Book Description

Fingerstyle guitar has always been a melting pot of many different styles and influences. It is hard to pin it down to one ingredient that is unique to American or British fingerstyle. However when you begin stir the pot, the ingredients begin to separate, and without being too patriotic you could say there really is a thing called 'Great British Fingerstyle'. When you hear the opening bars to 'Stairway to Heaven', a few lines by Nick Drake or an intro by Genesis or Pink Floyd the acoustic guitar takes on an essential British flavour. American fingerstyle has its roots in blues, ragtime, jazz and country with syncopation as it's overriding character. British fingerstyle, however, went down a completely different road with roots in the fusion of Classical, Baroque, Spanish and Celtic/Folk music. Also, in it's own unique way, it took on board the influence of American fingerstyle guitar. In this course we'll be exploring the influences, styles and techniques that make up the quintessential 'Great British Fingerstyle' So, pour the tea and let's play fingerstyle guitar the 'British way!