Fingerpicking is a style of guitar playing that uses your thumb in combination with your fingers to pluck the strings of your guitar.
The basic concept of this style of playing is to use your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd fingers to pluck the G, B, and high E strings respectively and your thumb to pluck the low E, A, and D strings. This method opens up a whole new world of possibilities on the guitar.
Apart from the distinct warm sound that fingerpicking provides, it also allows you to play much more complex arrangements. When combined with a beautiful singing voice (check out our best online singing lessons post for help with that), the sound is amazing.
There are a bunch of advantages to learning how to fingerpick on the guitar. It’s another tool you can add to your guitar skills toolbox and it’s also fun and satisfying to do. That’s why in this post I’ve compiled a list of 70+ awesome fingerpicking songs you can learn on the guitar.
If you’re just starting to learn how to fingerpick, I’d recommend checking out my guitar fingerstyle picking post before going through this list of fingerpicking songs.
Additionally, if you’re just starting to learn how to play the guitar I’d also highly recommend checking out these essential guides below. Not only will they help you in being able to play songs with greater ease, but they will also contribute to helping you become an overall better guitar player.
- How to Play Guitar (an EASY Beginner’s Guide)
- Everything You Need To Know About Power Chords
- Guitar Chords Chart: The Ultimate Chart For All Guitarists
Happy fingerpicking!
What Are the Best Fingerpicking Songs?
1. “Blackbird” By The Beatles
I love playing this song on guitar. It’s fun, and relatively simple once you have the basics down, and everyone loves it.
The song uses basic fingerpicking techniques, is in the key of G Major, and has a lot of open chords.
It’s not a difficult song to play for beginner guitarists who already have some fingerpicking experience and it’s a great one to work on your timing and dynamics.
2. “Dust in The Wind” By Kansas
I’ve written about playing Dust In The Wind before. I think it makes for a great guitar duet song basically because you and a buddy can play the exact same parts to replicate the ambiance and ethereal sound of the original track.
Dust in the Wind features a simple, yet memorable melody that is easy to play and sing along to.
It mainly uses a set of basic chords although you will have to get your fingers moving pretty fast to pick each note and switch between chords.
That being said, it’s great for all skill levels, and it is a nice one to have in your fingerpicking song list.
3. “Speak For Me” By John Mayer
John Mayer’s earlier stuff was mainly electric-guitar based. However, a lot of his music on the album Born and Raised was played on the acoustic guitar.
“Speak For Me” is a testament to what Mr. Mayer can do on guitar. But not only that, the lyrics are some of his most poignant and meaningful.
It is a moderate-difficulty song to play, as it does use some advanced techniques such as a combination of alternate and Travis picking.
Some tips for playing this tune would be to start out slow. Try to break up each part of the song and learn it thoroughly before moving on to the next. Paying attention to the dynamics and phrasing is what will really bring out the emotion in your performance of this one.
4. “Fire and Rain” By James Taylor
James Taylor is a fingerpicking master. As I said at the beginning of this post, fingerpicking adds a warm element to your playing.
Combine that with the warm timbre of Taylor’s voice and you have a winning combination.
This song uses a capo on the 3rd fret, is in the key of C major, and is played in standard tuning.
To kickstart your journey to learning this one I’d recommend learning the basic chord progression and then working on incorporating the fingerpicking pattern later.
Read Next: A Blazing Collection of the 31 Best Songs About Fire
5. “Black Water” By The Doobie Brothers
When the Doobie Brothers break out the acoustic guitars you know it’s going to be good.
These guys have impeccable vocal harmonies and can make a fingerpicking song sound both groovy and soulful; as they’ve done with “Black Water”.
You’ll need to set your guitar to an alternate tuning to play this song, specifically: DADGBD.
This song itself is a slow and steady climb from its opening fingerpicking riff all the way to a climaxing finish, featuring a perfect section for a sing along.
Read Next: 32 Best Sing Along Songs of All Time: Sing Your Heart Out
6. “Classical Gas” By Mason Williams
I remember when I first started playing guitar I made it my ultimate goal to be able to play this song. There’s just something about it that urged me to learn how to play it. Maybe it’s that it’s difficult to get right or that it’s just a great instrumental.
Thanks to its intricate and melodic fingerpicking pattern this song requires a fair amount of technical skill and practice to master. I certainly wouldn’t recommend it for a beginner but rather more for intermediate and advanced guitar players.
The song uses a number of advanced techniques such as arpeggios, syncopation, and complex chord progressions. So if you want more of a challenge, give this song a try!
