Lesson 11 – Finger Patterns (Part Two)
Finger Patterns (Part Two)
Are you ready to move on? Make sure you’re comfortable playing the previous patterns before continuing. Good, now it’s starting to get interesting. This next pattern is a variation on the first; you’ll notice there are a couple extra notes. We’ll continue to call the patterns E & A for now. Follow the procedure you used in part one to learn these.
Once you’re confident with your ability to play it, apply it to this progression. Remember to start with the A pattern, and notice that the last two notes of each bar are a walk down/up to be played with the thumb.
This next pattern has a slightly different emphasis timing-wise than our previous examples:
Once you’re comfortable move on and apply it to this progression:
This next one is again a new timing:
It sounds natural to the ear, but to your fingers it probably won’t seem to flow until you grow used to the feel. Take your time, when you’re ready apply it to this progression:
Take note of how small changes can alter the feel dramatically. Try the above over different chords and different progressions. Listen to some of your favorite players and you’ll find some of these patterns jumping out at you. Pick out what they’re doing that draws you to their playing and make it yours. Capture the feel. Don’t think you have to stick with these patterns; create some of your own and remember to always challenge yourself.
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These are great, but I have a couple of questions…
First, in the E pattern/A pattern progression the tab is clear enough, but I don’t find the chord diagrams very helpful. The ones labelled E7 and A7 are the chords I know as straigh E and A, and they don’t appear in the progression anyway which is all the D7 / G7 shapes. Is it a mistake in the chord diagram? Also I find it hard to thumb the low E string in the D7 shape, so I was playing the alternating bass by moving my second finger as required. It might be nice to say something about whether this is OK or not.
The final one I’m not sure on is the first case of the C progression. The last two bass notes of the second bar are from a G chord, which moves moving the second finger out of the C progression. It sounds really good, but the fact that it doesn’t appear like that in any of the later progressions made me think maybe it was a mistake? For beginners I think it’s easier to stay where it is, but it does sound really good so I’m not sure.
Thanks again for this terrific resource, I hope you don’t mind a bit of proof reading from someone following it through carefully!
Whoops, I mean my third or ring finger of course here.
Hi Thrope,
Thanks for the comments, sorry to get back so late.
You’re right, the E7 and A7 are major chords, they were labeled wrong. I’m glad you pointed that out!
For the E string in the D7 shape it’s best to use your ring finger to play the alternating bass notes. The proper way to finger this chord is 5th string – ring, 4th string – middle, 3rd string, pinky, 2nd string – index.
I’m not sure what you mean about the C chord progression, the second chords is a G, so I must be misunderstanding the questions.
Thanks again,
Stop by anytime.