Cool Guitar Fingerpicking Songs
Fingerpicking invokes a different sort of guitar player inside when compared to using a pick. There’s a sense of connection to the instrument that you just don’t get with a pick, and it inspires a different rhythm and feel to playing. In this lesson we’ll take a look at some fingerpicking songs that are fun to play and offer a variety of picking patterns.
1. Landslide – Fleetwood Mac
This Fleetwood Mac classic comes from their self-titled, Fleetwood Mac, album released in 1975. Landslide is pretty straightforward in its picking pattern and chord progression, making it rather easy to play. It’s played using a capo on the 3rd fret, so the tab below is relative to the capo.
The chords used in the progression are: C – G/B – Am7
Listen to the track: Landslide
2. Don’t Follow – Alice In Chains
From the EP Jar of Flies, “Don’t Follow” seems to be an Alice In Chains song that doesn’t garner much attention. However, it’s an excellent fingerpicking song, particularly for those just starting out with the technique.
The riff uses the following chords: D – D/F# – G6 – A7
Listen to the track: Don’t Follow
3. Babe I’m Gonna Leave You – Led Zeppelin
Babe I’m Gonna Leave You is from Led Zeppelin’s 1969 album, Led Zeppelin. I just love the way this one rolls off your fingers. Once you get the pattern down, the riff essentially plays itself.
The chords used in the progression are: Am – Am7sus4 – C/G – D/F# – Am6 – F – E
Listen to the track: Babe I’m Gonna Leave You
4. Blackbird – The Beatles
“Blackbird” by The Beatles was released on The White Album in 1968. The picking pattern on this one is interesting and some of transitions are a bit quick, making this song a little more tricky to play if you’re just starting out with fingerpicking.
The chords used in the progression are: G – Am7 – G/B – G
Listen to the track: Blackbird
5. Dust in the Wind – Kansas
“Dust in the Wind”, from the 1977 album Point of Know Return is another must-learn fingerpicking song. It’s very similar to “Landslide” in terms of the chord progression and repeating fingerpicking style. These types of songs are always fun to play, because once you have the pattern down you pretty much have the song down.
The chord progression in the tab consists of: C – Cadd9 – Am – Csus4
Listen to the track: Dust in the Wind
6. Tears in Heaven – Eric Clapton
This song appeared on the Rush movie soundtrack released in 1992. This song offers up various fingerpicking patterns over a beautiful chord progression.
The chords used in the progression in the tab are: A – E/G# – F#m – A/E – D/F# – E7sus4 – E7
Listen to the track: Tears In Heaven
7. Why Georgia – John Mayer
This was probably the first John Mayer song I learned to play. It has such a great groove to it. The rhythm and percussive play can take a bit to get used to, but once you have the feel it’s fun to play.
The chords being played over in the tab are: G – D
Listen to the track: Why Georgia
8. Is There Anybody Out There? – Pink Floyd
From their 1979 rock opera The Wall, Pink Floyd’s “Is There Anybody Out There?” is another song that rolls off the fingers. For the most part it’s simple chord arpeggiation, but does offer some rhythmic twists as well.
The chords used in the progression shown in the tab are: Am – Am/F – Am/F#
Listen to the track: Is There Anybody Out There?
9. Hallelujah – Jeff Buckley
From the 1994 album Grace, Jeff Buckley’s cover of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” is one of the all time greats and a must-learn fingerpicking song on guitar. While the main riff is straightforward, the song does offer some variety in the picking style and rhythm.
The chords used in the tab progression are: G – Em7
Listen to the track: Hallelujah
10. Silent Lucidity – Queensryche
Silent Lucidity is a classic song from Queensryche off of their 1990 album, Empire. It’s a simple picking pattern that’s great for beginner players.
The chords used in this riff are: G – Em9
Listen to the track: Silent Lucidity
Bonus: Stairway to Heaven – Led Zeppelin
What list of fingerpicking songs would be complete without Stairway to Heaven? Nothing fancy about this one either. The song uses a similar picking pattern throughout, making it easy to catch onto.
The chords used in this riff progression are: Am – Eaug/G# – C/G – D/F# – G/B – Am
Listen to the track: Stairway to Heaven
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