Arpeggios
Another right hand technique you will need to develop is arpeggio playing. Arpeggio playing is the individual picking of each note in a chord, normally played to a pattern. The free stroke is used to pick each note. The following exercise is an example of an arpeggio pattern played over a C major chord.
For this type of arpeggio pattern it is important to allocate a different finger for each treble string. The i finger for the third string, the m finger for the second string and the a finger for the first string. This will be the first time in this book the a finger on the right hand is used and may feel a little uncomfortable at first. Make sure your right hand is in the correct position so each string can be picked easily.
The next exercise applies an arpeggio pattern to both the C major and G Seventh chords.
An example of an arpeggio pattern for * time is shown in the next example.
Picking Two Notes Together
Another right hand technique you will need to develop is the picking of two notes together. This is another situation where the free stroke must be used. In the following example the i and m fingers play the first two strings at the same time. It is important to pick both strings as evenly as possible so each string has the same volume and tone.
Picking Three Notes Together
It is also common practice to pick three strings together using the i, m and a fingers. As with picking two strings you will need to practice this until you have an even balance of volume and tone from all three strings.
Picking Four Notes Together
Finally, the picking of three treble strings and a bass note simultaneously. The following exercise combines this technique with a * time arpeggio pattern.
