Beyond Basics: Fingerstyle Guitar: Guitar DVD

Hanson structures the 70 minutes to build confidence systematically: you review foundational chord shapes, establish proper right-hand positioning, and then move directly into patterns you can use. The inclusion of the Travis picking technique alongside practical chord voicings means students walk away with genuinely usable fingerstyle tools, not abstract exercises.

Fingerstyle guitar opens the door to playing melody and bass simultaneously, giving you a richer harmonic palette and the ability to accompany yourself without additional players. The patterns Hanson teaches create propulsive, rhythmic textures that feel as natural under your fingers as they sound compelling to listeners.

Acoustic guitarists ready to move beyond strumming patterns into the finger-independence and rhythmic sophistication that fingerstyle playing demands. This works for self-taught players seeking structure as well as those coming from a pick-based background who want to expand their technical vocabulary.

• Anchor your thumb's anchor finger on the bass strings before beginning any pattern; this stabilizes the entire hand and prevents tension from creeping up your wrist.
• Practice each fingerpicking pattern at half speed with a metronome, focusing on consistent contact and release rather than speed, until the motion becomes automatic.
• Work through the chord transitions shown in the program multiple times; switching cleanly between voicings while maintaining your picking pattern is where the real musicality lives.

Use this resource in private studio instruction to establish proper technique from the start or to help intermediate students transition into fingerpicking. The DVD format and tab booklet combination makes it ideal for independent practice between lessons, with clear visual and written reference materials students can return to.

• Right-hand finger independence and coordination
• Alternating thumb bass patterns (Travis picking)
• Finger-to-string assignment and consistency
• Transitioning between open-position chords while maintaining picking patterns
• Proper hand position and ergonomic awareness