What are fundamental acoustic guitar techniques? Basic strumming, flatpicking, and fingerpicking are all techniques that provide a solid foundation on the instrument. Legato moves like hammer-ons, pull-offs, and slides also fall under the umbrella of fundamental technique. The lessons here are perfect for beginning and intermediate guitar players.
Let’s start working on some chord shifting by changing between G and C chords on each beat (Example 6). Allow your fingers to change as slowly as necessary for a smooth transition. If the open strings continue to ring out as you swap chord fingerings, don’t worry about it for…
This exercise includes the fretting hand, and is designed to aid in coordination—the goal is to get both hands working together. The first four measures of this exercise require the use of the index finger of your fretting hand. Use the tip of your fretting-hand index finger to fret each…
When switching between some chords, like A and D, you are able to pivot around the index finger, holding it down while you move your other fingers around it.
Even if this is review for you, it’s always a good idea to revisit the basics—not only to further solidify the foundation upon which all else is built, but to provide new insights as you examine something familiar with fresh eyes and skills.
THE PROBLEM Rhythm is a shaky area for you. You have a difficult time communicating a rhythmic idea unless you can play it; you have a tendency to fall into familiar, repetitive rhythms. THE SOLUTION Learn the fundamentals of rhythm, then work through exercises designed to improve your rhythmic cognition. Music…
Pentatonic scales are an effective and generally manageable way to get started, and many guitar players derive much of their approach from this basic framework.
Use a little music theory to learn how major and minor triads are built and to start connecting chord shapes. With an awareness of how these chords work, you’ll be primed to play songs as diverse as the Who’s “Substitute” and Paul Simon’s “Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard”—and to create your own chord progressions and solos.
Whatever style you prefer—and regardless of whether you’re more of a soloist or accompanist—you should learn how to get these techniques under your fingers.
Songs in 3/4 can sound sweet on acoustic guitar, especially when you go beyond a basic one-two-three waltz rhythm and take a more nuanced approach to picking patterns, chord voicings, and bass lines.
