Fingerstyle Instrumental Pieces
Learn how to play Fingerstyle Instrumental Pieces note-for-note.
Fingerstyle Instrumental Pieces is where to come if you really don’t want to sing! All the melody, harmony and rhythm right there in the guitar part and your fingers.
Click on each tittle to see the details about each lesson.
You’ll receive at least two videos per song, one lesson and one performance-standard play-through. You’ll also receive the chords/lyrics and guitar tabs as PDF files.
The videos are mp4 format and should play on PC’s, Macs and most mobile devices.
They will download as Zip files. If you don’t have a Zip program on your PC you’ll need to install one to open the file.
If you want to download to an iPad or iPhone, please read here.
Price: $5.97
Paul V says
Really surprised you’ve not done John Renbourn’s Judy. Would love to see what you do with it.
Also, a fingerstyle instrumental of St. Louis Blues would be pure magic I’m sure.
Thanks
Paul (thumb-over chord challenged)
Ed Bell says
Hi Jerry:
I can never adequately convey how much I appreciate what you do. I’m not fast so I have a lot more of your lessons than I can play. And more I want. I have two questions about things I have encountered in your lessons. If you can find time to answer, I would appreciate it greatly.
1) Do guitar strings stretch over time to a point where they cannot be properly tuned. I have found that I can tune the open string note but the fretted notes are higher or lower than expected. (i.e. Open 2nd string is B but third fret is not a true D). I suspect it is stretch but am also worried my guitar is a problem. I caught this because I spend so much more time practicing now that I have your lessons.
2) Is there any kind of prosthetic for the thumb that would make it easier to do thumb-over chords. Of the lessons I have purchased, I have been able to play some of the instances but in one (The Dance), it is painful to do the F# over D chord and I was thinking perhaps there is some thumb-pick type of something that would help me get the string pressed without pain and without affecting the tone of the other strings.
Thank you again for what you do. It really makes a difference. I wish you had been around 50 years ago, though the Internet was not so I guess it would not have made a lot of difference for me back then.
Most sincere thanks!
e.g.bell
Jerry says
Hi
1) Yes. They have to be on for a very long time, but they do eventually get to the point where you can’t keep them in tune.
But it could also be the intonation on your guitar. If new strings don’t solve the problem, a local tech (maybe at your local music shop) should be able to help
2) Someone should invent something to play thumb-over chords for us! I’m not aware of anything, but a lot of it is left-hand position. Keep the palm of your hand clamped against the back of the neck for thumb-overs. Alternatively, finger the 6th string note with the index finger and use fingers 2, 3 and 4 for the D chord shape. Classical guitarists would do it that way.
Have fun and take care
Jerry
Ed Bell says
Thank you for the quick response.
Sloan ezell says
Can you do John Denver’s “Blow up your tv”?
Alba Akvama says
Hey Jerry, can you do Sirabhorn by Pat Metheny?
Deborah says
Jerry, I am just finishing your Beginner lessons. I will visit your “easy’ section (as per your suggestion); however that being said, I would really love a Beginner lessons section “part two” with some chords and finger strings combination for the novel players like myself. I would love to purchase a package deal if you ever put one together. I still feel I need more lessons on the beginners level.
richard stork says
Hi Jerry. Are you familiar with Michael Chapman? He’s a fabulous fingerstylist, British I believe, and I’d love to see you tackle some of his stuff, especially “The Last Polish Breakfast,” “Sweet Little Friend From Georgia,” and “Ponchartrain.”
Nancy Lubecker says
On my bucket list
Windy and Warm
Jonathan Sneedse says
How do I log in to get my purchase list? I don’t know why I always have trouble logging in.
Jerry says
Hi Jonathan
We don’t operate a logging in system because we don’t require you to ‘join up’.
If you’re missing any purchases or want to know what purchases you’ve made. just email me with the email address(es) you would have used.
Paul Jewitt says
Any luck;…
Paul says
Hi
Like many others i enjoy your approach and find it very instructive and pragmatic, Thank you.
A couple of requests if and when you get the chance:
It hurts me too (not the Tampa Red version)
Helpless (Neil Young)
Jerry says
Hi Paul. Helpless is already requested. I’ll add the Tampa Red one.
Wylie Cox says
Hello Jerry
thanks for all the great transcripts & lessons, they’re a big help, and your method of teaching is very enjoyable.
If you ever get the chance, please create a lesson for Joni Mitchell’s “The Dawntreader”, from her Song to a Seagull album.
Gracias for all your work,
-Wylie C
Moab UT, USA
Michael Clifford says
Finally, a guitar teacher who counts like a drummer. It kills me when I hear UP DOWN DOWN UP UP.
I once spent half an hour with some guy who failed to understand that he was counting 2 measures as one. From what I’ve seen this is going to be a great site.
I’m fixated on Steve Earle but I do occasionally learn other songs.
