If FAQ stands for "Frequently Asked Questions," I have a feeling that using the pluralized "FAQs" is a little like using the phrase "ATM machine." But since the ATM is surely going the way of the payphone, if it hasn't already, I might have to come up with another analogy, and right quickly at that, should I wish to continue talking about this issue in the future.

Fortunately, in today's newsletter, I'm just going to answer one Frequently Asked Question, so it really is an FAQ, singular, about the upcoming fall agenda in the Fingerstyle Five membership.

FAQ #1: "How accomplished do you need to be to work on this material?"

The material in the membership is designed to work at whatever level you're at when you show up. A more advanced student could conceivably be playing through and improvising on a full-blown arrangement of the quarterly song by the end of three months.

But a relative beginner could spend those same three months focusing on mastering "just" the basic, "Fundamental" version of same tune and consider that time very well spent indeed.

Ultimately, whether the material is right for you does somewhat depend on what you're hoping to accomplish and how much effort you're in the mood to put into it.

The focus is definitely on playing solo instrumental versions of traditional blues tunes, though on more recent songs I have made a point of including lyrics and teaching basic accompaniment techniques for people who want to sing those songs as well (I'm one of them!).

So it certainly helps if you have an interest in playing blues-based material, although many members apply what they're learning to other kinds of songs. 

If your main exposure to fingerpicking up until now has been pattern-picking style accompaniment, you may have a bit of work ahead of you as far as unlocking the muscle memory tying your fingers to your thumb.

(Ironically, if you've primarily played with a pick up until now, you may have a bit of an advantage in that you'll have fewer reflexes to try and unwind.) 

You don't have to know how to put a melody over an alternating-thumb or steady bass pattern yet – one big reason the membership exists is to show you how!

But developing the kind of thumb-and-fingers independence required to play in this style is not something that necessarily happens overnight. That is another big reason the membership exists: to provide a community, an ongoing lesson scheme and a hand-picked selection of tunes on which to develop those skills over time.

If you're still not sure if this is for you, I recommend checking out two videos on my Youtube channel: Six Steps To Playing Fingerstyle Blues in E, Step One, and Groove Master Class 1: Form And Phrasing.

Both are a great preview of exactly the kind of lessons you'll encounter inside the membership. The first Six Steps lesson is something I'll be re-introducing to members in a live stream format this fall, and is a great example of how you'll work on a basic shuffle groove and start learning some essential blues licks.

Six Steps To Playing Fingerstyle Blues in E, Step One: Playing The Groove

The first Groove Workshop demonstrates exactly how you'll work on learning your first arrangements inside the membership: by isolating the bass, then the melody, then putting it all back together.

Groove Master Class 1: Form & Phrasing

Check out those two lessons, and if either one of them feels like a good next step for you and your playing, join us in the Fingerstyle Five this October.

Join The Fingerstyle Five

More soon,

David