Guitar Fingerings

Guitar Fingerings - Right Hand Technique

First things first. If you want to learn to play guitar, start by learning the basic guitar fingerings and positions for your playing hand. Here are the suggested positions for right hand technique for fingerstyle playing. It may feel odd at first but these are the most efficient playing techniques. Once you develop some proficiency you can adapt your playing technique to whatever you like later on.

Three Fingers on High Strings

This technique uses the index, middle and ring finger on the G, B and E strings.




Two Fingers on High Strings

Sometimes called the "Claw" technique, this fingering position relies on only two fingers to play the treble strings.




Palm Muting Technique

This is an important guitar fingering technique to learn as it gives your playing a different percussive sound. Rest the fleshy part of your right hand palm over the strings just enough to mute the strings.

Try experimenting with all three of these different fingerings. The two finger style is great for upstrokes with the treble notes and the three fingering style allows for great access to melody notes.

Use an Anchor Finger

A useful technique is to use your pinky finger as an anchor and reference point.

It gives you a little more accuracy when you are attacking the strings either with your fingers or a pick.