Improve your Guitar Playing Skills: Use Correct Fingering

Any starter or untrained guitar player will use their fingers in an uneconomical way. Let me explain what I mean: Most people will use three, or maybe even two, fingers of their fretting hand. The Pink is often overlooked, since it is the weakest in dexterity of all our fingers. My very first article on this blog was just about fingering and what you can do to overcome typical fingering issues.

I cannot stress enough that it is a must to use all your fingers, regardless of the style you are into. It may be obvious that people who want to get into playing fast guitarsolos will need to use all their fingers to help them along the way, but also the singer-songwriters who may mainly play chords on an acoustic guitar: The right fingering will make your playing so much better and easier. Once you get into the habit it is a joy for the rest of your life.

                      Typical Fingering Issues:

~ Not using Pink at all, because pink may be weak. Overcome this by working on excercises which focus on getting more dexterity in your pink.

~ Position Shifts: Often people loose the smoothness of their playing when it comes to moving from one position up to the next one on the fretboard. You can overcome this by playing scales which cover two ocataves over one or two strings. Most of the position shifts will be done by first finger: First finger moves up to next position, fingers will be ready to carry on playing in new position.

~ Keep your fingers down on fretboard at ALL times. Watch videos of guitarplayers who can really play and look at their first finger of their fetting hand: It will never NEVER leave the fretboard. Similar to driving a car, you never take your hands off the steering wheel.

~ Stringbending: Bend with your Ringfinger of fretting hand using your Index-and Middle finger to support the bend. I often see beginners who try to bend using one finger, and often they will  use Index or Middle finger. Yes it can be done, but using Ring finger will be easier. Again watch experienced guitarplayers to see how they do it.

                   Correct Fingering?

Yes it does not exhist, nothing is correct, there are always exeptions in what fingers to use and how to use them. There is something like “Common habits which works for most guitarplayers” You should try to get into these habits since it will help you. Once your fingering is neat and tidy it will become second nature and will help you with your playing and your music will start to sound much better.

Enjoy,
Eddie