Dobro®: Basicsby Mickey Cochran
Copyright© 1999 Mickey Cochran
Following are exercises that are written in tablature...to learn how to properly read tablature, go to our Tablature Basics Page.
Fingerpicking Pattern Basics
We will first focus on our right hand and learn to properly fingerpick...this will assist you with establishing good timing and a strong picking hand...especially critical in bluegrass settings. You will not need to concern yourself with your sliding hand; our goal is to direct our energies to only the right hand to minimize any confusion.
First start out by making sure that your picks are comfortably placed on your right hand (picking hand). To determine this, try experimenting by picking the strings with your thumbpick followed by your index and middle finger. We will start by counting to 4 while tapping our foot. Each measure will equal four taps of your foot...
Starting on the D High String Starting on the B String Using your middle finger... Using your index finger... ===================================================================== D|--0-------0-------0-------0------|---------------------------------] B|---------------------------------|---0------0-------0-------0------] G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------] D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------] B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------] G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------] 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & Starting on the G String Starting on the D String Using your thumb... Using your middle... ===================================================================== D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------] B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------] G|--0-------0-------0-------0------|---------------------------------] D|---------------------------------|---0------0-------0-------0------] B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------] G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------] 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & Starting on the B String Starting on the G String Using your index finger... Using your thumb... ===================================================================== D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------] B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------] G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------] D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------] B|--0-------0-------0-------0------|---------------------------------] G|---------------------------------|---0------0-------0-------0------] 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & Alternating thumb and index picking: We will now incorporate our eighth note patterns by alternating your picking direction with
the thumb and index finger...As you count to 4, use an "and" between each count to represent
your index finger picking direction. The "&" will now represent the index finger stroke and
the numerals will represent the thumb stroke. Starting on the D String Starting on the B String ===================================================================== D|--0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0--|---------------------------------] B|---------------------------------|--0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0--] G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------] D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------] B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------] G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------] 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & Starting on the G String Starting on the D String ===================================================================== D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------] B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------] G|--0---0---0---0---0---0---0---0--|---------------------------------] D|---------------------------------|---0--0---0---0---0---0---0---0--] B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------] G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------] 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & Starting on the B String Starting on the G String ===================================================================== D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------] B|---------------------------------|---------------------------------] G|---------------------------------|---------------------------------] D|---------------------------------|---------------------------------] B|--0---0---0---0---0---0---0------|---------------------------------] G|---------------------------------|---0--0---0---0---0---0---0---0--] 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
Practice the above exercises until you are completely comfortable with your fingerpicking and switching over strings without hesitating between beats. Remember, these exercises are considered accomplished only if you're keeping an even tempo without losing a beat.