Finger picking?

Question

playing guitar i only use 2 fingers while picking songs, but i want to learn to use 3 fingers so i can play a little faster kus i wanna play dust in the wind the correct way. if i do play the correct way its all slow. but i cant get the hang of it, i keep messing up,

is there any techniques or vids on how to do it. plees help me

Answer 1

You probably want to use 4 fingers - well, really your thumb and everything but your pinky.  For Dust in the Wind I think you start by hitting two strings simulataneously with your ring finger and thumb, then the next three with your middle, then index, then ring.  Repeat (I think... I just play it). There are some different patterns you can learn, and then it is just practice, practice, practice.  I learned my first pattern from an inexperienced guitar player who told me in about 30 seconds, and I just practiced after that - then figured out other things from the rhythms after my fingers had the dexterity.

Answer 2

The correct way to fingerpick is with your thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers. Your thumb controls the three bass strings while your index picks the 3rd string, your middle picks the 2nd, and your ring picks the 1st string.

You'll get the hang of it with practice. I understand that fingerpicking is hard; I had the same problem. As does every guitar player first learning this.

Answer 3

take regular chords, and just start plucking them with different fingers. have you ever heard such great heights by iron and wine? its a perfect song to practice finger picking on. i learned with that song. practice makes perfect

Answer 4

I've been finger picking for many years and I've never discounted the idea of using all the fingers--including the little finger. What's more, it's important that a finger picker maintain manicured nails for the task--a difficult objective for many workers.

I use my little finger primarily in Flamenco and Atkin's style arpeggios--both downward and upward.

Answer 5

The trick is a lot of practice. work through the pattern slowly until you can get it right then gradually increase the speed.