If you’re new to percussive guitar playing you’ll get a lot out of this lesson.

The number one rule I always follow is to let the percussive elements enhance the guitar parts.

This means that when I break down a percussive arrangement for guitar I don’t allow the percussion element overpower anything I’m doing on the fingerboard.

I’m a guitarist first…not a percussionist, and I don’t pretend to be!

Many times the rhythmic aspect of the song will dictate where I “sneak” in any percussive parts.

It doesn’t have to be much either. Just a knock or slap can add a nice touch to keep the momentum moving forward in a song.

In example 1, I’m simply using my knuckles against the strings of the guitar to create a backbeat on 2 & 4. Using a fingerstyle technique this is fairly simple.

Ex.1

E|--3--------3--3-------3-------3--3--------|
B|--3--------3--3-------3-------3--3--------|
G|--0---X---0--0---X---0---X--0--0---X------|
D|--0--------2--2-------0-------2--2--------|
A|--2--------3--3-------2-------3--3--------|
E|--3--------------------3------------------|

In example 2, I’m using a combination of slapping with my fingerstyle (Right) hand and my fretting (Left) hand.

My right hand slaps on beats 2 & 4 while my left hand slaps the fingerboard on the “and” of 3.

Ex.2

E|----------------3----------------------------3-------------|
B|--------5-------3-------------------5-------3--------------|
G|------5----X---4---x--X---------5-----X---4---x--X---------|
D|-5s7-----------5----------5-5s7------------5---------5-----|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------|
E|-----------------------------------------------------------|

Want To Learn More …
acoustic-2.0
If you enjoy acoustic guitar and have always been fascinated by the technique…

… then learning the advanced techniques can only improve your playing further.

By learning advanced techniques will not just apply to acoustic guitar but you will find other techniques you have been struggling with become easier to understand.

It gives you a platform to branch out and take your playing to the next level. To be successful it requires a careful and structured approach to learning how to play advanced acoustic guitar.

We have taken this into account and created a structured guide called “Acoustic Mastery 2.0”.

We have a real life guitar tutor who helps us create these courses because he knows first hand what techniques and in what order you need to learn them to be successful at learning advanced acoustic guitar.

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