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16 Legendary Fingerpicking Patterns

November 16, 2010 By Klaus Crow 149 Comments

Last Updated on May 15, 2019 by Klaus Crow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8fYe4axq3E
For tabs see below.

Fingerpicking style is a technique that is used in many famous and legendary songs over the years. The 16 examples in this post are a good source to learn the most common fingerpicking patterns you will ever come across. The fingerpicking patterns can be applied to almost every folk, pop, country or rock song.

Try and figure out which pattern suits your favorite song. Maybe you’ll already recognize some of these patterns from songs you heard before.

I personally think pattern #12 is a really nice one. It’s a Travis fingerpicking style arrangement named after Merle Travis. The Travis fingerpicking style is known for it’s steady bass pattern played with the thumb while the rest of the fingers fill out the rest of the pattern on the treble strings.

Right hand finger positioning

Now let’s take a look at the finger positioning assuming you are a right handed guitar player.

For my right hand position I use my thumb to pluck the low-E, A and D-string. The index finger is on the G-string, the middle finger on the B-string and the ring finger on the high E-string.

For each different chord, you play the corresponding bass note with your right hand thumb.
Whenever you play an A or Am chord with your left hand, you pluck the A-string ( A root note) with your right hand thumb.
For an E or Em chord pluck the E-string (E root note) with your right hand thumb.
D or Dm chord = D-string (D root note).
G chord = E-string (The G root note is played with your left hand on the low E-string).
C chord = A-string (The C root note is played with your left hand on the A-string) and so on.

In the video lessons above the tabs I show you what each pattern sounds like and explain the pattern slowly in close up.

Practice each and every one of them thoroughly. It’s really good for you.

Enjoy!

PATTERN #1
   A                                E
e:-------0-------|-------0-------|-------0-------|--------0-----------|
B:-----2---2-----|-----2---2-----|-----0---0-----|-----0----0---------|
G:---2-------2---|---2-------2---|---1-------1---|---1--------1-------|
D:---------------|---------------|---------------|--------------------|
A:-0-------------|-0-------------|---------------|--------------------|
E:---------------|---------------|-0-------------|-0------------------|

 


PATTERN #2


   A                                     E
e:-------0---------|-------0---------|-------0---------|-------0---------|
B:-----2-----2-----|-----2-----2-----|-----0-----0-----|-----0-----0-----|
G:---2-----2-----2-|---2-----2-----2-|---1-----1-----1-|---1-----1-----1-|
D:-------------2---|-------------2---|-------------2---|-------------2---|
A:-0-----0---------|-0-----0---------|-----------------|-----------------|
E:-----------------|-----------------|-0-----0---------|-0-----0---------|

 

PATTERN #3


   A                                   E
e:-------0---------|-------0---------|-------0---------|--------0---------|
B:-----2---2-------|-----2---2-------|-----0---0-------|-----0----0-------|
G:---2-------2---2-|---2-------2---2-|---1-------1---1-|---1--------1---1-|
D:-------------2---|-------------2---|-------------2---|--------------2---|
A:-0---------------|-0---------------|-----------------|------------------|
E:-----------------|-----------------|-0---------------|-0----------------|

 

PATTERN #4


  A                                    E
e:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B:-------2-------2-|-------2-------2-|-------0-------0-|-------0-------0-|
G:---2-------2-----|---2-------2-----|---1-------1-----|---1-------1-----|
D:-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|
A:-0-------0-------|-0-------0-------|-----------------|-----------------|
E:-----------------|-----------------|-0--------0------|-0-------0-------|

 

PATTERN #5


  A                            E
e:-------------|-------------|-------------|--------------|
B:---------2---|---------2---|---------0---|---------0----|
G:-----2-------|-----2-------|-----1-------|-----1--------|
D:---2-------2-|---2-------2-|---2-------2-|---2-------2--|
A:-0-----0-----|-0-----0-----|-------------|--------------|
E:-------------|-------------|-0------0----|-0------0-----|

 

PATTERN #6


  A                                     E
e:---------0-------|---------0-------|---------0-------|---------0-------|
B:-----2-----2---2-|-----2-----2---2-|-----0-----0---0-|-----0-----0---0-|
G:-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|-----1-------1---|-----1-------1---|
D:---2---2---------|---2---2---------|---2---2---------|---2---2---------|
A:-0---------------|-0---------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E:-----------------|-----------------|-0---------------|-0---------------|

 

PATTERN #7


  A                 E               D               A
e:---0-----0-----|---0-----0-----|---2-----2-----|---0------0---------|
B:---2-----2-----|---0-----0-----|---3-----3-----|---2------2---------|
G:---2-----2-----|---1-----1-----|---2-----2-----|---2------2---------|
D:---------------|---------------|-0-----0-------|--------------------|
A:-0-----0-------|---------------|---------------|-0------0-----------|
E:---------------|-0-----0-------|---------------|--------------------|

 

PATTERN #8


  A                                  E
e:----------0-----|----------0-----|----------0-----|----------0-----|
B:-------2----2---|-------2----2---|-------0----0---|-------0----0---|
G:-----2--------2-|-----2--------2-|-----1--------1-|-----1--------1-|
D:---2------------|---2------------|---2------------|---2------------|
A:-0--------------|-0--------------|----------------|----------------|
E:----------------|----------------|-0--------------|-0--------------|

 

