The picking of three notes together is when the right hand fingers pick two treble strings at the same time a bass note is picked. In the following example the i and m fingers play the first two strings at the same time. It is important to pick all strings as evenly as possible so each string has the same volume and tone.
The technique described previously will be employed for the accompaniment to the song Banks of the Ohio. First practice the melody line.
Banks of the Ohio features the chords C, F, G and G7. Several of the fingerpicking patterns studied throughout the book are used including optional bass patterns and the picking of three notes together. Bass runs are also incorporated on some chord changes.
Some songs are in three four time. Three four time is also known as waltz time. A song in three four time has the ^ time signature at the beginning of the music notation. It indicates there are three beats (three quarter notes) in one bar of ^ time. As there are only three beats to the bar the standard alternating bass is modified to fit into three beats.
A variety of patterns can be constructed using the previous ^ bass line by incorporating notes from the treble strings.
Now try the accompaniment to The Streets of Laredo.