Moving Up: Challenging Fingerpicking Songs For Intermediate Guitar Players

Are you ready to fingerpick your way to the intermediate and advanced levels of guitar playing? Do you have an acoustic guitar you can rely on for this purpose? 

Beginner guitars may not have what it takes to keep up with your improved skills and musical taste, so it would be a good idea to invest in a better-quality guitar. You’ll find several acoustic guitars under $1000 that can help you play better and have a greater appreciation for different playing styles as well as the dynamics of tone.

Today we’re listing down some of the best fingerstyle songs that intermediate guitar players can try out. To prepare playing these, work on your finger dexterity, accuracy, rhythm and hand coordination. It can take a lot of work, but keep at it and soon you’ll be able to play them perfectly. Let’s begin!

Classical Gas, Mason Williams

The only purely instrumental musical piece in this list, this song was envisioned by Mason Williams to simply be “fuel” for the classical guitar, which is why he called it “Classical Gasoline.” A music copyist accidentally changed it to “Classical Gas.” This catchy tune has won three Grammys, including Best Instrumental Arrangement. If you want to be a good guitar player, do yourself a favor and add this to your fingerpicking song repertoire.

Fast Car, Tracy Chapman

“Fast Car” makes use of basic chords, but when you listen to it the song sounds complex, thanks to a fingerpicking style that adds just the right flair. Chapman performed the iconic song with just her acoustic guitar during the birthday concert for Nelson Mandela at the Wembley Stadium in 1988.

Blackbird, The Beatles

John, Paul, George and Ringo have influenced so many people to get into music, so it’s really no surprise to find songs by The Beatles among those recommended for musicians to play. For this list we’ve chosen the classic fingerstyle song “Blackbird,” written and performed by Paul McCartney. 

Dust in the Wind, Kansas

There’s an interesting story about how “Dust in the Wind” came about. Kansas band member Kerry Livgren was doing some fingerpicking exercises when his wife Vicci heard him and said that the melody was nice. She suggested he add lyrics, and Kerry did - producing another great song for those who would like to get better at fingerstyle playing.

I See Fire, Ed Sheeran

This sounds like a pretty simple song for your picking hand, but when you put your fretting hand into the mix, things could get a little tricky. The song can really test your coordination skills, but you get this awesome sense of fulfillment you get when you finally nail it.

Road Trippin’, Red Hot Chili Peppers

You’ll need a quick picking thumb for this one! Some of the chord changes can also be a challenge but once you get the patterns down, it’s all smooth sailing. For best results, grab a buddy to play acoustic bass!

Which of these songs can you already play and which ones would you like to learn? What fingerstyle exercises do you do to become a better guitar player? Share them with us!