March 7, 2022 by Klaus Crow
Fingerpicking also referred to as fingerstyle, is one of the many guitar techniques that is part of the complete guitar skill set and incredibly fun to learn.
Fingerpicking is a technique where you pluck the strings directly with the fingertips, as apposed to strumming where you move your fingers in a sweeping action across the strings to play some nice and easy guitar songs in a more rhythmic fashion.
Fingerpicking Basics
There are some basic fingerpicking principles for how to place the fingerpicking hand. The traditional way to approach the strings is as follows:
- Use the thumb for the Low E, A and D string (6th, 5th and 4th string)
- Index finger for the G string (3rd string)
- Middle finger for the B string (2nd string)
- Ring finger for the high E string (1st string)
See image below:
Make sure your fingers are curved when you place your fingers onto the strings. When you pluck the strings your thumb goes downwards and the fingers are going in an upwards movement. Now you are ready to practice some fingerpicking patterns.
Fingerpicking Patterns
Usually a song contains a primary fingerpicking pattern that is played throughout the song. The fingerstyle pattern is often also part of the intro of the song which makes the tune easy to recognize.
If you want to learn the most common fingerpicking patterns and exercises check out the video lessons in 16 Legendary Fingerpicking Patterns. Here you can see in close up how I pluck the strings with my fingerpicking hand.
Fingerpicking Songs
Now pick one tune from the 20 best easy fingerpicking songs to start developing your fingerpicking skill. Some are real easy and others a bit more challenging depending on your skill level.
I really tried to keep the songs at beginners level. Make sure you know how to play your basic chords before you dive into this.
Each song title contains a link with a guitar video lesson. The “Tabs” will show you how to read the guitar fingerpicking tabs in full Tablature and “Chords” will give you the chords for the song.
| Video lesson | Artist | Chords | Tabs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Everybody hurts | REM | Chords | Tabs |
| 2 Ain’t no sunshine | Bill Withers | Chords | Tabs |
| 3 Hallelujah | Jeff Buckley – Leonard Cohen | Chords | Tabs |
| 4 We’re going to be friends | White Stripes / Jack Johnson | Chords | Tabs |
| 5 Are you with me | Eastin Corbin | Chords | Tabs |
| Video lesson | Artist | Chords | Tabs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 Wonderful tonight | Eric Clapton | Chords | Tabs |
| 7 Fast Car | Tracy Chapman | Chords | Tabs |
| 8 House of the rising sun | The Animals | Chords | Tabs |
| 9 Wherever you will go | The Calling | Chords | Tabs |
| 10 Lost | Anouk | Chords | Tabs |
Easy Guitar Video Lesson: House of the rising sun – The Animals
| Video lesson | Artist | Chords | Tabs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Every breath you take | Sting | Chords | Tabs |
| 12 If | Pink Floyd | Chords | Tabs |
| 13 Hey There Delilah | Plain White T’s | Chords | Tabs |
| 14 Blue behind eyes | The Who – Limp Bizkit | Chords | Tabs |
| 15 The animals are gone | Damien Rice | Chords | Tabs |
| Video lesson | Artist | Chords | Tabs |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 Wreck of the day | Anna Nalick | Chords | Tabs |
| 17 No surprises | Radiohead | Chords | Tabs |
| 18 Don’t cry | Guns ‘n Roses | Chords | Tabs |
| 19 Love Yourself | Justin Bieber | Chords | Tabs |
| 20 Fluff | Black Sabbath | Chords | Tabs |
Easy Guitar Video Lesson: Everbody hurts – REM
If you learned this lesson thoroughly and you want to step up your game you can move on to study the Top 30 Best Intermediate Guitar Fingerpicking Songs
Do you know any easy fingerpicking songs for beginners, please share them in the comments. I appreciate it!
what about
YESTERDAY
one of my favorites
Hi Buddy,
That’s a great one.
Thanks for sharing!
Best regards,
Klaus Crow
we don’t talk anymore by Charlie pith and Selena Gomez is a good one
Hi Camryn,
Indeed, a nice sounding fingerpicking pattern, but I think it’s a little fast for the absolute beginner.
I enjoy to listen Music. I have just started to playing guitar. Thanks for giving a such information for beginners.
Klaus could you do city of new Orleans finger picking style.. thanks
I think this guy created a whole bunch of accounts and praised him self. Camryn says “I enjoy listen music” no “ing”? What’s up with that?
Little things by Anushka Manchanda..
My all time favourite
Thanks for the info. Im right at the beginning; still looking for a guitar, and feel inspired reading this.
Appreciate you putting all this info out there
The first song I learned was Blackbird by The Beatles, I found it to be the right amount of challenging as a beginner. I don’t know that I would call it easy, but it’s a song I love and it didn’t take me long to get it down since it has a relatively simple picking pattern.
I realy miss Skin and Bones from the Foo Fighters, an easy and fun song!
Ed Sheeran I see fire is the first song I learnt its pretty easy
Nice list
Try ‘Count On Me’ by Bruno Mars, I have been learning it and I am a beginner.
I am 47, I received my 1st guitar less than a week ago..30 minimum .i suspect i have Played /practiced…laied my head on it and just listened. To the beautiful, angelic sounds that im able to create just by strumming. Im in love. I don’t want to put it down. It has been a dream of mine to conect to others thru melody and song….and even if i never get so good that i could play for others, just listening in private to my own inexperienced, uneducated strumming i feel god has blessed me with perfect appreciation. Thank you for sharing this information and giving a little hope to a dream ……
would tennessee valentine (amy levere) or I’ll cone back (k.t. oslin) be overwhelming for someone with my limitted experience?
Thanks again! Much love!
Skunk Anansie – Pickin’ on me
First finger picking song I ever learnt. Very easy and beautiful song.
please recommend me where can i buy fingerpicking tabs for beginners other than amazon.
thank you