Fingerstyle advice - alternate or not?

I would say yes, that and other means of doing so … for instance Mark Knopfler’s use of thumb & 1st finger on the fast arpeggio licks in the Sultans Of Swing solo that play a few successive notes on one string.

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Good point. I think using thumb plus finger would seem more natural from a folk/blues viewpoint (like Knopfler’s).

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I’m classically trained on piano, but not on guitar. I did, however, utilize classical guitar resources (books, videos, etudes, et cetera) when learning and developing the technique.

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I play folk fingerstyle and travis picking and yes I use this techniques. Not so much, but it does come in handy every now and then. I think of it as the equivalent of alternate picking when playing with picks.

As Jason @J.W.C is saying it makes fast runs smoother. I practise it by playing scales in fingerstyle - 2 or 3 notes per string before moving over the next. I alternate between p and i mostly and try and get it smooth, and then also i and m.

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I guess all your picking is Travis picking :smirk:

Thanks for your reply. I will try this out.

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Hi Michal, I recently learned the Steady Thumb Blues arr. from Justin and I had the same doubt: alternating or not? I’m studying the Classical Guitar and my alternated picking is well automated and it does help to keep time - just the same way alternated up/ down picking with a plectrum does. I didn’t feel like applying the Classical Guitar Tecnique to a Blues Arrangement would be appropriate but my fingers are trained to alternate at this point. What I did is starting off with the assigned fingers and alternate when it was convenient. Ideally you want to be able to alternate i/m m/i m/a a/m m/a and ohi my i/a and a/i in the long term…it’s not just about i/m.

It’s working for me as Lieven says

Look also at this clip I made for you from Justin’s lesson - you can watch the full video from this link too - I found his advice very helpful, the goal is to bring out what’s in our musical imagination.

https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxJJrlhXJLBdzmvvnujVBtNls-E3vvc3I5?si=QrjSax2zpRiqakp1

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@Silvia80 Oh my god, this is such a great video. I watched just your cut part and intro… it gives me sooo Justin Johnson vibe how he plays. I am definitelly gonna dig this whole video, because this is exactly how I want to enjoy guitar through fingerstyle right now. :slight_smile:
I really like “and dislike” the answer… that its just about improvisation how it feels better for you in that time/part. It gives me a little bit more freedom to grow in this way.
Now I am fighting with “Silent night” from GuitarZero2Hero… and because it does not have only one pattern even its called easy… its pretty pain. :smiley:
Thanks for your time. I am saving this link… I did not even know Justin has this video, because in some way… it wont force me to look for study material by other teachers.

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