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Fingerpicking
Techniques for Mandolin
Alan David Gould
Mandolin is traditionally played with a flat pick. It can,
however, be played very effectively with hard plastic thumb and fingerpicks; and it sounds absolutely beautiful!
Though the techniques are similar to guitar finger picking techniques, they have remained virtually unused. Mandolin
players will find these techniques very useful for many background parts on songs and legitimate classical pieces as well.
To start, you will need:
A Thumb Pick and 1 or 2 Finger
Picks: You have a choice of using a thumb pick with 1 or 2 finger
picks, positioned on the index and middle finger(s). In beginning this technique, I recommend 2 picks only, positioned on
the thumb and index finger; it’s simpler, more straight ahead, and allows you the option of using your middle and ring
fingers to pluck the other strings, either alternatively or simultaneously.
Positioning
the picks: Slide the thumb pick on so that it’s
far enough down the thumb to feel fairly stable and like it’s not going to come off; generally just beyond the bottom
cuticle line of the nail. Hold your thumb up and face it towards you; the performance edge of the pick should be at just about
a perpendicular to your thumb. You may want to adjust the angle of the pick towards or away from you to catch the string fluidly.
It’s not the edge of the pick, but the smooth surface just under it that makes contact with the string. Avoid using
a thumb pick with a throw that is too long, as it will strike the string when you don’t want it to. Next slide the finger
pick onto the index finger upside down so that the curved edge of the pick is facing you; then turn it in a slight counter
clockwise motion so that when it strikes the string, it will tend to do so full face on.
What
you should know before starting:
The strings of the mandolin are tuned to the notes:
G
D A E
and the strings are numbered from
bottom to top: 4 3 2 1
The
thumb is designated with a “T”
and the index finger is designated with an
“F”
(So T4 would be the thumb on the G
string and F2 the finger on the A string.)
The
thumb moves in a downward direction and the index finger in an upward direction. The motion is an elliptical one in which
they intersect each other in scissors fashion, so that they don’t collide. The finger remains behind the thumb in order
to accomplish this. The thumb strikes the string full on and the index finger should strike the string at a 45˚ angle.
Now
try it: Here is a finger picking diagram to get you started:
Exercise #1:
(Remember:
T4 thumb picks down..F2 finger picks back..T3 thumb down..F1
finger back)
T4 F2
T3 F1 T4
F2 T3 F1 T4 F2 T3
F1 T4 F2
T3 F1
Take any basic chord , G major for
example. Start slowly and make sure that your finger picking motions are not in the way of each other. Use
a metronome, if you have one, to keep your finger picking pattern at a steady tempo. The notes from the thumb and finger should
equal each other in volume and tone. Go for sustain and clarity. Try not to speed up until you have a handle on these basic
skills.
When you feel
you can roll through this first exercise with one chord, try this next exercise in various keys:
Exercise #2:
1
4 5 1 G C D
G
A D
E A
D G A D
When you feel comfortable
with this initial finger picking pattern, go ahead and try these:
Exercise #2:
T4-F3 together
T3-F2 together
T2-F1 together T3-F2 together
Exercise #3:
T4-F2 together/ T3-F1 together /
repeat
Exercise #4:
T4 F1 T3
F1 T2 F1
T3 F1 / repeat
Once again, the thumb and finger picking motions are somewhat elliptical, striking the string
somewhere in the relative middle of their trajectory. This helps to insure that the thumb and finger stroke the string rather
than attacking it and also that the pattern is played correctly. When this pattern is sped up, it should resemble a flamenco
pattern as a classical guitarist might play it, with the E string acting as an upper pedal, or drone, for the lower strings. The next finger picking concept is one in which both the thumb and index finger
strike the same string in a rapid fire progression which can repeat twice, 4 times, 8 times, or even indefinitely, spanning
the length of a bar or more of whole notes, creating a tremolo traditionally played with a flat pick.With this style of doubling the
note, one can play many types of single note passages and fill in the open spaces to create a pleasing wall of sound. Until
you are comfortable with this style, simply try open strings as follows:
Exercise #5:
T4 F4
T4 F4 T4 F4 T4 F4
T3 F3 T3 F3
T3 F3 T3 F3
T2 F2 T2
F2 T2 F2 T2 F2
T1 F1 T1 F1 T1
F1 T1 F1
Remember that since the mandolin consists of double
strings in unison, the thumb is striking the bottom string and the finger is striking the top, even though the strings are sounding sympathetically
with each other. These 5 exercises should give you a good introduction to the possibilities available in flat picking the mandolin.
Remember that this is an acquired skill and that it takes time to perfect. Also, remember that it is important to practice
slowly and methodically, even if only for short periods of time.
