Mel Bay Publications
Keijo Pennanen - Contemporary Guitar Picking Technique
Level: Intermediate - Advanced

Contemporary plectrum guitar playing often requires versatility in combining plectrum and fingerstyle techniques. While flatpicking logically dominates the plectrum playing style, hybrid picking, i.e.— using the plectrum and fingers together, is commonly employed to enhance musical execution and/or tone when needed. Switching between plectrum, hybrid and fingerstyle playing within the same tune presents a significant challenge as the on-the-fly technique changes must be done nearly at the speed of thought. This is especially true in solo compositions where melody and harmony are played simultaneously.

This book contains 25 original guitar solo compositions that can be used to practice flatpicking, hybrid picking and fingerstyle playing. Every piece has performance markings to indicate the appropriate right-hand technique and fingering to be used.

The compositions vary stylistically, ranging from classical-influenced contemporary lyricism to Latin and swing, and from bluesy funk to the twelve-tone row compositions and more.