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Fingerstyle Guitar 101: Alternating Bass & Pattern Picking

Understanding P-I-M-A Finger Designation

In fingerstyle guitar, right-hand fingers are designated by classical letters: P (Thumb / Pulgar) plays bass strings (E, A, D), I (Index / Indice) plays G string, M (Middle / Medio) plays B string, and A (Ring / Anular) plays high E string.

The Classic Travis Picking Pattern

Travis picking uses steady alternating thumb bass notes (on beats 1, 2, 3, 4) while fingers pluck syncopated melody notes on off-beats. Start slow at 60 BPM!

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