Fingerstyle Songs Lessons
Sweet Creature by Harry Styles
Sweet Creature is written in the key of G and incorporates finger style guitar. The song contains this heavy acoustic guitar part making it a great song to learn for those interested in finger style acoustic guitar.
Song Difficulty: 5
Sound Of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel
Learn how to play Sound Of Silence on guitar. This Simon and Garfunkel classic is played fingerstyle through the 1st verse and then moves to a strumming pattern. We will cover all the parts in this tutorial. You will need a capo on the 6th fret.
Song Difficulty: 4
Dust in The Wind by Kansas (Part 1)
In this lesson we will learn the intro, verse, and chorus to this classic fingerstyle tune. The song uses whats known as a Travis picking style, alternating bass notes with your thumb.
Song Difficulty: 5
Dust in The Wind by Kansas (Part 2)
In this lesson we will be finishing up our study of Dust in The Wind with the Bridge and Outro parts.
Song Difficulty: 5
Say You Won't Let Go by James Arthur
This tune uses just 4 chords - G, D, Em7, and C. You will also need a capo at the 3rd fret to be in tune with the record. The song is played fingerstyle and uses basically the same arrangement throughout the entire tune.
Song Difficulty: 3
Oh My Darling (Clementine)
In this lesson we will be learning a chord melody version of Oh My Darling Clementine. This is a great song to learn chord melody as the melody is fairly simple and just three chords are used, G, G7, and C.
Song Difficulty: 3
Always On My Mind chords by Willie Nelson
In this lesson we will be studying Always On My Mind by Willie Nelson. The original recording is mainly piano so we have transposed it for guitar in a fingerstyle arrangement. Always On My Mind chords include open chords, barre chords and some interesting slash chords.
Song Difficulty: 4
More Than Words by Extreme Part 1
This finger style tune by Extreme requires you to tune down a half step to be in tune with the original recording.
Song Difficulty: 5
More Than Words by Extreme Part 2
This finger style tune by Extreme requires you to tune down a half step to be in tune with the original recording.
Song Difficulty: 5
Tears In Heaven by Eric Clapton
In this lesson we will be learning the fingerstyle tune Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton. Clapton played the song on a nylon string, classical style guitar, but it can be played on any guitar. Don't be intimidated by all the chords in this tune. While it seems like a lot, it actually repeats much of the same progressions throughout.
Song Difficulty: 5
Yesterday by The Beatles
In this lesson we will be studying Yesterday by The Beatles. The song was performed by McCartney in a fingerstyle fashion. The guitar needs to be tuned down a whole step to be in tune with the original recording.
Song Difficulty: 4
Hey Jude by The Beatles (Chord Melody Style)
In this lesson we will be learning Hey Jude chord melody fingerstyle. It is highly recommended that you have studied the basic fingerstyle lessons in the Fingerstyle Lesson Category under Skill Lessons.
Song Difficulty: 5
Worrying You Off My Mind by Big Bill Broonzy
Worrying You Off My Mind is a solo acoustic blues tune by Big Bill Broonzy. It is played fingerstyle as most of the old blues were and uses an Eb tuning. It does not follow a typical 12 Bar Blues pattern but rather an 8 bar progression with the occasional extra bar added in. While solo acoustic blues is not easy, this is a relatively simple arrangement for the genre.
Song Difficulty: 4
Little Martha by The Allman Brothers
In this lesson we will be learning the instrumental Little Martha. The song is played fingerstyle with open E tuning.
Song Difficulty: 5
Oh Christmas Tree (Oh Tennenbaum) Chord Melody
In this lesson we will be learning a solo chord melody version of Oh Christmas Tree. This lesson is not for beginners as the chords used are a little more advanced. We will be playing a fingerstyle version in the Key of E. Once you get it down, sounds great!
Song Difficulty: 6
Jam Man by Chet Atkins
In this lesson we will be learning the main theme to Chet Atkins' Jam Man. One of the main concepts behind Chet's playing is his use of Travis picking and use of a thumb pick. Both are covered in this relatively simple piece of music. Great way to get started with the Chet Atkin's style.
