Technique library
Short videos, one technique each. Watch one, then go and practise it in a song.
Before you start
Get your picking hand ready for fingerstyle.
Nails
How To Shape Your Nails For Fingerstyle
How Gareth shapes his nails for fingerstyle, in about a minute.
1:01
2:37Picking-hand techniques
The patterns that carry the bass, the chords and the melody at once.
Palm muting
How To Palm Mute Like A Pro
Mute the strings with the side of your picking hand for a tight, chunky sound.
Alternating bass
Travis Picking — Beginners
Start Travis picking: a steady alternating bass with your thumb while your fingers pick above it.
Alternating bass
Travis Picking — Advanced
Take Travis picking further, with variations and a melody on top of the bass.
Finger roll
Finger Roll Arpeggios
Roll through a chord one finger at a time for a smooth, rippling arpeggio.
2:29
2:50
2:59
1:29Harmonics
Three ways to get the bell-like notes you hear in Gareth's arrangements.
Natural harmonic
Natural Harmonics
Play bell-like natural harmonics, the sound in Gareth's Animals and Flashlight arrangements.
Pinch harmonic
Artificial Pinch Harmonics
A more advanced harmonic you make with your picking hand. Watch it a few times: it takes practice.
Slap harmonic
Slap Harmonics
Slap the strings over the frets to make harmonics, the technique Alx Green uses in Downhill From Here.
1:22
1:46
3:12Percussion
Thumb slaps and wrist thumps have a free course of their own, in order from the first slap.
Thumb slap · Wrist thump
Fundamental Percussion Course
A focused five-part course covering thumb slapping first, then wrist thumping.
5 videos