Picking With the Thumb

Lesson 7/64 | Study Time: 5 Min

Course: Country Fingerpicking Guitar

Picking With the Thumb

The 4th, 5th and 6th strings are picked with the thumb (p). In almost all cases a free stroke is used. After striking a string the thumb should move over the third string and return to its original position ready to strike again. Your thumb should feel as if it is moving in small circles. Once again consider the two options for the position of the right hand thumb.

The classical position: The wrist is arched, thumb 45 degrees to the string and the thumbnail is used to pick the string.

The contemporary position: The wrist is kept close to the guitar face, the thumb almost parallel to the strings and the side of the thumb is used to strike the string.

Classical Position

Contemporary Position

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Class Sessions

1- INTRODUCTION 2- Alternating Thumb Style 3- Country Chord Progressions 4- More Country Picking Patterns 5- Country Bass Patterns 6- Accompaniment Styles 7- Adding Extra Notes To a Chord 8- Fingerpicking A Melody 9- Fingerpicking Technique 10- More Fingerpicking Techniques 11- Country Fingerpicking Solos 12- Basic E Chord Licks 13- Pick-Up Notes 14- Optional Bass Notes 15- The Pinch 16- More Country Bass Lines 17- Picking Patterns 18- Tuning Your Guitar 19- Sixteen Bar Country Progression 20- Playing Position 21- Variations On The Sixteen Bar Country Progression 22- More titles by LearnToPlayMusic.com 23- More Bass Runs 24- Basic A Chord Licks 25- Hand Technique 26- The Hammer - On 27- Songs In Three Four Time 28- Country Fingerpicking Pattern Three 29- Country Fingerpicking Pattern One 30- Country Fingerpicking Pattern Four 31- Eight Bar Country Progression 32- More Melody Picking Techniques 33- Chord Diagrams Used in This Book 34- Changing Chords 35- The Pull-Off 36- Picking the Strings 37- Picking Three Notes Together 38- Arpeggio Style 39- The <em>a</em> Finger 40- Picking With the Fingers - The Free Stroke 41- More Chord Based Licks 42- Country Fingerpicking Patterns Five And Six 43- Dropping The Last Note Before a Chord Change 44- Basic C Chord Licks 45- Tablature 46- Bass Runs 47- Picking With the Thumb 48- Banjo Picking Style 49- Using An Open String To Change Chords 50- Second Position - Right Hand 51- Picking Four Notes Together 52- Basic G Chord Licks 53- Alternative Chord Fingerings 54- Finger Names and Numbers 55- Country Fingerpicking Pattern Two 56- Alternative Chord Fingering - Basic D 57- Basic D Chord Licks 58- First Position - Right Hand 59- The Slide 60- Alternative Chord Fingering - Basic F 61- Second Position - Right Hand 62- F Chord Licks - Root Six M A Major Bar Chord 63- Bracing The Right Hand 64- B Chord Licks - Root Five Major Bar Chord

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Picking With the Thumb