Acoustic guitar and my fingerstyle - explained

[Sweb]

Basic playing description -

 

I play with 5 fingers, when appropriate. The convention is to play with 4 - no little finger. There are times when the little finger can and will be advantageous. I play a lot of simultaneous base/mid, base/treble notes using thumb/finger or finger/finger. Travis style alternating base is a popular style which I use. Most of my playing is a rolling down or up starting with the thumb or little/ring finger and variations of the same. Not educated in music theory I think this is called arpeggio. I also do a lot of hammering and pulling. I posted a piece for recording feedback on another thread that illustrates pretty much everything I do except Travis style. But, the simultaneous base/mid - base/treble work is what I want to explain with regard to acoustic guitar.

 

The acoustic guitar -

 

Striking successive notes in any style gives a "chance" to hear that note when played. Simultaneously played notes can compete for their chance to be heard. Technique/compensation aside, when notes are played together on an instrument that leans toward base to lo-mid response, as is usually the case, the other hi-mid or treble note can be nulled. Strings can be a variable. Using light or extra light gauge strings, I look for a guitar with a particular sound but that sound has to be fairly well tonally balanced when playing simultaneous notes. The thumb has a lot of power so weaker base response is not necessarily a bad guitar in my view. I look for moderate base and good hi-mid/treble response in a fingerstyle guitar. This makes the guitar suitable for simultaneous note playing. As I play closer in or capo up around the 4th fret treble response on many guitars just dies and hammering and pulling become a big problem. Even in the first position some guitars I've played don't hammer or pull well in the treble range regardless of balance. There's an inverse relationship between power and speed when playing fingerstyle. As the tempo increases, the fingers become more fluid and spend less time striking their respective notes, meaning the strings are not deflected as much. Less vibration occurs as speed increases. A guitar that has good lo-mid and treble response is more suitable to up-tempo work. And, in addition to balance, the guitar has to have good volume without having to dig into it. A well-balance quiet guitar is just a quiet guitar to me.

 

Not that anyone asked for this, but that's my $.02 about what I look for in an acoustic guitar and why.

[dadgad7]

too many words man......I stopped reading about three sentences in...

[d03nut]

I actually like this kind of post (and analysis) regardless of one's own IMO's. Of course that's just my own IMO. Never say never.....

 

And about the "too many words" comment, methinks more paragraphs ought to help.......

[Queequeg]

Sweb- please copy that and paste it every time somebody asks, "what acoustic should I buy?"

well said!

[Hudman]

I use my thumb, index and middle fingers to play fingerstyle. I never use the ring or pinky fingers. I'm not sure if my technique is correct, all I know is it feels right to me.

[TXTooMuch]

What acoustic should I buy?

[Queequeg]

why, an Esteban, of course!

[Sweb]

 

Originally posted by Hudman I use my thumb, index and middle fingers to play fingerstyle. I never use the ring or pinky fingers. I'm not sure if my technique is correct, all I know is it feels right to me.

 

 

I'm the last guy who would define "correct" when playing fingerstyle. I just developed my style over many years. In those years I managed to further develop a sense of myself with regard to which acoustic guitar works best for my style. It might be applicable to fingerstyle, generally speaking, but that would be coincidental.

[Hudman]

Originally posted by TXTooMuch What acoustic should I buy?

 

My friend, you seem to be a very classy individual, therefore there is only one acoustic guitar right for you:

UMmmmmmmm, tastey AND classy - it's all you.

[Hudman]

 

Originally posted by Sweb I'm the last guy who would define "correct" when playing fingerstyle. I just developed my style over many years. In those years I managed to further develop a sense of myself with regard to which acoustic guitar works best for my style. It might be applicable to fingerstyle, generally speaking, but that would be coincidental.

 

 

I know I'm not doing it text book. Like you, I am using a style I picked up over the years. I'm sure I would struggle if I tried to change.

[Sweb]

 

Originally posted by Hudman I know I'm not doing it text book. Like you, I am using a style I picked up over the years. I'm sure I would struggle if I tried to change.

 

 

Yep. Struggle, a.k.a. old dog, is the right word. I'm trying the standard classical position (shooting geese) but drift back to my old ways. How does that go - What were once vices are now habits - Moody Blues? Sometimes a sense of pointlessness sets in.

 

Also, thanks but I wouldn't know whether to play that thing or try to ride it. It would be perfect if I could paint the words For Sale By Owner on the back and bury the headstock in my front yard.

[Tedster]

 

Originally posted by Sweb How does that go - What were once vices are now habits - Moody Blues?

 

 

Doobie Brothers.

[Sweb]

 

Originally posted by Tedster Doobie Brothers.

 

 

Thanks.