Picking Notes Together
All previous examples involved the playing of individual notes only. However all fingerpicking styles require the picking of two or more notes at the same time. This lesson will introduce this technique.
The Pinch
The first technique you will learn in this lesson is the pinch. The pinch is the playing of a bass note and treble note together. The thumb and a finger must pick the strings at exactly the same time. This technique may require a little practice to coordinate cleanly as well as ensuring a correct balance of tone and volume between the two notes. The pinch is introduced in the following example.
The Major Scale
The major scale is another useful scale you should become familiar with. The two most common major scale patterns are shown as follows. One pattern can be referred to as a root six pattern with the key notes located on the sixth, fourth and first strings.
The other pattern can be thought of being in a root five position with the key notes located on the fifth, third and first strings. The following diagrams are the root six major scale in A and the root five major scale in C. Both of these patterns are movable, i.e., they can be moved up or down the fretboard to be played in different keys.
Major Scale - Root Six
Major Scale - Root Five
The pinch and the C major scale are used in the following lick.
The next lick involves using a pinch with the thumb (p) and the second finger (a).
The i and m fingers play two notes together in the next lick.
Now a lick in E that combines the previous pinching variations.
Another common scale used in Rock guitar is the natural minor scale. This scale has a distinctive classical and sometimes haunting sound to it. Study the following diagrams that illustrate the most commonly used patterns for the natural minor scale. The following patterns are the root six natural minor scale in A and the root five minor scale in E. As with previous patterns both of these patterns are movable.
Natural Minor Scale - Root Six
Natural Minor Scale - Root Five
The next lick is played within the root six natural minor scale, key of A.
