Using the Left Hand in Finger-Style Guitar

Part of the Video Series How to Play Finger Style Guitar

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Learn how to master the fret board with your left hand in this finger style guitar lesson in this free video music lesson.

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Using the Left Hand in Finger-Style Guitar
Hi this is Jeff Isbell on behalf of ExpertVillage.com. Okay, I guess I can’t ignore the left hand forever. Some of the picking patterns I showed you, really come to life when you use some left hand movements called hammer ons and pull offs. In case you don’t know what they are, a quick demonstration, sorry wrong graphic again. When you pluck a string, it rings for a while, if during the time it’s still ringing you quickly hammer on on a new place on the neck, you’ll get a nicely sounding note, without having to pluck it. It has a different sound than a plucked note with a smoother attack. It really gives a pattern a nice flow. The hammer ons partner in rhyme is the pull off, and it’s accomplished like this, pluck a fretted string and while it’s still ringing increase pressure on the string a little, pull it toward the first string a little and with a snap, like releasing an arrow from a bow, release the string, when you can do both of these patterns these techniques easily add them to your picking patterns like this. Each cord position offers its own best use of hammer and pull with the C chord, its here. With the D, its here. G, here with these two fingers. Remember when I said it was best to learn the G in two positions.

About the Expert

Expert: Jeff Isbell has been playing, composing, performing, and teaching various styles of guitar for more than 35 years. Read More