Percussive Fingerstyle Masterclass | Acoustic Mathrock

Let’s start out with a picking pattern using no more than 3 fingers per chord. We’re going to capture the bass melody and harmony while incorporating thumb slaps, harmonics and a manageable legato run on the left hand.

Following our basic finger picking exercise we’re going to proceed with diving into the tapping world. To give your right hand a smooth introduction instead of anything too rough on the fingers well just be performing a simple tap on the 2nd string. We’re gonna spice it up ever so slightly with a small amount of body percussion and a harmonic slap.

Now let’s build upon our basic fingerpicking exercise by changing up the rhythm to 6/8 timing. This will be accomplish through arpeggios with legato and fingerpicking some harmonics.

To finish up this first section of the course we’re going to take what we’ve studied and combine it into one piece. However, now we’re going to introduce a 2 note slide and hammer-on/pull-off lick. This will be a fun way of warming up to the upper intermediate Riffs

For our first lesson in the upper intermediate section we’ll get familiar with a blues melody in E minor played in standard tuning. Inspired by Chet Atkins. We’re going to expound upon our 2 string/note slide licks while adding a moving bass line. Now we’re Introducing a fingerpicking cascade run played nice and slowly.

Taking combined techniques from the first Intermediate section but now adding a bass kick with our palm to spice up the groove. Slightly quicker tempo with a trickier fingerpicking pattern and tapping.

Now we’re exploring the cascade lick in the form of tapping. The melody and bass line are kept simple but what makes it upper intermediate is the awkward tapping approach you’ll learn as you perform a tap on the bass line while using another finger to tap the lighter string.

Now we’re really getting warmed up in order to tackle advanced territory. This slightly slower and less embellished Justin King style melody will offer a sharp test for right and left hand syncopation. We’ll also be throwing in the signature triplet tapping lick.

As a final exercise for the upper intermediate section we want to have a firm grasp on being able to perform hammer-ons from no where. This example takes a look at an intricate rock beat while using our left hand to create power chords and variations on the bass strings.

For the beginning of the Advanced section we're going to tune our guitar to open D tuning. In my arrangement of Come Thou Fount we're going to use some trickier 3-4 finger chords with quicker chord changes and bigger stretches. Inspired heavily by the style of Thomas Leeb, Our right hand will be carrying out a consistent simple percussive slap and palm bass kick. Getting the chord changes on time may require some time to play cleanly.

Continuing our study in open D tuning we're going to play the Chorus theme of my Arrangement of Come Thou Fount. This will be a two-handed tapping riff with Harmonic slaps, hammerons and pulloffs involving awkward left and right hand syncopation with snare body percussion. This lesson features a quick slide tap legato lick making it more difficult.

Now we're going to transition to standard tuning for a couple pieces. We're going to be centered in the key of G. The chords won't be too difficult but we're going to mix in quick legato riffs using taps, hammers and pulloffs on some unaccented beats which will take a little practice.

Another piece in standard tuning that implements chords and quick legato riffs of tapping, hammers and pulloffs. this exercise involves tapping harmonic 6ths with the way tuning is set up. We'll slide and create harmonics too.

Now we're going back to Csus4 tuning (dadgad -full step) for the rest of the course to study a slap and popping phrase in C minor. We'll use left hand hammer on and pulloffs to maintain a steady 16th note rhythm with some 16th note triplet licks to keep in the advanced territory. Inspired by the Intro of Phunkdified by Justin King

Get ready for this trickier riff in C minor where we introduce a new technique known as rasgeaudo. This is the art of triplet strumming and short speed bursts. This also involves quick triplet slapping, left hand legato and Snare body percussion.

Replicating the Style of Marcin Patrzalek

We're gonna study left hand hammer on chord variations syncopated with power chord bass taps and some unique body percussion expressed by toms. A bunch of hand movement to get use to in this one!

In the style of Jon Gomm

Play like Justin King with the heavy use of two finger slide tapping and fast legato runs

In the style of Ben Lapps and Kaki King