{"id":201185,"date":"2022-06-17T06:00:42","date_gmt":"2022-06-17T13:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/?p=201185"},"modified":"2025-01-29T02:13:32","modified_gmt":"2025-01-29T10:13:32","slug":"fingerpicking-pattern-outside-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/fingerpicking-pattern-outside-in\/","title":{"rendered":"A Common (and Versatile) Folk Fingerpicking Pattern"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Classical guitarists don\u2019t always learn folk fingerpicking patterns. But these are useful if we want to accompany singers or other instruments.<\/p>\n<p>Fingerpicking patterns also build versatility and coordination. So regardless of what style we most often play, patterns can be fun and beneficial.<\/p>\n<p class=\"centerc\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7oG-9MLpHDU?rel=0&amp;modestbranding=1\" width=\"700\" height=\"393\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">The \u201cOutside-In\u201d Pattern<\/h2>\n<p>We can learn this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/fingerstyle-classical\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fingerstyle<\/a> pattern in two stages. This makes visualizing the pattern easier.<\/p>\n<h3>Step One<\/h3>\n<p>For this example, we will use a G chord.<\/p>\n<p>a) To begin, play the outside two strings together. These are strings 6 and 1.<\/p>\n<p>b) Then play the next two strings in from these. So strings 5 and 2.<\/p>\n<p>(For this pattern, we omit strings 4 and 3. Though we can substitute string 4 for string 5 if desired.)<\/p>\n<p>c) Alternate between these two sets in a steady rhythm.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-201257\" src=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Outside_In_Pattern_with_tab-1.jpg\" alt=\"open strings together - fingerpicking\" width=\"700\" height=\"233\" srcset=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Outside_In_Pattern_with_tab-1.jpg 700w, https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Outside_In_Pattern_with_tab-1-300x100.jpg 300w, https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Outside_In_Pattern_with_tab-1-100x33.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Once this is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/fluid-guitar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">flowing and consistent<\/a>, we can move to step two.<\/p>\n<h3>Step Two<\/h3>\n<p>Here we offset the two pairs from Step One.<\/p>\n<p>Instead of playing strings 1 and 6 together, play them one at a time. 6 then 1.<\/p>\n<p>And the same with strings 5 and 2.<\/p>\n<p>So the full pattern moves in string order: 6\u20131\u20135\u20132 in a steady loop.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-201258\" src=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Outside_In_Pattern_with_tab-2.jpg\" alt=\"fingerstyle pattern step two\" width=\"700\" height=\"168\" srcset=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Outside_In_Pattern_with_tab-2.jpg 700w, https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Outside_In_Pattern_with_tab-2-300x72.jpg 300w, https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Outside_In_Pattern_with_tab-2-100x24.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\">Other Chords with the Pattern<\/h2>\n<p>The G chord in our example uses <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/guitar-string-finger-names\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">all six strings<\/a>. Many <a href=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/chords\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">chords<\/a> use only 5 or 4 strings. For these, we have a formula.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/music-theory-guitar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">root of the chord<\/a> (the note for which the chord is named) is in the bass. This means that the lowest note of the chord is on the first beat.<\/p>\n<p>For example, the A and C chords use five strings. The pattern for these will be: 5\u20131\u20134\u20132<\/p>\n<p>The D and F chords use four strings. The pattern for these is: 4\u20131\u20133\u20132<\/p>\n<p>With a little practice, this pattern can become habitual and intuitive. We can add it to our muscle <a href=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/recall-memory\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">memory<\/a> and play through our chord songs with fluid grace and ease.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-201259\" src=\"https:\/\/www.classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Outside_In_Pattern_with_tab-3.jpg\" alt=\"Outside-In Pattern with Chords\" width=\"700\" height=\"193\" srcset=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Outside_In_Pattern_with_tab-3.jpg 700w, https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Outside_In_Pattern_with_tab-3-300x83.jpg 300w, https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Outside_In_Pattern_with_tab-3-100x28.jpg 100w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 700px) 100vw, 700px\" \/><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Classical guitarists don\u2019t always learn folk fingerpicking patterns. But these are useful if we want to accompany singers or other instruments. Fingerpicking patterns also build versatility and coordination. So regardless of what style we most often play, patterns can be fun and beneficial. The \u201cOutside-In\u201d Pattern We can learn this fingerstyle pattern in two stages. This makes visualizing the pattern &#8230; <\/p>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/classicalguitarshed.com\/fingerpicking-pattern-outside-in\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":201178,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21,434],"tags":[363,359],"class_list":["post-201185","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technique","category-main-content-parent","tag-general-guitar","tag-right-hand-technique"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.8 (Yoast SEO v25.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>One of the Most Common Fingerpicking Patterns for Guitar<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Here&#039;s a right-hand fingerpicking pattern that is used in many popular songs from around the world. 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