Hey Guitar Freaks, I’ve received loads of emails asking for lessons on different styles. There have been quite a few, but far and away the most requested style was……wait for it… Fingerstyle guitar. And who am I to say no to such an honest request? I was in the studio not so long ago knocking […]
Tag Archives: fingerpicking
Announcing Fingerstyle Guitar with Mark McKenzie
Fingerstyle Guitar course launched! As promised, the first chapter of Mark McKenzie’s Fingerstyle Guitar course has been launched in the courses section of the site. We’ll be continuing to add more chapters to this course in the coming days. But, while we finish the final edits, we thought we’d open the first chapter up to […]
Paul Ubana Jones Fingerpicking
In the late eighties Paul and his family moved to New Zealand, which is still their permanent home. He has continued to perform internationally, to growing acclaim. Concert performances include opening for the likes of Bob Dylan, Patti Smith, Taj Mahal, Keb Mo’, Tuck and Patti, and Crowded House.
Understandably Paul’s “off the hook” skills aren’t something that’ll come to you overnight, unless you’re friends with the devil, but, to compliment the awesome Blind Blake style fingerpicking lesson from Jim Bruce, Paul’s approach to fusion expands upon an already eloquent vocabulary.
So, here is Paul discussing one of his clawhammer thumb picking patterns.
Whilst this may be out of your playing depth technically Paul describes some helpful techniques in approaching fingerpicking such as focusing upon a relaxed hand and extracting and concentrating upon the the rhythm of the left hand – it`s well worth spending some time in trying to apply Paul’s advice to your own picking practice regime.
In a world of increasing homogeneity and gratuitous eulogising of the mediocre by the media simply for what appears to be the sake of having something to talking about, it’s a rare sight to behold aberrations to the normal especially in the form of unique and uncompromising talent.

Fingerstyle Lesson – Deep River Blues by Jim Bruce
For those of you who dig the Piedmont fingerstyle of the North American East Coast here is traveling bluesman Jim Bruce showing you how to play the Doc Watson version of Deep River Blues. Jim makes his living traveling and playing on the streets of Europe.