Modern Fingerstyle Foundations

Artist Series Guitar Course from Andy McKee

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Learning how to enrich the polyphonic qualities of fingerstyle with string slaps, body percussion, tapping, harmonics, and many other “modern” techniques can seem like a daunting task at first. Andy McKee’s Modern Fingerstyle Foundations presents a tried and true approach to breaking down modern fingerstyle techniques into smaller, more manageable parts so you can focus on a particular aspect or approach.

26 Lessons

Complete course with step-by-step lessons and practice examples.

Multi-Camera

Course filmed with 6 cameras for the perfect angles.

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Tabs & Info

Download tabs, helpers, JamTracks and docs included with lessons.

Included

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Full Course Breakdown

Andy will guide you as you'll play through 20 individual “modern fingerstyle” etudes, each etude focuses on a key building block of modern fingerstyle. The etudes will help you develop command of alternating bass, right-hand fingerpicking patterns, tapping, harmonics, using open tunings for lush harmony, body percussion, and other components that comprise modern fingerstyle guitar. You’ll have fun learning these fundamental techniques by playing them in a musical context, rather than working through tedious exercises. As you work through the series of etudes, Andy will also show you how to connect the individual techniques and play through four of his original songs.

Begin the Course
1

Modern Fingerstyle Foundations: Introduction

Hi I’m Andy McKee. Welcome to Modern Fingerstyle Foundations.<br></br>I was inspired to learn how to play modern fingerstyle by its pioneers — Preston Reed, Michael Hedges, Billy McLaughlin and Don Ross in particular.<br></br>Learning how to enrich the polyphonic qualities of fingerstyle with string slaps, body percussion, tapping, harmonics and many other “modern” techniques can seem like a daunting task at first.<br></br>But, like any style of music, if you break it down into smaller, more manageable parts, and focus on a particular aspect or approach — it all comes together much quicker than you would imagine.<br></br>In this course, we’ll focus on 20 individual “modern fingerstyle” etudes. You’ll have fun learning and playing them in a musical context, rather than working through tedious exercises.<br></br>Using TrueFire’s learning tools, you’ll be able to loop or slow down any of the videos to learn at your own pace. Even the tab and notation is synced to the video!<br></br>The etudes will help you develop command of key techniques including alternating bass, right-hand fingerpicking patterns, tapping, harmonics, using open tunings for lush harmony, body percussion, and other components that comprise modern fingerstyle guitar.<br></br>As you work through the etudes, I’ll also show you how to connect a variety of the individual techniques and play through 4 of my original songs.<br></br>Grab your guitar and let's dig in!

2:16 Runtime

0.0 Difficulty

2

Modern Fingerstyle Foundations - Alternating Bass & Triplets: Etude 1: Common Ground

In this series of lessons I will be breaking down piece by piece all seven Etudes of my tune Common Ground. I will start things off with a short performance of the section of the song I am covering then I will get into the details of how to correctly play the tune. Once we've covered all 7 Etudes, we will wrap everything up with a full song performance of my tune Common Ground.

4:40 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

3

Modern Fingerstyle Foundations - Syncopated Partial Chords: Etude 2: Common Ground

In this series of lessons I will be breaking down piece by piece all seven Etudes of my tune Common Ground. I will start things off with a short performance of the section of the song I am covering then I will get into the details of how to correctly play the tune. Once we've covered all 7 Etudes, we will wrap everything up with a full song performance of my tune Common Ground.

5:14 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

4

Modern Fingerstyle Foundations - Movement in the Bassline: Etude 3: Common Ground

In this series of lessons I will be breaking down piece by piece all seven Etudes of my tune Common Ground. I will start things off with a short performance of the section of the song I am covering then I will get into the details of how to correctly play the tune. Once we've covered all 7 Etudes, we will wrap everything up with a full song performance of my tune Common Ground.

3:55 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

5

Modern Fingerstyle Foundations - Rolling Melodic Lines: Etude 4: Common Ground

In this series of lessons I will be breaking down piece by piece all seven Etudes of my tune Common Ground. I will start things off with a short performance of the section of the song I am covering then I will get into the details of how to correctly play the tune. Once we've covered all 7 Etudes, we will wrap everything up with a full song performance of my tune Common Ground.