P.S. check out Tommy Emmanuel’s rendition for an even greater challenge!
7. “Homeward Bound” By Simon & Garfunkel
“Homeward Bound” is a fingerpicking classic and a great song for beginner and intermediate guitar players.
Clocking in at just over 2 and a half minutes, this song has a slow tempo of 93 BPMs so it isn’t super fast by any means.
Paul Simon does add some fancy guitar licks between chord changes every now and again so that could be a bit of a challenge to master. However, learning the basic structure of the song is definitely my recommendation as a first step to mastering this one.
8. “Maggie May (Intro)” By Rod Steward
For Rod Steward’s “Maggie May” we’re going to specifically focus on the intro fingerpicking section. The rest of the song makes use of an acoustic guitar but only features strumming techniques for the most part.
The intro though has a very classical or even medieval-sounding quality to it.
It isn’t too difficult to learn and only lasts about 30 seconds so if you want a quick one to get under your belt, give this one a try. Check out the intro guitar tabs here.
9. “Nothing Else Matters” By Metallica
Metallica uses some fancy effects on their electric guitars to bring out a unique sound in this song.
The song begins with a simple riff by James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett, alternating fingerpicked sections on their electric guitars over a steady drum beat.
The song then builds up to a powerful chorus and the angelic tone that their guitars had in the verses suddenly turns distorted and heavy.
If you like to play songs that switch between heavy rock and softer, more melodic tones, this song has just what you need.
10. “Ghosting” By Mother Mother
What makes “Ghosting” a great fingerpicking song is its memorable melody and syncopated rhythm.
The fingerpicking pattern is not particularly difficult, but it does require some practice to get the rhythm and timing down. It also does feature some chords that may seem foreign to you if you’re still a beginner player.
The song features fingerpicking throughout most of the tune with only a couple of sections when you’ll need to strum with intensity to build tension.
11. “Tenerife Sea” By Ed Sheeran
“Tenerife Sea” is up there with some of Ed Sheeran’s most popular songs. It has 550 million streams on Spotify! You can use our Spotify stream calculator to figure out how much revenue that equates to for yourself.
With that out of the way, what makes this a great fingerpicking song to learn is that it’s relatively simple and uses quite a few open chords.
It’s in the key of G# and uses a capo on the 4th fret so it should also be a little easier on your fingers if you’re just starting out.
The song’s fingerpicking pattern is also fairly simple, but it’s not something you’ll master overnight. The key is to practice the pattern slowly and build up your dexterity.
12. “Tears in Heaven” By Eric Clapton
This beautiful fingerpicking song was written as a tribute to Clapton’s four-year-old son, Conor, who fell to his death from a window of a New York apartment building in 1991.
It’s heartbreaking and full of emotion, not just in the lyrics but also in the way he plays the guitar.
Technically speaking, learning how to play this song isn’t too difficult. But playing it with the emotion that Clapton does is a whole other thing.
13. “Let it Go” By James Bay
This song is one of James Bay’s biggest hits with over a whopping billion streams on Spotify.
It perfectly showcases his emotive fingerpicking second-to-none songwriting skills.
As for the song itself, it’s in the key of C# major, and has a gentle, dreamy quality to its sound. The lyrics are all about letting go of something or someone in order to move on and be happy. It’s a beautiful and powerful song that resonates with many people.
If you like smooth pop music with bluesy flavorings then “Let It Goes” by James Bay is the one for you!
14. “Mister Sandman” By Chet Atkins
If you want to practice your Travis picking skills then “Mister Sandman” is a great one to learn.
This tune was originally written by Pat Ballard and first recorded by The Chordettes in 1954. Chet Atkins released his instrumental version in 1955 and featured his signature fingerstyle guitar technique.
There’s quite a bit going on in this version of the song since you’re not only playing the rhythm but also the melody sections of the song at the same time.
Nonetheless, if you have a gig that calls for instrumentals then this one should be a hit!
15. “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” By Led Zeppelin
I always love when Jimmy Page breaks out this acoustic guitar.
He’s one of my personal favorite guitarists and really is a master at what he does. Everything from fingerpicking to lead playing, his style is unparalleled.
“Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” was featured on Zeppelin’s debut album “Led Zeppelin” in 1969. The song is an adaptation of the traditional folk song of the same name by Anne Bredon.
16. “Lewis & Clark” By Tommy Emmanuel
I need to feature Tommy Emmanuel again but this time for an original of his.
