The Pick Fingerpick

By Darrin Koltow

You can call this technique the "Pick fingerpick," because it combines both normal picking and fingerpicking. Here's how to do it: hold the pick as you probably already are doing: between the thumb and the first finger. Now, loosen up fingers 3, 4 and 5 -- you're gonna put 'em to work! No more Freddie Freeloader for those guys.

Now, look at this tab carefully:

|-0-- pinky
|-1-- finger 3
|-0-- finger 2
|-2--
|-3-- pick
|----

This tab shows you where to put each finger to play an open position C major chord using the Pick Fingerpick technique. Notice we have no more fingers left to cover the E note on the D string. This is one drawback to an otherwise cool technique. Possible solutions: just ignore that note. You won't need it in most situations. Or, nix the pick completely, and go totally fingerstyle. Or, neglect another string instead, like this:

|-0-- pinky
|-1-- finger 3
|-0--
|-2-- finger 2
|-3-- pick
|----

I know this technique might feel unusual and uncomfortable to you at first. That's okay. You'll grow into it -- and it's worth taking the time to grow into it, because the Pick Fingerpick lets you play arrangements, notes and chords in a way you can't with strumming. In other words, you're getting more music from your guitar with the Pick Fingerpick.

Copyright 2002. Darrin Koltow. All rights reserved.

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