4:40 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

6

Modern Fingerstyle Foundations - More Rolling Melody: Etude 5: Common Ground

In this series of lessons I will be breaking down piece by piece all seven Etudes of my tune Common Ground. I will start things off with a short performance of the section of the song I am covering then I will get into the details of how to correctly play the tune. Once we've covered all 7 Etudes, we will wrap everything up with a full song performance of my tune Common Ground.

5:35 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

7

Modern Fingerstyle Foundations - Repeated Arpeggio Figures: Etude 6: Common Ground

In this series of lessons I will be breaking down piece by piece all seven Etudes of my tune Common Ground. I will start things off with a short performance of the section of the song I am covering then I will get into the details of how to correctly play the tune. Once we've covered all 7 Etudes, we will wrap everything up with a full song performance of my tune Common Ground.

8:01 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

8

Modern Fingerstyle Foundations - Percussive Palm & Up Strums: Etude 7: Common Ground

In this series of lessons I will be breaking down piece by piece all seven Etudes of my tune Common Ground. I will start things off with a short performance of the section of the song I am covering then I will get into the details of how to correctly play the tune. Once we've covered all 7 Etudes, we will wrap everything up with a full song performance of my tune Common Ground.

8:42 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

9

Modern Fingerstyle Foundations - Common Ground: Full Song Performance

Here is the full song performance of Common Ground.

4:10 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

10

Modern Fingerstyle Foundations - Downward Slides and Body Taps: Etude 1: All Laid Back and Stuff

In this series of lessons I will be breaking down piece by piece all four Etudes of my tune All Laid Back and Stuff. I will start things off with a short performance of the section of the song I am covering then I will get into the details of how to correctly play the tune. Once we've covered all 4 Etudes, we will wrap everything up with a full song performance of my tune All Laid Back and Stuff.

8:55 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

11

Modern Fingerstyle Foundations - Natural Harmonics Workout: Etude 2: All Laid Back and Stuff

In this series of lessons I will be breaking down piece by piece all four Etudes of my tune All Laid Back and Stuff. I will start things off with a short performance of the section of the song I am covering then I will get into the details of how to correctly play the tune. Once we've covered all 4 Etudes, we will wrap everything up with a full song performance of my tune All Laid Back and Stuff.

6:45 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

12

Modern Fingerstyle Foundations - String Stopping Syncopation: Etude 3: All Laid Back and Stuff

In this series of lessons I will be breaking down piece by piece all four Etudes of my tune All Laid Back and Stuff. I will start things off with a short performance of the section of the song I am covering then I will get into the details of how to correctly play the tune. Once we've covered all 4 Etudes, we will wrap everything up with a full song performance of my tune All Laid Back and Stuff.

8:27 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

13

Modern Fingerstyle Foundations - Harmony & Fingerpicking: Etude 4: All Laid Back and Stuff

In this series of lessons I will be breaking down piece by piece all four Etudes of my tune All Laid Back and Stuff. I will start things off with a short performance of the section of the song I am covering then I will get into the details of how to correctly play the tune. Once we've covered all 4 Etudes, we will wrap everything up with a full song performance of my tune All Laid Back and Stuff.

4:18 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

14

Modern Fingerstyle Foundations - All Laid Back and Stuff: Full Song Performance

Here is the full song performance of All Laid Back and Stuff.

3:39 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

15

Modern Fingerstyle Foundations - Melodic Open String Pull-offs: Etude 1: She

In this series of lessons I will be breaking down piece by piece all five Etudes of my tune She. I will start things off with a short performance of the section of the song I am covering then I will get into the details of how to correctly play the tune. Once we've covered all 5 Etudes, we will wrap everything up with a full song performance of my tune She.

6:45 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

16

Modern Fingerstyle Foundations - Melodic Walk Downs: Etude 2: She

In this series of lessons I will be breaking down piece by piece all five Etudes of my tune She. I will start things off with a short performance of the section of the song I am covering then I will get into the details of how to correctly play the tune. Once we've covered all 5 Etudes, we will wrap everything up with a full song performance of my tune She.

4:57 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

17

Modern Fingerstyle Foundations - Strumming & RH Hammers: Etude 3: She

In this series of lessons I will be breaking down piece by piece all five Etudes of my tune She. I will start things off with a short performance of the section of the song I am covering then I will get into the details of how to correctly play the tune. Once we've covered all 5 Etudes, we will wrap everything up with a full song performance of my tune She.