“Lewis & Clark” is an instrumental song that was featured on his album “The Mystery” in 2006. The song is named after the famous explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, who explored the western part of the United States in the early 1800s.
To pull off playing this song takes a vast amount of technique and experience.
That’s precisely why Tommy Emmanuel is considered one of the most talented and influential fingerstyle guitar players of our time.
He has won several awards and accolades for his music and is known for his ability to play a wide variety of music styles.
17. “Just Breathe” By Pearl Jam
Vocal performances are rarely as distinct as Eddie Vedder’s. But did he know he’s also pretty good at fingerpicking too?
“Just Breathe” is featured on Pearl Jam’s ninth studio album “Backspacer” in 2009.
It’s actually a pretty simple song to play. It’s in the key of C, doesn’t require a capo, and is in standard tuning.
Throughout the song, you’ll be more of less fingerpicking chord shapes that are pretty basic so you should have no trouble picking this up in an afternoon.
18. “More Than Words” By Extreme
There probably isn’t a more iconic vocal harmony performance than Extreme’s “More Than Words”.
Not really known for its softer, more romantic side, Extreme pull out all the stops with this one. From soft fingerpicking to heartful lyrics, “More Than Words” combination of emotion and melody.
The band’s two vocalists, Gary Cherone and Nuno Bettencourt, harmonize perfectly, creating an unforgettable aural experience.
So if you and a friend want to tackle this song by practicing your vocals and guitar picking, it’s a great one to attempt.
19. “Helplessly Hoping” By Crosby, Stills & Nash
Hey, it’s another great song with great vocal harmonies!
But I digress, this list isn’t about harmonies it’s about fingerpicking songs.
“Helplessly Hoping” was written by Stephen Stills and first released on their debut album “Crosby, Stills & Nash” in 1969.
A little backstory about the song: Stephen Stills wrote it while living in a house in Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles. It features a fingerpicking guitar style, which was influenced by folk music and the work of folk singer Nick Drake.
20. “Silent Lucidity” By Queensryche
“Silent Lucidity” is a power ballad by the American progressive metal band Queensrÿche.
Written by the band’s guitarist and primary songwriter Chris DeGarmo, it was released as a single in 1990 and later included on the band’s album “Empire”.
This song really is a piece of art. It features a soft, classical guitar fingerpicking section backed by orchestral elements and a dream-like narrative.
It’s a fun song to play along to with a backing track and isn’t too difficult to learn.
21. “Guaranteed” By Eddie Vedder
Apart from playing with his band Pearl Jam, Eddie Vedder also works on his own solo stuff.
This tune was written for the movie “Into the Wild” in 2007 (a really good movie you should watch it). It was written for the movie’s soundtrack and it was released as a single.
It was made as a tribute to Chris McCandless, the protagonist of the movie who is based on a real person.
The music is pretty repetitive so you won’t need to learn anything too crazy to pull this one off. Although the fingerpicking pattern does move quite quickly.
22. “Crazy on You (Intro)” By Heart
There’s only one word to describe the awesome fingerpicking worked for the intro of “Crazy on You”… Epic.
If you’re an intermediate to advanced guitar player, learning this song should definitely be on your list. It’s fast, it’s fun, and it’s sure to impress your friends.
Written by the band’s lead guitarist Nancy Wilson it was first released as the lead single from their album “Dreamboat Annie” in 1976.
The song’s intro, in particular, is a great fingerpicking pattern to learn. There isn’t much fingerpicking throughout the rest of the song but nonetheless, it’s an awesome acoustic guitar song overall.
23. “Going to California” By Led Zeppelin
A 6-string guitar, a mandolin, and some strong vocals are all you’ll need to cover this song.
Written by Robert Plant, it was released on the band’s fourth album in 1971.
The song is about California’s natural beauty, as well as its counterculture and hippie scene. Basically, all of the things that Plant experienced while on his trip to California.
As for the fingerpicking section, the guitar is tuned to double drop D and makes use of a lot of open notes. It’s a fun tune to play and can be a great song to cover with you and a couple of friends.
24. “Time In a Bottle” By Jim Croce
“Time In a Bottle” is a pretty straightforward song to play on guitar. It makes use of a lot of repetitive patterns and Jim implements a “stepping down” chord progression.
The song was written by Croce shortly before the birth of his first son A.J. and it’s considered a letter of love and advice to him.
It’s a beautiful tune made up of a few basic chords, more precisely: Am, Dm, E, F, A , G, and Bm.
