ISBN 9781619113732. Fingerstyle Technic is a collection of 34 original compositions designed to enhance important elements of fingerpicking guitar technique. I have always felt that as important as scale and technique drills are, they can by themselves be very tedious to practice. In addition, technique has relevance only in the context of the entire musical composition it is intended to enhance. The compositions can be used merely as technical studies but they also may be used as short concert or recital pieces. Several of them may be grouped to present a kind of suite. I hope you enjoy playing these solos. The guitar has so many moods and colors. Good technique enables the guitarist to bring out the breadth and subtlety of expression possible with this instrument. I have tried to present a variety of moods, rhythms and textures in these compositions and have presented a workable assortment of keys, both major and minor. In Notation and Tablature.

The songs in this collection are intended to be musically engaging, many with a fresh sound, but easy enough to play that the singer can focus on vocalization and connecting with the audience. If the music goes up the guitar neck, it mostly does it at the dots on the fretboard. It does not go past the twelfth fret so that even a nylon string guitar can be used. If there is individual fingering instead of chords, the music can be played more slowly. In places where a finger picking pattern is indicated, strumming may often be substituted. The tuning is standard to avoid the distraction of retuning in a short set. But these are mostly not three chord songs. The pseudo key change in 'Dreamsieve' the second E minor chord in 'Washed Away,' or the open strings in 'Gold Star Eyes,' may allow the performer a chance to engage the audience through musical novelty. The songs are also meant to be short enough that the audience may want more rather than feel worn. 'Washed Away' and 'Unspoken' may be the most involved but both have choruses that can be used for a sing along to bring the audience further in. The songs also have a range of moods and subjects to be useful in balancing an open mic short set.