| The act of playing a guitar can be | | | | accommodate that variety. Classical |
| divided into three basic techniques: | | | | fingerpicking permits a high degree of |
| strumming, or brushing the fingers over | | | | control over the musical dynamics, |
| the strings to create chords; | | | | texture, volume and timbral |
| flatpicking, or picking individuals | | | | characteristics of the instrument. As |
| notes with a plectrum; and | | | | with the original technique created for |
| fingerpicking, or picking the strings | | | | ragtime, classical fingerpicking allows |
| directly with the fingertips, | | | | the musician to produce harmony and |
| fingernails or picks attached to the | | | | polyphonic music. |
| fingers. This last technique, | | | | Jazz fingerpicking is used primarily |
| fingerpicking, is also referred to as | | | | with electric guitars, and the |
| fingerstyle guitar, although this term | | | | technique's proponents are often known |
| can refer to the music produced as well | | | | for their innovation and unorthodox |
| as the technique of producing it. | | | | styles. Most jazz musicians who use |
| Fingerpicking is useful in that it | | | | fingerpicking play in all keys. This |
| allows the artist to perform several | | | | forms a notable contrast to those |
| musical elements simultaneously. | | | | musicians who play folk, classical and |
| Techniques such as flatpicking, during | | | | flamenco music, as they tend to favor |
| which the hand works as a single unit, | | | | keys that provide open strings. The |
| do not allow for such scope. | | | | electric guitar is often used as a solo |
| Fingerpicking is utilized by musicians | | | | jazz instrument, the musician playing a |
| of multiple genres and is an important | | | | series of chords on the bottom strings |
| element in the music of each. | | | | and the melody line on the top. |
| The technique of fingerpicking | | | | Traditional Celtic music does not make |
| originated in the late 1800s and early | | | | much, if any, use of the guitar. |
| 1900s in the genre of blues music. | | | | However, when the music of Ireland |
| Musicians of this genre were trying to | | | | experienced its revival in the middle of |
| imitate the sounds of ragtime piano | | | | the 20th century, guitar accompaniments |
| music. The result was a method in which | | | | to traditional folk songs were often |
| the thumb plucked a steady rhythm of | | | | devised. These accompaniments used a |
| bass while the index and middle fingers | | | | fingerpicking style that allowed for |
| picked out a melody on the high strings. | | | | solo guitar versions of music originally |
| This technique is still used today, most | | | | intended for bagpipes or harps. |
| commonly in folk, country-jazz and blues | | | | Slack-key guitar fingerpicking |
| music. As time has gone by, | | | | originated in Hawaii. This technique is |
| fingerpicking has been adapted to suite | | | | nearly always used on instruments with |
| many different styles of music, | | | | open or altered tunings. The basic |
| including classical guitar, jazz guitar, | | | | theory of slack-key is like that of the |
| Celtic guitar and Hawaiian slack-key | | | | original ragtime style: the thumb is |
| guitar. | | | | used to create an alternating bass |
| The classical guitar is probably the | | | | pattern while the fingers play the |
| most commonly played style of guitar. It | | | | melody on the higher strings. The main |
| is capable of producing a wide variety | | | | difference with slack-key is in the |
| of music, and the classical | | | | music, which is rooted in traditional |
| fingerpicking technique has evolved to | | | | Hawaiian tunes. |