25. “Anji” By Simon & Garfunkel
“Anji” is the only instrumental fingerpicking song on this list with just purely guitar. Most other instrumentals have at least some other instrumentation but not this one.
It was composed Davey Graham, and covered by Simon & Garfunkel on their 1964 album “Sounds of Silence”
The song is heavily influenced by folk and fingerstyle guitar and is considered a standard for any folk fingerstyle guitarist’s repertoire.
26. “Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” By Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is the king of making folk tunes that feature an acoustic guitar, harmonica, introspective lyrics, and of course, his signature voice.
“Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right” was released in 1963 and released on Dylan’s second studio album, “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan”
Lyrically, the song is a message of farewell to a former lover. Musically, it’s personal, raw, and a fun song to pick along to.
27. “Shower The People” By James Taylor
“Shower the People” was released on James’ 1976 album “In the Pocket”.
The song is a mid-tempo ballad with a mellow and soothing feel. Whether you choose to play this one with a full band or just by yourself and your acoustic guitar the song will always sound beautiful.
Lyrically, it talks about showering the people we love with love and kindness, and how it can make the world a better place.
You’ll need to set your capo on the third fret to play this one in the key of A. Skill-wise it isn’t too difficult to play and uses a fairly basic set of chords, although fingerpicking it properly does take practice.
28. “Stop This Train” By John Mayer
This is one of those songs that I immediately go to whenever I pick up an acoustic guitar. It’s fun to play, has a steady beat, and earns a spot on this list of fingerpicking songs.
Combining the fingerpicking pattern and lyrics definitely makes it one of John’s most powerful and emotional songs.
The song starts off with a slow and steady fingerpicking pattern and within a few bars, the rest of the band joins in.
It’s one of those songs that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt like life is moving too fast and that the things they love are slipping away.
29. “One Last Breath” By Creed
The first half of “One Last Breath” by Creed is a perfect example of how the band expertly blends technical skill with raw emotion.
The electric guitar fingerpicking that opens the song is pretty mesmerizing. The guitar tone is clean and crisp, and it highlights the intricate fingerpicking patterns that are used throughout the song.
The hammer-ons, in particular, are used to great effect, adding a sense of urgency and intensity to the music.
The fingerpicking style blends seamlessly with the song’s driving drums and bass, creating a powerful and emotional sound that perfectly sets the stage for Scott Stapp’s powerful vocals.
If you like songs that go from clean tone to heavy distortion, then this is one for you!
30. “Little Black Submarines” By The Black Keys
“Little Black Submarines” is yet another masterful example of how a song can take the listener on a journey, starting with a calm and soothing introduction and building to a powerful climax.
This tune starts off with a lightly fingerpicked acoustic guitar, creating a mellow and relaxed atmosphere. The simple and stripped-down instrumentation is a hallmark of the band’s style, and it allows the listener to focus on the raw emotion in Dan Auerbach’s vocals.
The fingerpicking section of the tune follows a pretty simple chord progression of Am, G, D, A.
31. “Pretty Pimpin” By Kurt Vile
“Pretty Pimpin” showcases Kurt’s unique blend of indie rock and folk influences. The song was released as the lead single from his 2015 album “b’lieve i’m goin down…” and it’s a standout track.
The song starts off with a simple fingerpicking riff that sets the stage for Kurt’s laid-back vocals.
Kurt definitely has his own style when it comes to fingerpicking and vocals and I think it’s something that sounds quite unique.
The song’s structure is loose and organic, almost giving it a sense of spontaneity and improvisation.
It’s definitely a fun one to learn if you like Kurt’s style.
32. “Ain’t No Sunshine” By Bill Withers
“Ain’t No Sunshine” is a classic soul and R&B song. The song was released as a single in 1971 and it quickly climbed the charts.
It certainly isn’t one that you’ll need to spend a whole lot of time learning because it’s only four chords.
Most of them are played as power chords and although the isn’t a whole lot of picking going on Withers does use his fingers to pluck the strings. This gives it that warms sound he’s going for.
33. “Shape of My Heart” By Sting
“Shape of My Heart” showcases String’s versatility as an artist.
The song was released as a single from his 1993 album “Ten Summoner’s Tales”. While Sting is best known for his work as the lead singer of The Police, a band that created mega-hits like “Roxanne” and “Every Breath You Take”, this song takes a softer and more introspective approach.
The song features a fingerpicked guitar section that’s played throughout the tune and performed on a classical guitar. This creates a soothing and contemplative atmosphere.