PATTERN #9


  A                                    E
e:---0-------------|---0-------------|---0-------------|---0-------------|
B:-----2---2-------|-----2---2-------|-----0---0-------|-----0---0-------|
G:-------2---2---2-|-------2---2---2-|-------1---1---1-|-------1---1---1-|
D:-------------2---|-------------2---|-------------2---|-------------2---|
A:-0---------------|-0---------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E:-----------------|-----------------|-0---------------|-0---------------|

 

PATTERN #10


  A                     E                      A
e:----------0---------|----------0----------|----------0----------|
B:-------2----2-------|-------0----0--------|-------2----2--------|
G:-----2--------2---2-|-----1--------1---1--|-----2--------2---2--|
D:---2------------2---|---2------------2----|---2------------2----|
A:-0------------------|---------------------|-0-------------------|
E:--------------------|-0-------------------|---------------------|

 

PATTERN #11


  A                                     E
e:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B:---------2-------|---------2-------|---------0-------|---------0-------|
G:-----2-----2---2-|-----2-----2---2-|-----1-----1---1-|-----1-----1---1-|
D:---2---2-----2---|---2---2-----2---|---2---2-----2---|---2---2-----2---|
A:-0---------------|-0---------------|-----------------|-----------------|
E:-----------------|-----------------|-0---------------|-0---------------|

 

PATTERN #12


  A                            E
e:-------------0-----------|-------------0------------|
B:-2-------2-----------2---|-0-------0-----------0----|
G:-----2-----------2-------|-----1-----------1--------|
D:---2-------2---2-------2-|---2-------2---2-------2--|
A:-0-----0-----0-----0-----|--------------------------|
E:-------------------------|-0------0----0------0-----|

 

PATTERN #13


   A                           E
e:-------------0-----------|-------------0------------|
B:-----2-----2-----2-----2-|-----0-----0-----0-----0--|
G:---2-----2-----2-----2---|---1-----1-----1-----1----|
D:-------2-----------2-----|-------2-----------2------|
A:-0-----------0-----------|--------------------------|
E:-------------------------|-0-----------0------------|

 

PATTERN #14


  A                                    E
e:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
B:---2-------2-----|---2-------2-----|--0-------0------|---0-------0-----|
G:-------2-------2-|-------2-------2-|-------1-------1-|-------1-------1-|
D:-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|
A:-0-------0-------|-0-------0-------|-----------------|-----------------|
E:-----------------|-----------------|-0--------0------|-0-------0-------|

 

PATTERN #15


  A                                    E
e:-------0-------0-|-------0-------0-|-------0-------0-|-------0-------0-|
B:---2-------2-----|---2-------2-----|---0-------0-----|---0-------0-----|
G:-----2-------2---|-----2-------2---|-----1-------1---|-----1-------1---|
D:-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
A:-0-------0-------|-0------0--------|-----------------|-----------------|
E:-----------------|-----------------|-0-------0-------|-0-------0-------|

 

PATTERN #16


  A                            E
e:-------------|-------------|---------------|----------------|
B:-----------2-|-----------2-|-------------0-|--------------0-|
G:-------2-----|-------2-----|--------1------|--------1-------|
D:---2-----2---|---2-----2---|---2-------2---|---2-------2----|
A:-0-----------|-0-----------|-----2---------|-----2----------|
E:-----0-------|-----0-------|-0-------------|-0--------------|

 

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Related posts:

  1. Basic Strumming Patterns for Beginners Part I
  2. Alternating Bass Fingerpicking Patterns Part I
  3. Alternating Bass Fingerpicking Patterns Part II
  4. Top 30 Best Intermediate Guitar Fingerpicking Songs

Comments

  1. michael says

    November 17, 2010 at 1:08 am

    cool, good stuff (also for guitarstudents)

  2. Klaus Crow says

    November 17, 2010 at 10:41 am

    Hi Michael,

    Indeed great for students and a good post for teachers as well. :-)

    Good luck with it!

    Klaus Crow

  3. Vincent says

    November 17, 2010 at 4:29 pm

    This is it Klaus!
    Great post, I believe it’s exactly what people need to do in order to improve!

  4. Phil says

    November 18, 2010 at 5:53 am

    This is an excellent jumping point for someone who’s been wanting to dabble in fingerpicking but never knew a good place to start. Guitarhabits has been a worthwhile addition to my online activities. Thanks a bunch!

  5. Klaus Crow says

    November 19, 2010 at 5:08 pm

    Hi Vincent,

    Thanks mate.
    I think these are good exercises to improve and expand your fingerpicking vocabulary.

    Klaus Crow

  6. Klaus Crow says

    November 19, 2010 at 5:22 pm

    Hi Phil,

    I’m really happy to hear that.
    If you got any questions about the patterns or anything else let me know.

    Thanks for turning to Guitarhabits.

    Klaus Crow

  7. mark dean says

    August 2, 2011 at 1:05 am

    # 16 leaves me wanting more!!!think i’ll and my own end to it!….Love your site Klaus,your a good man,its easy to see…

  8. giovanni pradetto says

    August 20, 2011 at 11:20 pm

    mi piace mi sembra efficente

  9. pate says

    September 25, 2011 at 2:44 pm

    all such additions are gratefuly accepted thank you

  10. Neva says

    October 23, 2011 at 8:10 am

    Hey Thanks so much for this! The exercises are great and it’s set up so nicely with the audio examples. I’ve been wanting to expand my picking skills and this makes it very easy. Thanks again…we appreciate it!

  11. Klaus Crow says

    October 23, 2011 at 12:47 pm

    Hi Neva,

    Glad you like it. Keep on improving those skills, it’ll pay off!

    Best regards,
    Klaus Crow

  12. Ben says

    December 25, 2011 at 2:16 am

    How do you read these tabs?

