Guitar Guitar Techniques & Playing Styles 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What fingerpicking technique involves the thumb alternating between bass strings while fingers pluck treble strings?
- Travis picking (Correct answer)
- Flamenco rasgueado
- Hybrid picking
- Fingerstyle tapping
Correct answer: Travis picking
Travis picking uses the thumb to alternate between bass strings while the fingers independently pluck the treble strings.
Question 2: Which technique involves lightly touching the string at a harmonic node without pressing it to the fretboard?
- Bending
- Vibrato
- Natural harmonic (Correct answer)
- Legato
Correct answer: Natural harmonic
Natural harmonics are produced by lightly touching the string directly above a fret node, causing the string to produce a bell-like overtone.
Question 3: What is the term for a guitar technique where a note's pitch is raised after it is picked by pushing or pulling the string?
- Hammer-on
- Pull-off
- String bending (Correct answer)
- Slide
Correct answer: String bending
String bending involves pushing or pulling a fretted string perpendicular to the neck to raise its pitch.
Question 4: Which right-hand technique involves striking the strings with a downstroke followed immediately by an upstroke?
- Alternate picking (Correct answer)
- Economy picking
- Sweep picking
- Legato picking
Correct answer: Alternate picking
Alternate picking is the consistent down-up motion of the pick, ensuring efficiency and evenness across strings.
Question 5: What technique produces a note by hammering a fretting finger onto a string without picking it again?
- Pull-off
- Hammer-on (Correct answer)
- Tapping
- Slapping
Correct answer: Hammer-on
A hammer-on is executed by forcefully pressing a finger onto a higher fret after the string is initially picked, sustaining the note through finger force alone.
Question 6: In flamenco guitar, what is the term for the rapid fan-like strumming technique using the fingers of the picking hand?
- Picado
- Golpe
- Rasgueado (Correct answer)
- Alzapúa
Correct answer: Rasgueado
Rasgueado is a flamenco strumming technique where fingers roll outward in rapid succession to produce a continuous strumming sound.
Guitar Guitar Techniques & Playing Styles 1
What fingerpicking technique involves the thumb alternating between bass strings while fingers pluck treble strings?