate of errors in the future.

Resources

• Find examples of patterns that should be practiced at Ultimate Guitar.