  13. Trevor says

    January 1, 2012 at 1:10 am

    Great stuff,much appreciated

  14. Annie says

    January 3, 2012 at 8:50 pm

    Thanks so much for this, very helpful with the audio. It has gone a long way in helping my fingerpicking skills, and I try to run through one of these a day as part of my practise. Much appreciated!

  15. Mark says

    January 8, 2012 at 7:23 pm

    Any ideas for songs that match up well with a some of these patterns?

  16. Arlen says

    January 10, 2012 at 10:39 pm

    This is an awesome list. I’ve been trying to improve my finger picking a lot lately and this is a huge help. To anyone else trying to learn to finger pick, I would suggest you learn the song Freight Train by Elizabeth Cotton. It has been a huge help in getting my right hand fingers used their string assignments.

  17. Yo-ko-Oh-No! says

    February 18, 2012 at 2:47 pm

    Answer to mark, (8th of jan, 2012). From the 12th to the end you will find it in songs like:
    -Helplessly hoping – CSN. You can find the tabs almost anywhere in tablature sites in the net.

    -Check some mississippi John Hurt songs beautiful picking. Be patient!!

    -Bron-yr-yaur -Led Zep. It is an arpeggio very nice but at the beggining it´s quite tricky. U´ll find the tab in lots of sites. The problem is u´ll find a little bit lost as it is a funny tunning invented by Page in a sort C!

    -Some country and rockabilly songs have patterns like that, check Merle Travis, like “9 pounds hammer” which is not really tough.

    -Beatles, Dear Prudence. It is drop D. Very beautiful and easy. Try with Blackbird as well. Very helpful.
    Good luck mate

  18. John says

    March 8, 2012 at 11:53 pm

    Really interesting and useful information. It would be an additional help if the appropriate time signature had been provided against each pattern. A further bonus would be the actual musical score in conventional notation. This would help me to practice when I don’t have access to the Web.

    Many Thanks

  19. Mateusz says

    March 20, 2012 at 1:34 am

    Thanks a lot brother – this is just wonderful to have all those patterns collected in one place – and including the soundclips is just great idea – cause sometimes it’s really hard to get the style of playing just reading the tabs. Once again THANK YOU !!

  20. margie says

    May 8, 2012 at 4:54 am

    Can I ask a dumb question. Just learning here. what do the numbers refer to? I understand PIMA but am lost here. Thanks for any help.

  21. margie says

    May 8, 2012 at 4:55 am

    I’m just learning and am lost. How do you read these things. I know PIMA but what do the numbers apply to.
    Any help would be appreciated.
    Thanks.

  22. Edwin says

    May 9, 2012 at 11:36 am

    Margie,

    If I understand your question correctly the answer is:
    The numbers stand for the guitar fred.

    When I look at the first pattern it starts with the A cord. That is 3 fingers on the second fred on the strings DGB. You only pick the A, G, B, e string. therefore you see 0 2 2 0 2 2

    Hope this helps.

  23. Priyantha says

    May 18, 2012 at 11:26 am

    Dear Sir,,,

    I really appreciate your work. These patterns are really matching with our songs.
    If you have any lessons about hammer on and finch off etc. pls send me

    God bless you.

    Priyantha – Sri Lanka

  24. Vin says

    June 15, 2012 at 7:07 pm

    That’s some nice patterns

    Loved it!!!

  25. onegoodmule says

    June 16, 2012 at 8:41 am

    Can you list other chord combinations that sound as nice? I love the E & A, but it would be nice to practice with other combos as well.

  26. Anna says

    June 19, 2012 at 4:46 am

    I am teaching myself to play guitar, so this is a big help!! Thanks!

  27. Kim Forcade says

    June 22, 2012 at 8:01 pm

    These 16 patterns are helping me with my fingerpicking.

    Can you tell me what songs are played with each of the different patterns.

    Thank you

  28. Esther says

    July 19, 2012 at 9:16 am

    Great patterns. Thanks for posting them.

  29. Bob says

    August 17, 2012 at 2:10 am

    Thank you for the array of different patterns. These offer some new ones that go beyond many of the book patterns out there and offer a good challenge. See, who says you can’t get decent information on the net?

  30. Chris says

    August 26, 2012 at 6:18 am

    Hi great lesson mate just wandering about my right hand.What fingers should pluck what strings?

  31. Paul says

    September 19, 2012 at 5:12 pm

    Klaus,

    Thanks! This is exactly what I have been looking for. I am beginner to intermediate level, and wanted a place where I could find some common picking patterns. I recognize a few patterns from some Jack Johnson songs I know. Are you familiar with John Prine and know which patterns he favors?

  32. Chris says

    September 19, 2012 at 5:37 pm

    PATTERN #12 is sooooo Romeo and Juliet by Dire Straits!

  33. dave says

    September 30, 2012 at 2:36 am

    Does anyone know the fingerpicking pattern for Mary Gauthier’s Mercy Now?

  34. chris k says

    October 7, 2012 at 3:10 pm

    Exactly what I was looking for to jump start my fingerpicking lessons. I am a beginner about 9 months in and felt it was time to try some different approaches to playing. This is a great training tool that I come back to all the time. Thanks so much!

  35. Georgie says

    October 20, 2012 at 6:14 am

    #12 is my favorite! Awesome website, very helpful.

    :)

  36. Chris says

    October 24, 2012 at 6:36 pm

    Hey, Georgie, I mentioned it before but if you like #12, definitely check out the song Romeo and Juliette by Dire Straits. Exact same pattern and amazing voice!!