34. “Fast Car” By Tracy Chapman
Few fingerpicking riffs are as instantly recognizable as Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car”.
The song’s lyrics tell a story of a young woman who is trying to escape the poverty and hardships of her life and the longing for a better future.
Released in 1988 as the lead single from her self-titled debut album the song quickly became a hit.
It’s widely considered as one of Chapman’s most iconic songs and has been covered many times.
Fingerpicking-wise it’s pretty easy to learn and fun to play as you slide up and down the guitar fretboard.
35. “Road Trippin’” By Red Hot Chili Peppers
“Road Trippin” is one of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ more relaxed and introspective songs. Released in 1999, it was a single from their seventh studio album, “Californication”.
The song features John Frusciante’s fingerpicking on the acoustic guitar, which provides a melodic and soothing backdrop for Anthony Kiedis’s lyrics about taking a road trip and reflecting on life.
Although the fingerpicking in this section isn’t overly complex by any means it certainly is a key element in creating the song’s mellow and contemplative atmosphere.
36. “Let Her Go” By Passenger
This song kicks off with some delicate acoustic fingerpicking backed by a xylophone playing the same melody.
British singer-songwriter Passenger (Mike Rosenberg) released this tune in 2012. The song is a melancholic narrative that tells the story of a man who is struggling to let go of a past relationship.
The fingerpicking style and use of a capo on the 7th fret is an essential element in creating the song’s emotive atmosphere. It gives the song a raw and personal feel, which is fitting for the song’s theme of heartbreak.
37. “Naked As We Came” By Iron & Wine
“Naked As We Came” is a true singer-songwriter tune composed of just vocals and fingerpicked acoustic guitar playing.
The lyrics, written by frontman Sam Beam, are deeply personal and reflective, exploring themes of love, loss, and the passage of time.
Overall, “Naked As We Came” is a masterful example of the singer-songwriter genre, showcasing the talents of Iron & Wine and the songwriting abilities of Mr. Beam.
38. “Heart of Life” By John Mayer
This is certainly one of Mayer’s more stripped-down songs.
Featuring the main electric guitar fingerpicking line and backed by some tasteful guitar licks and solos, this tune is one of my favorites.
Learning the main rhythm section and layering the guitar melody over top of that can prove to be a bit challenging but like any other song, it just takes some practice.
39. “Bron-Yr-Aur” By Led Zeppelin
This acoustic instrumental features a simple but beautiful fingerstyle guitar melody.
Written by guitarist Jimmy Page, “Bron-Yr-Aur” is named after the Bron-Yr-Aur cottage in Wales, where the band spent time during the recording of their third album, “Led Zeppelin III”.
The track is a perfect illustration of Page’s fingerpicking and guitar skills. The use of reverb/delay and open tuning (C-A-C-G-C-E) gives the melody a unique and ethereal quality.
40. “Is There Anybody Out There?” By Pink Floyd
This song opens with a sparse arrangement, featuring only a few ambient sounds and a repeating synth melody. But once you reached about the 1:20 mark the fingerpicking begins.
The fingerpicking guitar, played by David Gilmour, adds a layer of depth yet clarity to the song.
There isn’t much in terms of lyrics to this song. And the lyrics that are there are almost like a mantra, repeating the same few words over and over “Is there anybody out there”.
41. “Roundabout (Intro)” By Yes
The use of guitar harmonics is front and center in this one.
From their 1971 album “Fragile” this song features a classical-sounding intro only to then build up to a funky, prog-rock jam.
As I mentioned, the use of guitar harmonics is a prominent feature in this intro, played by Steve Howe. Harmonics are a technique that creates a bell-like, ethereal sound by lightly touching the strings at specific points while the string is vibrating.
The harmonics in the song add a shimmering and otherworldly quality to the music.
It’s a great one to learn if you want to practice your harmonics all the while playing a song that’s a little more out of the ordinary.
42. “Solsbury Hill” By Peter Gabriel
This 12-string acoustic guitar song features a pretty easy chord progression that any beginner should be able to pick up relatively quickly. Although it’s the quick fingerpicking that might trip you up at the beginning.
From his debut solo album “Peter Gabriel 1” (1977) the song is a semi-autobiographical account of a personal spiritual experience that Gabriel had on Solsbury Hill, near Bath, England.
It’s a fun song to play and sing along to, and if you’re up for the challenge, fingerpicking it is a great way to practice your technique.
43. “No Other Way” By Jack Johnson
Jack Johnson is known for his laid-back relaxing style and “No Other Way” is no different.
