Instruments & Performance

Fingerpicking

Japanese name
フィンガーピッキング

Fingerpicking is a technique where you pluck the strings with your fingers instead of using a pick. It lets you sound low and high notes separately at the same time.

How to use it

Give the bass to your thumb and the chords or melody to your other fingers, and you can produce both accompaniment and melody on your own.

Difference from related terms

Fingerpicking uses the fingers, while hybrid picking uses a pick and the fingers together.

Decide the role of each finger and practice from a slow pattern to build stability.

Sources & review

Last reviewed July 16, 2026

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