  37. Timo says

    November 14, 2012 at 4:55 pm

    Coolest thing ever man, thanx a mill

  38. Emily says

    November 24, 2012 at 4:16 am

    I actually use #14 all the time (figuring it out after a bit of playing around), and didn’t realise it was so popular. :)
    Will definitely be checking the rest of these out more thoroughly.

  39. zack says

    November 27, 2012 at 11:47 am

    thanks, been playing with a pick for too long and want to get used to fingerpicking. Trying to take it slow. Can anyone tell me some songs that use the first 5 so I can play along?

  40. Chris says

    November 27, 2012 at 5:36 pm

    Nothing else matters kinda uses a variation of the first 5. There’s just a bunch of fills and stuff though.

  41. Chris says

    November 27, 2012 at 5:37 pm

    Another great song to learn fingerpicking is Broken by Seether. I don’t really know if it’s based on any of these styles but there’s some pretty straight forward tabs. Make sure to tune a half step down. Especially if you’re trying the one with Amy Lee.

  42. Klaus Crow says

    December 2, 2012 at 10:15 pm

    Hi Chris,

    Amy Lee definitely brings an amazing flavor to the song. Love it!

    Best regards,
    Klaus Crow

  43. robert says

    January 5, 2013 at 4:29 pm

    to play music is a wounderful gift but to give freely of skill knowledge and the ability to teach and to reach people in this process
    is honorable. from this 78 yr old guy to a young guy THANK YOU

    i have just started on this musical journey and your gift to us on
    this site sure has taken alot of the bumps out of the road for me

    my learning is much more fun now sounds lot better to

    THANK YOU YOUNG MAN

  44. Klaus Crow says

    January 8, 2013 at 10:38 am

    Hi Robert,

    Thank you for your kind words. Hearing that you enjoy your musical journey like this keeps me writing posts on guitarhabits.

    Thank you I really appreciate it.

    Best regards,
    Klaus Crow

  45. joe de la Garza says

    January 9, 2013 at 1:52 am

    Travis picking style is my passion, and I hope to master the pattern. And I’m looking for G maj., F , Bminor , B minor 7. thanks for your music.

  46. Animesh Sinha says

    January 20, 2013 at 8:27 pm

    Its a pleasure to play all these and equally soothing to hear them.

    Thanks Klaus for the patterns!!!

  47. Emer says

    January 23, 2013 at 12:11 pm

    Dear Klaus, I agree with Robert that it is extremely generous of you to take the time to share all this information with us. Many thanks. I have a question: when you play #1 with an Em chord all the strings that you pluck are in fact open – is that just part and parcel of the method? It still sounds great to me as you move through a succession of chords but I was wondering if I am doing something wrong? Regards Emer.

  48. Kurt says

    January 31, 2013 at 6:44 pm

    Hi Klaus,

    I just found this page while doing a search. Great resource for finger-picking! It’s great to have the tabs & the audio of the pattern to verify that you’re playing it correctly when doing new patterns.

    I will have to spend some time browsing the rest of the site.
    Thanks!

  49. Rod says

    January 31, 2013 at 9:14 pm

    Klaus,

    I am just learning to pick up a guitar and I frankly am not sure I understand how to read the patterns above. I am sure I sure I should understand. Can you give me a little guidance as to how to read so that I can try and learn to use the exersises.

    Thank you

  50. Marc says

    February 14, 2013 at 7:23 pm

    Hi Klaus-

    I’m really glad that I found your site. I’ve been looking at your 16 picking styles. Is it possible to get the tabs for each of these – in a larger format. The ones accompanying your videos are a bit too narrow and the spacing makes pinches look like sequences and visa versa.

    Marc

  51. Klaus Crow says

    February 24, 2013 at 3:23 pm

    Hey Marc,

    Try to zoom in or out on the page. Maybe that helps.

    Best regards,
    Klaus Crow

  52. Magnus says

    March 7, 2013 at 1:33 am

    Really great stuff, Claus! This site would be really top notch if you also would give some examples of songs to apply the picking patterns to.

    As the tabs concerns, change the font to “Courier new” and the picking patterns 2 – 16 will be as neat as pattern no.1! =)

    //Magnus, Sweden

  53. Marc says

    March 7, 2013 at 7:49 pm

    Thanks, Magnus. I don’t know how to make that change on the web page itself but by copying and pasting onto Word, it automatically cleaned up the spacing problem. I also agree that it would be great to have some examples of what songs apply to the patterns.

  54. david stanford says

    March 13, 2013 at 4:58 pm

    I am 72 years old. I’ve been a painter photographer and film director most of my life. I have filmed and photographed some of the biggest rock stars. I have just decided to teach myself guitar and you are an inspiration…The gentle approach to teaching you take is great …Many thanks…Maybe we will meet one day…Thanks…Keep up the good work!!
    David

  55. Stuart says

    March 13, 2013 at 5:08 pm

    Just stumbled across this wee page, can’t wait to get home a give this a go, I know a few of these already… Ps… Magnus… It’s up to you now to find what works with what songs… But you will have lots of fun trying it out..

  56. Peran says

    March 15, 2013 at 10:25 pm

    i enjoy picking alot more than strumming and this helped me learn alot, thank you :)

  57. Tony says

    March 23, 2013 at 8:03 pm

    I haven’t played (strummed) a guitar since I was at school 30-some years ago and last week,I decided to buy a good quality guitar to learn to play finger-style i.e. properly!

    Because of your well constructed tutorials and delivery, you have taught me so much in such a short space of time.

