Second Position - Right Hand
All previous examples were played in the first position for the right hand, i.e., the i and m fingers were allocated to the first and second strings. The second position allocates the first finger(i) of the picking hand to the third string and the second finger(m) of the picking hand to the second string. The thumb(p) will play all the bass strings.
The following photo highlights the second position of the right hand fingers (i) and (m). These two fingers should be in position above the strings ready to pick.
Fingerpicking Patterns One and Two - Second Position
These two patterns are identical to the first two patterns except the second position of the right hand is used. The right hand i finger is now allocated to the third string and the m finger is allocated to the second string. The last note in each pattern is optional.
The following chord progression uses pattern one - second position. This example also introduces two chords which have not yet appeared in this book, A minor (major seventh) and A minor seventh.
Am(maj7)
Am7
Alternative Chord Fingerings - D and D7
First consider a basic D and D7 chord. The standard alternating bass line for these chords alternate to the third string. Using the third string as a bass note restricts the right hand fingers to the second and first strings only (first position).
A way of overcoming this problem is to use an alternative fingering for the D chord such as the D/F# chord, meaning D chord with an F#bass note. A D7 chord can be substituted with the D7/F# chord. Using these chords enable the right hand to use the sixth and fourth strings as bass notes thus allowing the right hand fingers to play the third and second strings. Study the following diagrams. Note that the F# bass note is played with the left hand thumb. These chords are used in the next example. Fingerpicking Pattern Two - second position is also used.
D/F#
D7/F#
The next progression uses patterns one and two in the second position.
Fm
C7
Fingerpicking Patterns Three and Four - Second Position
These two patterns are identical to fingerpicking patterns three and four except the second position of the right hand is used. The right hand i finger is now allocated to the third string and the m finger is allocated to the second string.
Example 27 uses patterns three and four in the second position. Two new chord shapes are introduced, the B minor bar chord and an alternative fingering for the D seventh chord. This fingering is the same as the basic C seventh chord except 2 frets higher.
Bm
D7(alternative fingering)
Optional Bass Notes
An optional bass note is another bass note from within the chord. Study the following bass lines played over the basic D, E, G and A chords. These bass lines combine the standard alternating bass for each chord with an optional bass note.
Now try incorporating this bass line into a fingerpicking pattern.
Fingerpicking Patterns Five and Six - Second Position
These two patterns are identical to fingerpicking patterns five and six except the second position of the right hand is used. The right hand i finger is now allocated to the third string and the m finger is allocated to the second string.
To use an optional bass pattern with the basic C chord the third finger of the left hand moves back and forward between the fifth and sixth strings. The other fretting fingers maintain the C chord shape. The same principal applies to the basic F chord with the third finger of the left hand moving between the fourth and fifth strings. Study the following diagrams then try the next example that uses both chords.
C
F
Moving Bass Lines
A moving bass line is when the bass notes played in a chord progression move up or down a scale or pattern. In order to achieve this effect you need to be selective with the bass notes you choose to pick within each chord.
The following chord progression consists of the chords C, Em, Am and G. Normally the bass notes you would select for each chord would be C, E, A and G respectively. However if for the Em chord you select the 5th string bass note (B) the four main bass notes you will be playing are C, B, A and G, in that order. You now have a moving bass line that descends from the note C, to B, to A and then to G. When a different bass note is selected instead of the usual root bass note the chord name is altered accordingly. In the following situation, the B bass note is selected as the first bass note for the Em chord. This bass note will now become the dominating bass note. The chord name changes from Em to Em/B meaning an Em chord with a B bass note. Play the following progression listening carefully for the effect of the descending moving bass line.
The next example uses a moving bass line that ascends from the low E note to the D# note on the first fret, fourth string.
Adding Extra Bass Notes to A Chord
adding of a bass note to a chord. An example of this is shown with the next chord progression. Adding the C# bass note (fifth string) to the D chord creates the D/C# chord (D with a C#bass). Adding the B bass note (fifth string) to the C chord creates the D/B chord (D with a B bass). In bar 6 an extra bass note is added to the G chord (G/F#). Study the diagrams and then try example 33 which has a descending moving bass line.
D/C#
D/B
G/F#
An Am/G and an Am/F# is used in the next example
Am/F#
Am/G
Bass Runs
A bass run is a sequence of bass notes that ascend or descend between two chords. The common type of bass run is connecting the root bass notes of two different chords. For example, in the following exercise a bass run is used to connect the chords C to F and back again. The first bass run uses the bass notes C - D - E and F to ascend from the C chord to the F chord. These notes are then reversed to descend from the F chord to the C chord.
The next example uses bass runs between the G, C and D7 chords. This time the bass run is played as the picking pattern is continued with the right hand. Special attention should be given to the suggested right hand fingering.
Try creating you own bass runs using some of the chord progressions that have appeared in earlier examples.