5:33 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

18

Modern Fingerstyle Foundations - Left Hand Tapped Melody: Etude 4: She

In this series of lessons I will be breaking down piece by piece all five Etudes of my tune She. I will start things off with a short performance of the section of the song I am covering then I will get into the details of how to correctly play the tune. Once we've covered all 5 Etudes, we will wrap everything up with a full song performance of my tune She.

5:30 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

19

Modern Fingerstyle Foundations - Artificial Harmonic Lines: Etude 5: She

In this series of lessons I will be breaking down piece by piece all five Etudes of my tune She. I will start things off with a short performance of the section of the song I am covering then I will get into the details of how to correctly play the tune. Once we've covered all 5 Etudes, we will wrap everything up with a full song performance of my tune She.

5:50 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

20

Modern Fingerstyle Foundations - She: Full Song Performance

Here is the full song performance of She.

3:58 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

View this Lesson
21

Modern Fingerstyle Foundations - Open Tuning Playground: Etude 1: Nocturne

In this series of lessons I will be breaking down piece by piece all four Etudes of my tune Nocturne. I will start things off with a short performance of the section of the song I am covering then I will get into the details of how to correctly play the tune. Once we've covered all 4 Etudes, we will wrap everything up with a full song performance of my tune Nocturne.

6:34 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

22

Modern Fingerstyle Foundations -

In this series of lessons I will be breaking down piece by piece all four Etudes of my tune Nocturne. I will start things off with a short performance of the section of the song I am covering then I will get into the details of how to correctly play the tune. Once we've covered all 4 Etudes, we will wrap everything up with a full song performance of my tune Nocturne.

7:15 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

23

Modern Fingerstyle Foundations - Tapping with Chord Suspension: Etude 3: Nocturne

In this series of lessons I will be breaking down piece by piece all four Etudes of my tune Nocturne. I will start things off with a short performance of the section of the song I am covering then I will get into the details of how to correctly play the tune. Once we've covered all 4 Etudes, we will wrap everything up with a full song performance of my tune Nocturne.

5:47 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

24

Modern Fingerstyle Foundations - Open String Pedals: Etude 4: Nocturne

In this series of lessons I will be breaking down piece by piece all four Etudes of my tune Nocturne. I will start things off with a short performance of the section of the song I am covering then I will get into the details of how to correctly play the tune. Once we've covered all 4 Etudes, we will wrap everything up with a full song performance of my tune Nocturne.

4:49 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

25

Modern Fingerstyle Foundations - Nocturne: Full Song Performance

Here is the full song performance of Nocturne.

4:25 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

26

Modern Fingerstyle Foundations: Conclusion

Okay guys - I hope you had a good time learning these tunes, and I wanted to thank you for checking it out. I really appreciate your attention!<br></br>If you'd like to follow me, you can check me out on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and of course at my website AndyMcKee.com. Check that out for tour dates, I stay quite busy touring around, so I hope to see you on the road. Other than that, I'll see you next time here at TrueFire!

1:24 Runtime

0.0 Difficulty

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Andy McKee

13

Solo Artist

  • Topeka, Kansas
  • Playing since 1995
  • 26 lessons at JamPlay
Begin Course
Andy McKee is among the world's finest acoustic guitarists. His youthful energy and attention to song structure and melodic content elevate him above the rest. He entertains the eye and the ear as he magically transforms the steel string guitar into a full orchestra using altered tunings, tapping, partial capos, percussive hits, and a signature two-handed technique. McKee's crossover success has helped him to achieve millions upon millions of YouTube viewers, underscoring his emergence as one of today's most unique and influential artists. His song, Drifting became one of the first YouTube viral videos with almost 60 million views. McKee's tour dates have taken him through Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America as a true headliner but also tours with legendary artists including Prince, Dream Theater, and Tommy Emmanuel. Andy's influences are all over the map from hard rock to 80s pop, but it was the acoustic music by artists such as Michael Hedges and Don Ross that really sent him down the path that he's on. McKee also curates his own annual guitar camp called Musicarium, but he also has a TrueFire course called The Musicarium Songbook and a Truefire Channel called My Musicarium.