The Complete Fingerstyle Guitar Method: Intermediate Fingerstyle Guitar: Guitar Book & CD

Moving through this book feels like gaining access to a toolbox you didn't know existed. Early chapters ground you in concrete technical skills, but the style explorations and arranging section shift the experience; suddenly fingerstyle becomes a language for expression rather than just a technical challenge. The CD keeps everything grounded in actual sound.

Intermediate fingerstyle players who have solid right-hand technique and understand basic chord shapes, but want to expand beyond simple strumming patterns and single-melody lines. This is for guitarists ready to tackle alternate tunings, arrangement concepts, and the technical vocabulary that separates casual players from serious repertoire interpreters.

• Slow down the CD tracks and loop individual sections until the fingering pattern feels automatic, then gradually increase tempo. The physical muscle memory needs to anchor before you think about interpretation.
• When exploring alternate tunings, record yourself playing the same melodic phrase in standard tuning first. You'll hear how the tonal character shifts, which deepens your understanding of why each tuning exists.
• Study the diatonic harmony chapter before diving into style-specific arrangements. Knowing why certain chord progressions work unlocks faster learning across Celtic, blues, and contemporary repertoire.
• Use the bass line exercises as a stepping stone to full arrangement work. Start by adding a single bass note under existing chord progressions, then expand into walking patterns.

Assign this as the primary text for intermediate guitar students working independently or in small group lessons. The comprehensive scope makes it valuable for self-directed learners, while the style chapters give you natural checkpoints for assessing progress and setting new goals throughout a semester or year.

• Alternate tunings (open tuning, modal tuning, dropped tunings)
• Modal scale construction and application
• Fingerpicking patterns beyond basic arpeggios
• Barre chord voicings and transitions
• Diatonic harmony and chord function
• Advanced right-hand techniques (slapping, harmonics, percussive effects)
• Bass line composition and integration
• Arrangement techniques across multiple styles
• Style-specific conventions (Celtic, country blues, new age)