    Klaus, you are brilliant!

    Thank you, Sir

  58. Chris says

    April 30, 2013 at 1:51 am

    Hey thanks so much for setting this out so clearly. Anyone got tips to fast track your brain into making your fingers follow a pattern please help!
    What would take this even further is maybe ten popular songs alongside each pattern to help us learn but hey we always will want more!
    Thanks again.:)

  59. Marc says

    April 30, 2013 at 3:45 am

    I agree with Chris. Having even one or two iconic songs tied to each pattern would make it much more useful than trying out all 16 styles for any new song, particularly when we are not as versed in the finger picking as Klaus.

    marc

  60. edel says

    May 3, 2013 at 2:15 pm

    hey I have been playing guitar for twenty years now only playing rhythm on a 12 string, I decided I wanted to start learning how to pick and didnt know were to start, I came across your page the other day and you have helped me heaps. Thank you so much for making this amasing page.

  61. Ted Lonnberg says

    May 22, 2013 at 5:54 am

    Just wanted to express my gratitude and say thank you for sharing so many great lessons. This site is a great resource!

  62. Hans says

    May 26, 2013 at 9:00 am

    Thanks Klaus
    This is great – I even find some of the patterns I use :-) but there are also some that are new to me and require practice

  63. Klaus Crow says

    May 26, 2013 at 6:19 pm

    Hi Hans,

    Enjoy the new fingerstyle patterns and incorporate them into your songs. That’s the best way to memorize them.

    Best regards,
    Klaus Crow

  64. Gene Pindser says

    May 27, 2013 at 6:08 pm

    Hey Klaus,
    I’m 77 years old, and four months ago, decided to learn guitar. So far, I’m doing that “three chords and the truth” thing pretty good. Actually have about 15 chords memorized, but the chief item on my “bucket list” is learning how to Travis Pick. I think your finger picking patterns are going to do the job for me. Currently beginning #4. Confidence is building. Thanks!
    I will keep posting as I progress.
    Gene

  65. zorameagle says

    June 7, 2013 at 6:15 pm

    thanks a a million ton.one of the best guitar tutorials in youtube

  66. Gary Rice says

    June 7, 2013 at 8:13 pm

    Klaus,

    Thanks for the 16 patterns- not only are they extremely well done, but you obviously thought about how to most effectively present them from the watcher/listener’s perspective…there’s a ton of junk out there, but this is really perfect….after hearing your comment at the outset, I jumped straight in at pattern number 12!

    One question- and it may well be on others’ minds as well…the D chord, with the root note on the D (4th) string. How do you play / modify a pattern when playing a D chord? That would help me a ton- I always struggle with that.

    Cheers and thanks,
    Gary

  67. Johnny says

    June 26, 2013 at 12:10 am

    Hi Klaus,
    Great tutorials, I`ve been strumming for a few years but have been trying fingerpicking and came across your site, some nice patterns and I like the way you teach, easy to listen to. are they all 4/4 time, or how do you work out what time Signature they are in.
    Many thanks again, Johnny.

  68. Tony says

    July 6, 2013 at 4:14 pm

    Dear Klaus
    First off I would like to thank you for putting up this great website which has helped me a lot with my guitar skills so thank you! Also I would like to ask of you a favor that if you could please go to this song on YouTube “Troublemaker”-by Gabriela Quevedo and help me figure out what finger picking pattern she uses it would mean a lot please and thank you! -tony

  69. lm says

    July 21, 2013 at 11:27 am

    Dear Klaus,
    Very interesting and fruitful.
    Could you precise for each pattern whether it is a 2/4, 3/4, 4/4 or 6/8 etc…?
    Thanks in advance.
    lm

  70. Davin says

    August 14, 2013 at 7:33 pm

    Thanks so much for posting this Klaus

  71. Matt says

    August 15, 2013 at 5:07 am

    Wow. Endless thanks for explaining these 16 techniques!
    I have a question right off the bat: in #1, why bother to form the full E and A chords with the left hand, since few of those particular fingered strings are plucked? Just curious. It’s probably just a good habit to form the full chords.

    Thanks again.

  72. Marc R says

    August 21, 2013 at 6:55 pm

    Hi Klaus,

    Really useful video clips, I like your chilled-out style of teaching, really comprehensive and slow enough but not too slow, thanks!

    Marc.

  73. I says

    August 30, 2013 at 3:41 am

    wow, super helpful! thank you so much–so easy to use and understand! I love it!! so fun!!

  74. Agnelo says

    September 3, 2013 at 1:57 pm

    Hello Klaus,
    Your tutorials of these fingerpicking patterns are simply superb. I have a question regarding pattern #12, what will be the pattern if the root note is on the 4th string, like a D chord ?. Thanks a lot… Take care.

  75. Dee says

    September 6, 2013 at 4:53 pm

    Great,Been wanting to know this. THANKS.

  76. Akua Kamau says

    September 10, 2013 at 3:47 pm

    Klaus, many many thanks for this man. I needed some new patterns and I got it right here. CHEERS brother.

  77. Alison Hughes says

    October 9, 2013 at 8:06 pm

    Klaus, this is a wonderful site, and I am so pleased to have found it. I’ve just started playing guitar, though I always wanted to learn. Turned 50 and figured it was a good time to begin! I love the intimacy of acoustic finger picking, and hadn’t been able to find much in the way of patterns to learn. This lesson is perfect! Thank you for sharing your skills, my friend. I shall bookmark this site and peruse more of your teachings. Kind regards, indeed.

