Fingerstyle - thumb and index finger?

[zmf]

Originally Posted by TBman

This thread was 7 years old, lol.

Whew. Thanks for the heads up. I was tempted to hammer out a warning about the pros and cons of using only thumb and index.

[Pitar]

Still, though, 7+ years hasn't aged the subject at all.

Working backwards myself. All 5 is how I taught myself and I can use the pinky as adeptly as any other finger. But...

More is less and most times more is the goal. If Travis (alternating) is the rhythm then using the thumb and two fingers is my method. Removing the middle finger, while possible, becomes more work on the hand so I keep the middle finger working.

[Arthur Blake]

Having learned PIMA, not likely I can use just thumb and index, but that's what's recommended for Rev. Gary Davis Candyman - so maybe learn that one first, then add the other fingers!

[_zedagive]

Originally Posted by pauleddy

I've seen a lot of advice in this thread to keep practicing until you're able to incorporate middle, ring, and pinky fingers. I guess I'm the reverse - when I started playing fingerstyle (on both electric and acoustic) it was all about the thumb, middle, and ring fingers (sometimes I'd strum with the index), but over time I've gravitated towards thumb and index, nearly exclusively. To me it sounds better. My middle and ring fingernails were always to be clicking and clacking on the strings, noticable if you tune into it. The tone is better, too, as the index finger, with it's unique angle, is nearly as fleshy as the thumb. They're perfect partners. Volume is more even, too. So while it's good advice to be able to use all fingers, don't rule out the possibilty that using only two fingers may not really be a handicap.

I don't think using 2 fingers is a handicap and is probably a big advantage when you're focused on a specific style. I started learning on a classical, so I'm used to using thumb and 3 fingers. Many of the songs/style I like to play require picking 3 or four strings simultaneously and I don't think they would sound as good if I was limited to 2 strings (or 3 if you're able to hit 2 at the same time with one finger).

[Goldy]

I second the suggestion of Mark Hanson's books. Detailed and well written. Nice guy too!

[AfterViewer]

Good to hear nobody has six fingers to claim that it won't sound full/interesting unless you balance out a finger for each string plus thumb on bass E.