Thumbpick/Boom-Chick & Classical Fingerstyle Question

[ryevick]

I just took advantage of the half off sale at TrueFire and purchased a year of All Access for $99 (sweet deal! ). I am about to dive deep into fingerstyle techniques and I am 100%, for sure going to start with this amazing, highly praised lesson from the incredible Tommy Emmanuel 'Fingerstyle Milestones' (I have watched a few lessons of it and he is such a wonderful teacher, I connect).

My question is, does classical fingerstyle differ dramatically? I know there are a huge variety of different fingerstyle techniques used by different players in the same genres. I know the approach and even the way you attack the string is different in classical (or flamenco) but are the finger movements and muscle memories developed different in such a way that mixing in a classical lesson or two into my practice routine that I will be doing under thumbpick, will throw me off?

I know that may sound confusing and it depends on the individual but hopefully I can hear from some players who are versed in both methods of fingerstyle. Thanks!

[Song]

I think TE and Pete Huttlinger would say that the thumbpick is a matter of preference. But classical requires flesh and nail.
The goal is to set your fingers free and in time they'll just go where you need them to subconsciously.
Many players struggle with the fret pinkie, but when it gets strong and accurate thru practice that's when the fun starts.
Practice as often as possible. I play during football games, movies, etc.
until the patterns become second nature, effortless. And then there are no patterns!
Welcome to the wonderful world of fingerstyle!

[ryevick]

Originally Posted by Song

I play during football games, movies, etc.

I do the same. I really discovered the mandolin improving over Godfather II.

I've been doing fingerstyle for years but never properly in my eyes. It works but it's limiting on many things, although I can play a pretty decent take (so I'm told), of 'Diary of a Madman' (Randy Rhoads) with just my thumb and index. I use all of my fingers as needed but just need a master like Tommy to guide me to better playing.


Two MASTER performances involving fingerstyle in very different styles/genres.

[musicman1951]

Originally Posted by ryevick

My question is, does classical fingerstyle differ dramatically?

I would say no. I use the same technique on my steel string.

[Steel and wood]

Plastic thumb pick and metal fingerpicks when playing fingerstyle. (I use thumb and two fingers).

I also hybrid pick fast country lead lines on my electrics (mainly Telecaster) using a pick and a metal fingerpick on my middle finger for a bit of extra "snap".

I use a thin Dunlop pick for pretty much everything else.

[ryevick]

Originally Posted by Steel and wood

Plastic thumb pick and metal fingerpicks when playing fingerstyle. (I use thumb and two fingers).

I also hybrid pick fast country lead lines on my electrics (mainly Telecaster) using a pick and a metal fingerpick on my middle finger for a bit of extra "snap".

I use a thin Dunlop pick for pretty much everything else.

Yeah, I meant to put in the poll 'Chicken Pickin'/Hybrid Picking'. They're the same thing really but a lot of people don't know or have never heard the term Chicken Pickin'.

[DukeX]

I can't vote because none of the choices describes me.

There are almost as many fingerpicking styles as there are players.

Classical style is different than most steel string stuff, although there are a bunch of us that play all kinds of music with all kinds of guitars. I don't play classical music, but one of the guitars I fingerpick is a classical guitar.

If you write your own stuff, you may find over time that you often incorporate more than one style in any given piece.

[rmgjsps]

I checked "just my fingers on steel strings" but I also play "just my fingers on nylon"

I always say that in addition to steel, I also play a classical guitar, but I don't play classical guitar.

[jaybones]

Originally Posted by ryevick

...My question is, does classical fingerstyle differ dramatically?

I learned the PIMA method on my first acoustic, taking an intro to classical guitar in college.


Found that it was just about perfect, but for certain songs I will pick strings with other than the assigned digit.


I also do chicken pickin' (pick and fingers). Makes for pretty easy arpeggios

[ryevick]

Originally Posted by DukeX

If you write your own stuff, you may find over time that you often incorporate more than one style in any given piece.

Absolutely

Originally Posted by rmgjsps

I always say that in addition to steel, I also play a classical guitar, but I don't play classical guitar.

An honest picker

Originally Posted by jaybones

I learned the PIMA method on my first acoustic, taking an intro to classical guitar in college.

I started learning the PIMA method way back years ago and I'm not sure what distracted me from it but I do remember working on it.

[donlyn]

No vote; no selection for fingernails on steel string.

[ryevick]

Originally Posted by donlyn

No vote; no selection for fingernails on steel string.

There's a million fingerstyle methods. I just listed a few. I do something that's hard to explain with my index nail that I've not noticed anyone else do. I could mention real nails or press on nails as well. Too many styles to cover.

[Steel and wood]

Originally Posted by ryevick

Yeah, I meant to put in the poll 'Chicken Pickin'/Hybrid Picking'. They're the same thing really but a lot of people don't know or have never heard the term Chicken Pickin'.

Not really the same thing.

Chicken picking refers to a staccato effect produced on electric guitar that a lot of country players like the sound of. You don't have to hybrid pick to get the sound but it just so happens that a lot of country guitarists are hybrid pickers. There are lots of non country guitarists use hybrid picking without staccato playing acoustic and/or electric guitars.

[Bikewer]

I use classical guitar technique to play jazz chord-melody stuff on nylon-string guitars... Mostly. I keep my nails as classical guitar players do.

I went to nylon because steel strings just eat my fingernails, and I find that I produce no sound at all on a steel string with just the flesh. So when I want to play steel... I flatpick.

I fool around with banjo and lap steel too, and I use plastic finger and thumb picks for that.

[jklotz]

I think that Tommy Emmanual course would be an excellent place to start. I really enjoy watching him play, he's just so fluid with it.

If I were starting again, I'd force myself to learn to use a thumbpick. Seems like all the guys who are really good at that Travis/Chet thing use them. I use a pick and my fingers (hybrid picking), as my main thing is electric country "chickin' pickin'", and I spent so long learning and practicing that style that it's the only thing that feels natural.