  78. Klaus Crow says

    October 10, 2013 at 7:49 pm

    Hi Alison,

    You’re never to late to learn.
    Maybe you like this post as well
    https://www.guitarhabits.com/10-reasons-why-you-are-never-too-late-to-learn/

    Thanks for your kind feedback.

    Kind regards,
    Klaus Crow

  79. Scott van Heerden says

    October 19, 2013 at 12:19 pm

    Cool list, nice exercises as a refresher or for beginners!

    I think there might be a mistake with Ex#8 though, there should be 6 notes per bar but there are 7. In the video I think you don’t play the A (4th string) in the A chord and the Bb in the E chord which works. It’s just the tab that has the mistake.

    Thanks a lot.

  80. Scott van Heerden says

    October 19, 2013 at 12:23 pm

    There’s a very similar mistake in the tab for Ex#10 as well. Not trying to be a complainer! Just trying to help out :)

    Kind regards.

  81. Ismail H. - Sri Lanka says

    November 13, 2013 at 3:55 am

    Super stuff – I really like it !

  82. Scott M says

    December 7, 2013 at 2:13 pm

    I stumbled on your site looking for fingerpicking pattern so I am not just strumming the chords to a song. Some of these patterns seem better for 3/4 time vs 4/4, I.e. The number of notes in a pattern. Am I correct or just overthinking it.

  83. naomi says

    December 12, 2013 at 8:42 pm

    wow this is absolutely amazing!
    good stuff :)

  84. William R. "Bill" Tallman says

    December 14, 2013 at 7:40 pm

    I come from a background of drumming. Have recorded and six years ago decided to learn how to play the guitar. I DID NOT start playing guitar at six years old (I’m 58) but have gotten to this point http://www.soundcloud.com/wrtallman-1 I am concentrating on fingerpicking the 6 & 12 string guitars. My question is, Could you please tell me which pattern(s) John Prine uses? Thank You in advance and I sincerely like EVERYTHING you are doing here!!!

  85. JK says

    December 25, 2013 at 6:15 pm

    Most of these patterns are a total bore and sound almost identical.

    Do you have anymore spicy patterns? For instance from the department of Travis picking? How about the pattern from “In The Early Mornin’ Rain”? Then we’re talking.

  86. Glenn says

    December 29, 2013 at 9:40 pm

    Thanks for the humble donation of your time to put this on the web. Even though I use a gdae tuning I still find these patterns helpful. May God bless you.

  87. Harlan says

    January 9, 2014 at 12:34 am

    Congratulations on a very professional website and sixteen wonderful patterns. One suggestion: consider developing an Air Guitar instructional website for visitors like JK who left that present last Christmas.

  88. Simon T says

    January 9, 2014 at 5:58 pm

    This is fantastic, very helpful. Could you just elaborate what to do with the D chord or chords with the D string as the root. Im not sure what to alternate bass wise.

  89. Dev_D says

    January 15, 2014 at 6:17 am

    Great lesson, thank you for sharing! This is an area I have always struggled with. I can sweep arpeggios like nothing but for some reason my fingers can’t pick! These fingerpicking patterns will definitely help me develop my skills further. I especially like that you’ve included video AND TABS. Thanks for sharing!

  90. Lani says

    January 26, 2014 at 6:48 am

    Thank you!!! I’ve been teaching myself guitar and have been wanting to figure out finger picking for a while now. I’m dyslexic and haven’t been able to understand any patterns the way they’re written for the longest time, so when you went slowly and talked about how to do it while you were playing…well, that made all the difference! It suddenly ‘clicked’ for me and now I can make the connection of the visual to the sound. :-) You’re awesome! Thank you!!!

  91. gerald pugh-roberts says

    February 1, 2014 at 5:01 pm

    thank you for the help with the finger picking patterns.I find them very helpful with my attempt to play Spanish guitar.about six months ago I bought a guitar at a boot fair and at the age of 79 I need to learn rapido.

  92. coking says

    March 19, 2014 at 1:34 am

    Special Request

    Hello
    I’m Arab guitarist
    I Entered into your site
    and I was impressed with way too much and the way you play your announcements
    I play the Finger Style way
    But I can not make music in a way Finger Style
    So I hope you will help me in making music this way
    I will Sended to you a song for Arab singer her name “Fairouz”
    I should be drafted by way Finger Style
    and tell me how much the cost of the song and how to send money to you
    of course this will not be the last song
    Accept greetings

  93. Priyantha says

    April 4, 2014 at 3:10 pm

    pls what is the meaning of following tabs (within brackets)

    ———–1—-(0)——–
    —————2—–2—-(0)

    how to play notes in the brackets

  94. coking says

    April 4, 2014 at 6:32 pm

    Hi
    Please can you send your email to me
    I want to talk to you in a special theme
    I send message for you before in March 19, 2014 at 1:34 am
    Thank you

  95. vraj sharma says

    April 7, 2014 at 10:34 am

    is this exercise can mak me the master of finger picking :-)

  96. youpie says

    May 27, 2014 at 2:22 pm

    Hello Klaus vertel my, is de guitar serie ’16 picking patterns te koop ???

  97. Klaus Crow says

    May 27, 2014 at 3:44 pm

    Hi Youpie,

    The lesson videos are for free as you can see along with the tablature provided.

    Best regards,
    Klaus Crow

  98. Jamie says

    June 26, 2014 at 1:32 am

    This is awesome! How do you figure out which pattern to use though? I’m trying to learn Autumn to May by Peter Paul and Mary, do I use any pattern?