Song Difficulty: 4
You Were Meant For Me by Jewel
In this song lesson, You Were Meant For Me by Jewel, we will be using fingerstyle in the verse and strumming in the rest of the parts. It is played in the key of G. Chords used are Cadd9, C, G/B, G, D, Em, Bm, and Am7
Song Difficulty: 4
Memories by Maroon 5
In this lesson we will be learning Memories by Maroon 5. The original recording was played on electric piano and we have transcribed this into a fingerstyle guitar part. The chords shapes used are G, Em, D, Bm, and C with a capo on the 4th fret.
Song Difficulty: 3
City Of New Orleans by Arlo Guthrie
In this lesson we will be studying the Arlo Guthrie version of City Of New Orleans. The tune is played with the guitar tuned a 1/2 step down and consists of 7 familiar chord shapes, G, Em, D, C, Bm, F, and A. While I have charted the song with a fingerstyle arrangement like the recording, I do cover a basic strumming pattern you can use instead of finger picking.
Song Difficulty: 5
Morning Dew by Bonnie Dobson
In this lesson we will be learning the original version of Morning Dew by Bonnie Dobson. The song is played fingerstyle with a capo at the 2nd fret. The chords used are A, G, G/F#, D, C, G/B.
Song Difficulty: 4
Ain't No Sunshine by Bill Withers
In this lesson we will study the Bill Wither's tune Ain't No Sunshine
Song Difficulty: 3
Chicken Fried (Acoustic) by Zac Brown Band
In this lesson we will be studying the acoustic parts to Chicken Fried by the Zac Brown Band. Tune down 1/2 step to be in tune with the original recording. The song intro requires difficult Travis picking techniques. Recommended study of volume 12 lessons on finger picking. The rest of the tune is basic open chords.
Song Difficulty: 8
Landslide by Fleetwood Mac
In this lesson we will do a song study of the Fleetwood Mac classic "Landslide."
Song Difficulty: 4
Babe I'm Gonna Leave You by Led Leppelin
In this lessons we will do a finger style song study of the Led Zeppelin classic "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You."
Song Difficulty: 6
Let Her Go by Passenger (Chords and Tab)
In this lesson we will be studying the song Let Her Go by Passenger. This piece includes a fingerstyle intro with a capo at the 7th fret. Let Her Go chords are relatively basic chords with some melodic embellishments throughout. For the intro, a fingerstyle approach is used. The rest of the song uses strumming of these chords.
Song Difficulty: 7
Unforgiven by Metallica
In this lesson we will do a finger picking song study of Unforgiven by Metallica.
Song Difficulty: 6
Blackbird by the Beatles
In this lesson we will be learning the classic acoustic guitar song Blackbird by Paul McCartney and the Beatles. This is a great fingerstyle style piece that is sure to impress. Blackbird chords are unique in that there are no full open chords used throughout the tune. McCartney is specifically picking specific notes of implied chords creating a beautiful melodic piece. Specifically the root note on E or A string and the B string are highlighted with an open G ringing throughout.
Song Difficulty: 5
We Are Going To Be Friends by The White Stripes
In this lesson we will learn this simple finger style tune using just 4 chords.
Song Difficulty: 3
Let It Be by the Beatles
Let It Be is a relatively simple song to play along to. The original tune is mainly piano. We have transcribed a finger style version the requires just a few basic chords. You could also strum with a pick.
Song Difficulty: 3
Romanza
Romanza (Romance) is a standard classical tune in the key of E minor and E major. The piece has 2 parts, the first being in Em and then shifts to an E major section. There is no particular arrangement for this song. It is open to interpretation and being creative on your own. It has been performed many different ways by arranging the 2 parts. This is a complex classical style tune and I highly recommend studying Volume 12 on finger picking before attempting this piece.
When You Say Nothing At All by Allison Kraus
In this lesson we will be learning When You Say Nothing At All by Allison Kraus. Great tune for beginner finger picking. Requires a capo at the first fret
Song Difficulty: 3
Hey There Delilah by the Plain White T's
In this lesson I will teach how to play Hey There Delilah. Great tune for finger pickers.
Song Difficulty: 4
Stairway To Heaven Part 1 by Led Zeppelin
In this lesson we will learn the first couple parts of the epic "Stairway To Heaven". This song requires classical style finger picking. Please study volume 12 lessons on finger picking before attempting this tune.
Song Difficulty: 7
Stairway To Heaven Part 2 by Led Zeppelin
In this lesson we will study the remaining parts to Stairway To Heaven.
Song Difficulty: 7