Practice Position
Practice fingerpicking guitar styles by sitting with your right leg crossed or by using a foot stand as shown in the two photographs. The guitar should be close to your body in an upright position with the neck of the guitar pointing slightly upwards.
The Left Hand
The left hand fingers are numbered as such:
Left Hand Placement
Your fingers should be on their tips and placed just behind the frets (not on top of them).
Be careful not to allow the thumb to hang too far over the top of the neck (Photo A), or to let it run parallel along the back of the neck (Photo B).
Photo A: Incorrect
Photo B: Incorrect
Right Arm Position
The correct position for your right arm is shown in the following photograph. Notice that your forearm rests on the upper edge of the guitar, just below the elbow. Be careful not to have your elbow hanging over the face of the guitar, or your right hand too far along the fretboard.
Correct
Incorrect
Right Hand Position
Study the following photographs for the correct hand position.
- Rest the forearm on the upper edge of the guitar.
- The right hand is at 90 degrees to the strings.
- The thumb is parallel with the strings and clear of the other fingers.
- Pick the strings over the Sound hole for the best sound.
- Do not rest any part of your hand or fingers on the guitar body.
Front View