  99. Bennie Trejo says

    July 16, 2014 at 5:17 am

    This site is really great!!! I’ve been playing for over 40 years and finally got the nerve to try to finger pick. I love the way you explain and show how to pick effectively especially for slow learners like me. I just started your tutorials yesterday and am already starting pattern #3. I want to thank you and I really appreciate your lessons and feel it will add another dimension to my guitar playing. Thanks a million!!!…

  100. Steve Lucocq says

    August 5, 2014 at 9:40 am

    Thanks for this. I have been dropping into this page for a while and have found it a great help. I have been mixing and matching a few patterns and with different cords which can sound good. It would be helpfull if combination patterns and alterative cords were included as well as sone other more advanced patterns to allow progrestion( that is if u have the time? ) many thanks and this website has been a great help for me whilst struggling with a long term illness. Cheers

  101. Will says

    August 10, 2014 at 6:21 pm

    I agree that the Travis picking is (for me anyway) the most interesting
    pattern. With it you can then add melody notes and start playing Merle Travis tunes (or any tune come to that – even the Beatles) The other patterns are great finger exercises but really for accompaniment, in other words good for singing to, whilst the Travis picking you can be a virtual one-man band. Finger-picking can add a lot to your enjoyment than merely strumming. Make damn sure (as in these examples) you play the correct notes and in strict time. Speed up gradually and they sound fantastic (especially the Travis picking style)

  102. Ray says

    August 21, 2014 at 8:00 pm

    Thank you very much for giving us these patterns. Very useful.

  103. brian says

    September 23, 2014 at 4:20 am

    Hello,
    Thank you for the great lessons. So far the easiest way for me to learn is when you describe each finger placement for each string. It had me playing along faster than any other teaching method.
    I have the same question as the post from September 3, 2013. I am wondering about the D and F chords and if all the 16 fingerpicking patterns can be applied when the root is on the 4th string. I have been double plucking the 4th string for some patterns and it sounds ok. But I am a bit perplexed for pattern #12.

    Thanks much!

  104. money online says

    September 26, 2014 at 7:19 pm

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    This paragraph posted at this site is really good.

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  105. Elisa Jean says

    October 22, 2014 at 1:45 pm

    Hi.
    I really love these.
    As a elementary guitar student, tthese plucking styles make me more falling in love with guitar as well as music.
    Thanks for your teaching.

  106. JINGLES says

    October 26, 2014 at 12:02 am

    REALLY NICE!! I LIKE IT.. EASY TO FOLLOW

  107. Everett Bonds says

    December 7, 2014 at 5:46 pm

    Hello All,
    I think these patterns are perfect for the beginner guitarist who is just now learning to finger pick. You need to begin with the easy ones in order to progress to more difficult or you will get discouraged. Please learn easy first. You must learn the easy ones so well, that you can do them without thinking…they have to go into your long-term memory in order to do that. Once that happens, you can learn another, slightly more difficult pattern. This pattern took me 6 months to learn and I do not recommend that you try unless you have already learned all the rest. You will be frustrated, if you try to skip easier ones, not being ready for it. It is difficult and your fingers won’t be ready, accustomed. T6-3-T4-1-T5-2-T4-1. T stands for Thumb and number next to T, as in T6, means strike string 6. Good luck. Later on, you will be able to add Melody. Much later. For now, go slowly and in 6 months, if you work on this every day, for the next 6 months, for an hour a day, it should go into your long-term memory. Good luck. You will need it. A tough pattern. Just don’t give up. It will make you a better guitar player.

  108. Everett Bonds says

    December 7, 2014 at 5:53 pm

    Oops, I forgot, use an E chord with that pattern. or F, or G. Do not use an A chord, B7 or C chord. This is for chords where the root of the chord is on the E string, string (6). The pattern changes very slightly for other chords when the root moves to other strings. If you get this pattern down perfectly, the changes are a piece of cake to learn.

  109. Lars says

    January 1, 2015 at 6:36 pm

    It would be very helpful if somebody would tell the rhythm counting in each pattern ex whats in 3/4 4/4 6/8 ?
    Pattern 12? is it sixteenth notes? please help

  110. Ysmael says

    February 2, 2015 at 8:41 am

    Very big thanks to you

  111. Ren Mendoza says

    March 12, 2015 at 6:00 pm

    Thank you for all of this. I’m taking easy spanish learning at http://preply.com/en/spanish-by-skype and also learn guitar at the same time so I can practice your patterns.

  112. Paul Soloslow says

    April 26, 2015 at 2:39 pm

    These are very good with good instruction to establish time sigs… To make them brilliant you need to inc a song with each pattern.
    Cheers Soloslow

  113. Nicolle says

    May 11, 2015 at 3:01 am

    thank you so much . I just believed I can actually play , seems a lot easier with all info I found here .
    bless !
    cheers mate

  114. Guido says

    May 12, 2015 at 11:10 am

    Dear Klaus,

    Can you(or other readers:D) please post an example of 1 song in which each fingerpicking pattern is used(like ”house of the rising sun” in pattern 8)?
    That would really help me a lot to practice them.

    keep up the good work!

  115. Martin says

    July 24, 2015 at 5:16 pm

    Hi Klaus,

    I’ve just seen the question before but I haven’t seen the answer… What should we play the pattern 12 with a D chord? If you get down all the notes… what become the low E-string at the third time? I got the same question with other patterns… Thanks a lot if you can help me.
    I’ve told you before but I’m gonna repeat once again: your site is very helpful! Really great work.
    Martin

  116. De says

    August 15, 2015 at 12:33 am

    If one measure has 4 beats (4/4) and I use pattern 1 (above) then how many time of pattern 1 I need to play? (4 times?)
    If so then the P finger will land on the beat?
    Thanks for your help in advance.