Starting out with a warm and crystal-clear guitar tone, Johnson uses techniques like hammer-ons, pull-offs, and slides to create a smooth and effortless flow to the song.
Johnson’s seemingly effortless singing style is also a highlight of the track, his vocals are easy to listen to and they complement the guitar melody perfectly.
Fingerpicking-wise, this song is simple and easy to follow, making it an ideal song for beginner and intermediate guitarists.
44. “Dear Prudence” By The Beatles
The fingerpicking pattern in “Dear Prudence” is the focal point of this song.
This intricate pattern, played on an acoustic guitar, creates a hypnotic and mesmerizing effect that draws the listener in and immerses them in the story being told.
The pattern is simple yet elegant. It consists of a series of alternating bass notes and chords that create a sense of movement and progression throughout the song.
It also features an alternate tuning (D A D G B E) adding to the unique texture of the song.
45. “Sultans of Swing” By Dire Straits
Known as having one of the hardest guitar solos of all time, “Sultans of Swing” also doubles as a great fingerpicking tune.
You can find fingerpicking techniques used throughout the entire song. Not only in the verses and chorus, but also in the solo itself.
It’s an approach that is often associated with Mark Knopfler’s playing and it’s a big part of the band’s signature sound.
Overall, it’s a key element that contributes to the song’s popularity and lasting legacy.
46. “April Come She Will” By Simon & Garfunkel
This beautifully poetic piece is yet another example of Paul Simon’s ability to pair deep lyrics and intricate fingerpicking patterns to create an absolute classic.
The gentle and soft vocals of Art Garfunkel provide the perfect accompaniment to Paul Simon’s guitar playing making it a fun song for intermediate guitarists to learn and practice.
47. “I Don’t Feel It Anymore” By William Fitzsimmons
This heart-wrenching song is the perfect combination of gentle and emotive vocals and soft acoustic fingerpicking.
Singers William Fitzsimmons and Priscilla Ahn duet this song and masterfully convey what it feels like for a couple to fall out of love.
The fingerpicking guitar accompaniment is simple but effective, providing a tender backdrop to the lyrics.
It’s the perfect combination for capturing the song’s theme of struggling with unrequited love.
48. “Thirteen” By Big Star
49. “Little Martha” By The Allman Brothers Band
50. “A Farewell to Kings (Intro)” By Rush
51. “If” By Bread
52. “Never Going Back Again” By Fleetwood Mac
53. “Landslide” By Fleetwood Mac
54. “Angeles” By Elliot Smith
55. “From the Morning” By Nick Drake
56. “Sunflower River Blues” By John Fahey
57. “Neon (EP version)” By John Mayer
58. “Death with Dignity” By Sufjan Stevens
59. “We’re Going To Be Friends” By The White Stripes
60. “Jolene” By Dolly Parton
61. “These Days” By Nico
62. “Stairway to Heaven” By Led Zeppelin
63. “Walk Away” By Ben Harper
64. “Heartbeats” By José González
65. “Bouree in E minor” By Johann Sebastian Bach
66. “May You Never” By John Martyn
67. “Jenny Wren” By Paul McCartney
68. “Closer to the Sun” By Slightly Stoopid
69. “Love is All” By The Tallest Man on Earth
70. “Benighted” By Opeth
71. “Deep River Blues” By Doc Watson
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, this list of fingerpicking songs has inspired you to pick up the guitar and start learning a few.
Being able to fingerpick on the guitar truly opens up your range of musical possibilities and is extremely enjoyable once you get the hang of it.
If you think I may have missed any great fingerpicking songs in the list above, don’t forget to leave a comment below and I’ll add it so that others can see it as well.
This is a list chock full of decent fingerpicking songs. Here are another couple of suggestions to keep people going too.
I See Fire – Ed Sheeran
Not all that difficult but pretty satisfying to play.
I Don’t Need No Doctor – John Mayer
Mayer’s arrangement of this song is great fun to play and a good piece to learn to help develop your fingerpicking as well as some funky chords thrown in there too.
Jerry’s Breakdown – Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed
A moderately difficult piece that will push some players to start with but the time and effort pays off. Also introduces some more unusual fingerpicking techniques such as reverse banjo rolls.
Good job on the list, I hope to see it grow in the future!
Awesome suggestions! These are all great additions.
The House That Built Me – Miranda Lambert
Man in the Mirror by Tuck Andress
Great suggestion!
cannonball rag- jerry reed
sittin’ on top of the world-doc watson
Nice ones! Thanks for the suggestions.