Fingerpicking

Fingerpicking, or playing fingerstyle, is a technique for playing the guitar using the fingertips and/or fingernails, rather than with a plectrum (or "pick"). It is used for classical guitar, and some other acoustic styles, but it has found its way into other genres as well, including rock and roll, although its use in such genres is relatively rare. There is a whole school of jazz guitar playing using the technique. Joe Pass was a leading exponent of the technique and currently Britain's Martin Taylor is noted for this chord-melody approach. It is not the only way to play the guitar without a pick, but it is perhaps the most common method used by professional guitar players.

Hybrid picking

Following on from the use of thumb picks, several guitarists who only make occasional use of finger picking may tend towards hybrid picking. In hybrid picking, the plectrum is held, as usual, between the thumb and index finger while the remaining fingers are used for fingerpicking.

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Because it is convenient for guitarists that use a flatpick (plectrum), hybrid picking has found its way into styles of guitar music where fingerpicking is rarely, if ever, used. Many contemporary guitarists will use this as an auxiliary technique. Ritchie Blackmore used this technique for his famous opening riff for "Smoke on the Water". Eric Johnson makes frequent use of the technique as well. A notable user of hybrid picking is Zakk Wylde, who brings this technique to heavy metal.

Related Topics:
Ritchie Blackmore - Eric Johnson - Zakk Wylde - Heavy metal

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