  117. Willie says

    December 11, 2015 at 10:32 pm

    Asked but not answered, do you ship to Puerto Rico ? Alot of companys don’t.
    Like to order 50 blues licks.

  118. Klaus Crow says

    December 12, 2015 at 12:20 pm

    Hi Willie,
    The 50 Cool Blues licks is a downloadable guitar course. It doesn’t need to be shipped. You can download it instantly.

    Best regards,
    Klaus Crow

  119. Anna says

    February 16, 2016 at 1:33 am

    Thank you so much. What a good guitar teacher you are.

  120. Kevin says

    August 25, 2016 at 7:43 pm

    This is exactly the shot in the arm my songwriting chops needs. I’m fairly proficient at a handful of fingerpicking patterns. However, when I play around with new chord structures, I mindlessly seem to fall back on those same patterns I learned in the first couple years of playing. I just subbed your youtube channel. Thanks!

  121. Nikko says

    October 14, 2016 at 10:55 am

    Really nice! Do you also have references to songs that uses the different patterns?

  122. Matt says

    October 14, 2016 at 8:14 pm

    Fantastic! So helpful. Thanks.

  123. Pierre says

    November 8, 2016 at 6:10 am

    Getting into Travis picking, thank you for all these variations

  124. Husayn says

    December 2, 2016 at 11:56 pm

    Hi Klaus
    Nice work. Wondering if u knew the finger picking for Don Williams. You r my best friend. I would love to know. That u so much in advance

  125. Ofelia says

    January 26, 2017 at 12:50 pm

    Hi Klaus,
    Thanks a lot for these plucking patterns! I can’t wait to learn all of them. More power to you. I am still figuring out how to read tabs though!

  126. Sepp says

    April 4, 2017 at 1:14 am

    Well done and much appreciated Klaus. What a great start for beginner players. Thanks

  127. Robert Sorge says

    April 20, 2017 at 2:39 am

    Frustrating to me to not have time signature and note duration. 6/8, 4/4, ?

  128. Greg says

    May 27, 2017 at 3:32 am

    Great stuff. Thanks.

  129. Mike says

    July 5, 2017 at 12:06 pm

    I am looking forward to practising these patterns but I don’t understand the tabs at all. Can you please explain more in depth on how to read them.

    Thank you

  130. Caleb says

    July 31, 2017 at 6:47 pm

    I’m loving these patterns, they’re so different from the usual boring ones I play (and more structured than the chaotic ones I attempt, haha)

    I have to agree with Robert though, having time signatures and note values would be very useful for them, that way I could use them without having to reference the videos every time.

  131. Sen says

    November 8, 2017 at 5:14 am

    Hi,

    I’ve learn to play guitar for one week.

    Is it ok if I learn 50 blues cool licks? Or I need to play song?

    May I have your advise?

  132. Sen says

    November 12, 2017 at 1:44 pm

    I want to buy but the price has changed. I have to wait.

  133. Sen says

    November 29, 2017 at 2:20 am

    Hi,

    I will make another card. I’ll try again on Friday.

    Best regards,

  134. Sen says

    December 16, 2017 at 11:11 am

    Hi Klaus,

    After I bought your 50 Cool Blue Licks, I realised that you’re the best.

    Thanks so much,
    Sen

  135. reverse phone says

    January 4, 2018 at 1:55 pm

    Wonderful website. Lots of useful information here.
    I am sending it to several pals ans additionally sharing in delicious.
    And naturally, thank you on your effort!

  136. Joe Spencer says

    June 1, 2018 at 10:39 pm

    Hi Klaus,
    I’m picking up the guitar again after many years of not playing.
    I like picking pattern # 4. How do you use this pattern on the D chord?

    Thanks!
    Joe

  137. Gregg T. says

    November 24, 2018 at 2:50 am

    Hi Klaus,
    Great forethought, patience, and detail. Thank you for taking the time to make these videos. I am looking forward to learning from them.

    Gregg

  138. Bhagya Chandrasiri says

    January 5, 2019 at 5:50 pm

    This enough for a lifetime!
    Thanks man!

  139. Donald Smith says

    July 24, 2019 at 6:14 am

    I have been searching for a long time and have gone through no less then 15 videos.
    So far I haven’t found what I am looking for, even on many Chord Charts.
    I am looking for Chords that will go with Finger picking Cmadd9.
    All the Videos and Charts show the Wrong Shape for the Cmadd9 chord.
    The correct Fingerpicking Shape is
    Index Finger is on the 4th String and 2nd Fret.
    Middle Finger is on the 5th String and on the 3rd Fret.
    Ring Finger is on the 2rd String and on the 3rd Fret.

    The wrong shape,has a Pinky on the 1st string on the 3rd Fret.
    The correct Finger picking shape will not have the Pinky on the 1string on the 3rd Fret.

    Can you give me some Chords that will go with the correct Cmadd9?
    Donald Smith
    daysand2@ swbell.net

  140. Nia says

    March 16, 2020 at 7:43 pm

    Once again a great lesson. It helped me a lot to improve.
    Hope that now I can try play

    Tennessee Tab

  141. Marcel says

    June 28, 2020 at 2:01 pm

    Best fingerstyle tutorial I found.
    Which guitar are you playing?

    Marcel

  142. Klaus Crow says

    July 1, 2020 at 10:42 am

    Hi Marcel,
    It’s a Larrivee

    Best,
    Klaus

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