Classical Fingerpicking the Wolf Biermann

[dagobert]

Hello, I stumbled upon this live performance by german songwriter Wolf Biermann and I'm impressed by his fingerpicking style. Anyone knows or can hear the picking pattern he plays in the verses? It sounds really fast and complex. Thanks in advance!

https://youtu.be/2zZtqBrwpnM

[awjoe]

It doesn't seem classical to me - classical would be more precise and clean, I think. But it suits the song and the vocal and the place. (I prefer the picking on 'Hesitation Blues' by Hot Tuna - it has more respect for rhythm, but that's just me.) The bulk of it sounds like a fast three-note arpeggio pattern alternating with a claw-hammer pattern.

[OneWorld]

Hello, I stumbled upon this live performance by german songwriter Wolf Biermann and I'm impressed by his fingerpicking style. Anyone knows or can hear the picking pattern he plays in the verses? It sounds really fast and complex. Thanks in advance!

https://youtu.be/2zZtqBrwpnM

Classical fingerstyle? not really, try these for size

Latin Fingerstyle On A Classical Guitar - Stephanie Jones

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7UwA8zvDcho

John Feeley Chaconne in D minor Bach - especially the middle bit with the arpeggio (@4:30)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNEnzNHTkd8

[Sam Spoons]

Stephanie Jones is superb, so precise and accurate

[awjoe]

Precise, yes, but also what a strong sense of rhythm - really satisfying. Plus, check how she'll shift her right hand up or down through a one- or two-measure phrase to get a brighter or darker sound. I do that, but she's so fluid with it.

[Sam Spoons]

Yes, she doesn't lose the groove or the feeling to that precision which often happens. I'm not really a fan of classical guitar, she one of very few classical players who can keep my attention.

[MixAndMatch]

Hello, I stumbled upon this live performance by german songwriter Wolf Biermann and I'm impressed by his fingerpicking style. Anyone knows or can hear the picking pattern he plays in the verses? It sounds really fast and complex. Thanks in advance!

https://youtu.be/2zZtqBrwpnM

It's a classical technique of fast arpeggios using the rapid alternation of the p,i,m,a. fingers. There a lots of studies available which focus on developing this technique (Carulli for example). Some flamenco rasgueados in there too (1:38 for example).

[Ben Asaro]

Hello, I stumbled upon this live performance by german songwriter Wolf Biermann and I'm impressed by his fingerpicking style. Anyone knows or can hear the picking pattern he plays in the verses? It sounds really fast and complex. Thanks in advance!

https://youtu.be/2zZtqBrwpnM

It's a classical technique of fast arpeggios using the rapid alternation of the p,i,m,a. fingers. There a lots of studies available which focus on developing this technique (Carulli for example). Some flamenco rasgueados in there too (1:38 for example).

Yup, Carulli is essential when you are starting to learn classical guitar. PIMA is a very economical way to play quickly without an actual plectrum or using a hybrid technique like Travis picking.