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Fundamental Percussion Course
A focused five-part course covering thumb slapping first, then wrist thumping.
LevelBeginner
Length5 parts
FocusTechnique
About this course
A focused free route for the core thumb-slap and wrist-thump mechanics that sit underneath percussive acoustic playing.
Who it's for
Players who want the thumb slapping and wrist-thumping mechanics that sit underneath modern percussive acoustic playing.
What you'll learn
- Build the core thumb-slap mechanics used in percussive acoustic playing.
- Move from thumb slapping into wrist-thumping control.
- Use the techniques as a rhythmic foundation without losing the groove.
What you need
- Acoustic guitar
- Comfortable basic fingerstyle picking
- A steady practice groove
The lessons
5 lessons
- Part 1 · 13:55Thumb Slapping — Part 1: The BasicsLearn the thumb slap, a snare-drum crack from the side of your thumb on the strings, in seven exercises that build from one bass note to two chord shapes.
- Part 2 · 13:37Thumb Slapping — Part 2Add a finger strum to the thumb slap, then work it into picking patterns over C, A minor, E minor and G, in nine exercises.
- Part 3 · 19:28Thumb Slapping — Part 3Slap with the thumb and flick a single string so a melody rings through, with fretting-hand muting, hammer-ons and pull-offs, in nine exercises over four chords.
- Part 4 · 11:00Wrist Thumping — Part 4Learn the wrist thump, a kick-drum hit from the heel of your hand on the guitar body, in six exercises that build from single bass notes to chord patterns with a thumb slap.
- Part 5 · 11:46Wrist Thumping — Part 5Double thumps, thumps on plucked notes and thumb slaps inside an eight-note picking pattern, in six exercises that get harder as you go.