Fingerstyle lab
Thumb-plus-fingers on four strings. Hold C Am F G and walk pima patterns — independence loops and a small pattern library. No pick-lab shredding on this instrument. The fuller classical method stays on Classical drills.
Pair with Folk drills · Classical drills · Classical exercises · pima.
Play becomes Stop on the same button. Tempo follows the metronome. Letters: p thumb, i index, m middle, a ring. TAB is A string on top — Foundations · TAB.
pima over G C Am Em
Hold the open shape. Thumb takes the bass (G or C); i m a sit on C, E, and A. One cycle of p–i–m–a per beat (sixteenths at 60). Do not re-press the left hand between notes.
G C Am Em A|-----------2----- A|-----------3----- A|-----------0----- A|-----------2----- a E|--------3-------- E|--------0-------- E|--------0-------- E|--------3-------- m C|-----2----------- C|-----0----------- C|-----0----------- C|-----4----------- i G|-0--------------- G|-0--------------- G|-2--------------- G|-0--------------- p
One bar each on the progression loop. Keep the right hand moving through the change — same rule as Folk · boom-chick through a change.
Thumb independence
The thumb is a clock. Fingers decorate around it. Start with bass only, then add off-beats, then a walking bass under a frozen treble.
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & A|----0-------0--- m E|--0-------0----- i C|-0---0---0---0- p (thumb-only omits the treble) G|----------------- Walking: p on G–C–E–C while i–m–a stay on open C E A.
Deeper gym: Classical · independence and Classical exercises · independence seed.
Classical crossover
Fingerstyle on this page is folk / campfire pima: nails optional, sitting however you already sit, open chords. The classical door is the same four letters with extra rules — rest stroke vs free stroke, planting, first-position reading, and studies.
When p–i–m–a over Em is even, take it to the method page. Do not skip planting; that is what kills buzz.
Pattern library
Four right-hand jobs on one held chord (or around G–C–Am–Em). Pick a pattern, pick a shape, loop to the click.
Dynamics / nail vs flesh
Flesh only is the right starting point — quieter, fewer variables. Flesh plus nail (when you add nails): a short ramp, polished, so the string leaves the nail in a straight line. Flesh first, nail as the release.
Thumb is usually flesh (or the side of the nail) and a little louder than the fingers — that is the folk / classical bass-melody split. Play the model at two levels; the samples are one recorded spot, so the loud/soft is gain, not a real nail.
Contact point: over the soundhole is warmer; toward the bridge is brighter. That drill is ears-only. Full tone note: Classical · nails, flesh, contact.
Three tracks
Beginner
p–i–m–a on Em, then G. Thumb-only loop. Boom + brush on G. Near 60.
Intermediate
All four chords. Travis and p–i–m–i. Thumb + i–m. Progression loop.
Advanced
Walking thumb under frozen treble. Pattern around the four-chord loop without pausing the right hand. Then the classical page.