This lesson introduces the basics of fingerpicking technique. Before attempting the following lessons it will be a good idea to review the basics of guitar technique such as seating, holding the instrument and the correct position of both hands.
Sit towards the front edge of a chair with your right leg raised. Adjustable footstools can be pruchased at most music stores. Experiment with the height of the footstool and chair until you reach a comfortable seating position.
The guitar is secured at four points of the body. The right thigh, the forearm and the chest. The guitar should rest flat on your thigh and note lean backwards. Angle the guitar slightly upwards as shown in the adjacent photo.
The right forearm is positioned over the body of the guitar so that the right hand is in position to pluck the strings. The elbow is positioned at the edge where the face of the guitar meets the side.
Your left arm should not be close to your body nor be pushing away from your body. It should be able to move freely up and down the entire fretboard.