Alan David Gould ©2011
Fingerpicking Techniques for Mandolin
Alan
David Gould Mandolin is traditionally played with a flat pick. It can, however, be played very effectively
with hard plastic thumb and fingerpicks; and it sounds absolutely beautiful! Though the techniques are
similar to guitar finger picking techniques, they have remained virtually unused. Mandolin players will find these techniques
very useful for many background parts on songs and legitimate classical pieces as well. To start, you will need: A Thumb Pick and 1 or 2 Finger Picks: You have a
choice of using a thumb pick with 1 or 2 finger picks, positioned on the index and middle finger(s). In beginning this technique,
I recommend 2 picks only, positioned on the thumb and index finger; it’s simpler, more straight ahead, and allows you
the option of using your middle and ring fingers to pluck the other strings, either alternatively or simultaneously. Positioning the picks: Slide
the thumb pick on so that it’s far enough down the thumb to feel fairly stable and like it’s not going to come
off; generally just beyond the bottom cuticle line of the nail. Hold your thumb up and face it towards you; the performance
edge of the pick should be at just about a perpendicular to your thumb. You may want to adjust the angle of the pick towards
or away from you to catch the string fluidly. It’s not the edge of the pick, but the smooth surface just under it that
makes contact with the string. Avoid using a thumb pick with a throw that is too long, as it will strike the string when you
don’t want it to. Next slide the finger pick onto the index finger upside down so that the curved edge of the pick is
facing you; then turn it in a slight counter clockwise motion so that when it strikes the string, it will tend to do so full
face on. What
you should know before starting: The strings of the mandolin are tuned to the
notes: G D
A E and the strings are numbered from bottom to top:
4
3 2 1 The
thumb is designated with a “T” And
the index finger is designated with an “F” (So T4 would be the thumb on the G string and F2 the finger on the A string.) The thumb moves in a downward direction and the index finger in an upward direction. The motion is an elliptical
one in which they intersect each other in scissors fashion, so that they don’t collide. The finger remains behind the
thumb in order to accomplish this. The thumb strikes the string full on and the index finger should strike the string at a
45˚ angle. Now try it: Here is a finger
picking diagram to get you started: Diagram #1 (Remember:
T4 thumb picks down..F2 finger picks back..T3 thumb down..F1
finger back) T4
F2 T3 F1 T4 F2 T3 F1 T4 F2 T3
F1 T4 F2 T3
F1 Take any basic chord , G major for example. Start slowly and make
sure that your finger picking motions are not in the way of each other. Use a metronome, if you have one,
to keep your finger picking pattern at a steady tempo. The notes from the thumb and finger should equal each other in volume
and tone. Go for sustain and clarity. Try not to speed up until you have a handle on these basic skills. When you feel you can roll through this first exercise with one chord, try this next exercise in various keys:
Exercise
#1 1 4
5 1 G C D
G A D E
A D G
A D When
you feel comfortable with this initial finger picking pattern, go ahead and try these: Exercise #2 T4-F3
together/ T3-F2 together/ T2-F1 together /T3-F2 together / repeat Exercise #3 T4-F2
together/ T3-F1 together / repeat Exercise #4 T4 F1
T3 F1 T2
F1 T3 F1 / repeat Once again, the thumb
and finger picking motions are somewhat elliptical, striking the string somewhere in the relative middle of their trajectory.
This helps to insure that the thumb and finger stroke the string rather than attacking it and also that the pattern is played
correctly. When this pattern is sped up, it should resemble a flamenco pattern as a classical guitarist might play it, with
the E string acting as an upper pedal, or drone, for the lower strings. The next finger picking concept is one in which both the thumb and
index finger strike the same string in a rapid fire progression which can repeat twice, 4 times, 8 times, or even indefinitely,
spanning the length of a bar or more of whole notes, creating a tremolo traditionally played with a flat pick.With this style of doubling the note, one can play many types of
single note passages and fill in the open spaces to create a pleasing wall of sound. Until you are comfortable with this style,
simply try open strings as follows: Exercise #5 T4 F4 T4
F4 T4 F4 T4 F4 T3 F3 T3 F3
T3 F3 T3 F3 T2
F2 T2 F2 T2 F2
T2 F2 T1 F1 T1
F1 T1 F1 T1 F1 Remember that since the
mandolin consists of double strings in unison, the thumb is striking the bottom string and the finger is striking the top, even though the strings are sounding sympathetically with each other. These 5 exercises should give you a good introduction to the possibilities available in flat picking the mandolin.
Remember that this is an acquired skill and that it takes time to perfect. Also, remember that it is important to practice
slowly and methodically, even if only for short periods of time. For questions and comments,
please contact me on my website at www.algould.com
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