Bob Kemmerer says
Would love to see more fingerstyle pieces from Alison Krauss & Union Station. Songs like “Gravity”, “I Give You to His Heart” etc.
Thanks!!
Bob
Jerry says
Already on the to-do list Bob
Bob says
excellent!!! Can’t wait to have it!!
Seamus says
Hi Jerry,
Been searching for you, since forever!!! God bless you, Love everything that you do. Would like to request ‘Across the Great Divide’ by the late great Kate Wolf, or Nancy Griffith (love flat picked intro) version if possible.
Thank you,
Seamus.
Jerry says
Hey Seamus. Kate Wolf Across the Great Divide already requested and number 242 on the list.
Mike Wheeler says
Have you got to number 242 yet cos I would love the tab for that instrumental intro too!
Jerry says
242 lessons in 5 months? I’d love to be able to go that fast :)
Thomas Rosenstiel says
Hello Jerry,
Your teaching skills are superb. Your lessons/ videos are easy to follow. Thank you. I am focusing on finger picking. You have given me hope!
I read through many of the comments and would enjoy much of what has been suggested- folk and blues music, Knopfler acoustic, more Simon and Garfunkel. I’m also interested in more classical- Ava Maria, Fur Elise, Bach’s prelude 1007 to mention a few.
Any plans to do a Classical Gas lesson?
Again, many thanks to you,
Tom R
Jerry says
Hi Tom. Classical Gas is number 35 on the list.
Tom R says
Wonderful. I look forward to learning it.
Thanks.
Mike says
Great. Been dying for you to do classical Gas Jerry.
Was (approximately) does 35 mean time-frame wise…?
Jerry says
I do about 10 lessons per month on average Mike, to give you an idea.
Michael Benson says
You should consider doing Windy and Warm by John Loudermilk and Chet Atkins.
Mike says
YES! PLEASE Jerry….!!!
Bronnie says
Oh yes I would also love a ‘windy and warm’ lesson!
Ed says
Me too on Windy and Warm!
jon says
For a guitar instrumental, what about Ashoken Farewell, by Jerry Unger? This was the “theme song” for the PBS series The Civil War that was aired a number of years ago. For the series, a violin was used, but the song works well if played with a guitar.
Chris Eaton says
Hear Hear!! And from that same soundtrack of the Civil War series, what about that beautiful finger picked version of the classic Angel Band. I took up guitar playing about 3 years ago in the hope that I could one day play both of these pieces. I am an Australian – but I just love American traditional, folk and country music.
Anonymous says
Ashoken Farewell is at number 81 on the to-do list. Should appear around next summer.
Philippe says
Hello Jerry,
Would you do a lesson for Mississippi John Hurt’s “Louis Collins” ?
Thank you, your lessons are very good, great videos and very clear notes and tablatures !
Philippe
Russell Johnson says
I’d really like to see some John Hurt too.
Glenn Gibson says
I’ll third that. ‘Ain’t no Tellin’ or ‘Candy Man’ would be an instant purchase for me. MJH has no equal in Delta Folk Blues.
Jen says
Jerry, just a suggestion for a fingerstyle lesson (hint, hint!) – Pelagia’s Song (from Captain Correlli’s Mandolin). Would love a lesson for this specifically for guitar as opposed to mandolin. It’s a really beautiful piece of music.
Sharleen Edwards says
Hey Jerry,
Haven’t been with you long but love your teaching skills, learning with you seems soo much easier.
I know your busy but was hoping maybe one day you could do a video to teach “Spanish romance”?. Its a beautiful song and very beneficial.
Love you work!
Thanks Sharleen.
Jerry says
I’ll add it to the list Sharleen
tom says
I bet a lot of students would like to have some instruction and the guitar tab for the following 27 second solo that Ry Cooder (Ralph Machio faked) played in the movie “Crossroads” as shown in the following video. We would only want the tab for the 27 second part of the video where the old acoustic blues guitar is played. The other tunes in the movie are already available. The solo goes from 1:27 to 1:54 min. I don’t believe that anyone has transcribed this piece, played in Oldtime Blues style (I have searched the web).
Crossroads movie blues guitar clip 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eitHiKGPx4A
1:27 to 1:54
danny says
hello jerry is their any plans to do leaving london tom paxton,and four strong winds ian and sylvia
Ed Amayao says
Hi Jerry, I’ve been with you for quite sometime now and purchase few of your lessons. I would appreciate if you could provide guitar lesson for Richard Marx’s “Now and Forever”. Love this song so much and will definitely purchase it if it’s available. There are some free stuff of this song available in YouTube but it’s hard for me to follow. You are definitely the best guitar tutor around. Ed Amayao
Chris Lantz says
I really like Amazing Grace. After trying 5 other fingerstyle versions found elsewhere, this one is definitely the best. Being an intermediate player, it only took about 2-3 days of practicing to master. My 90 year old mom and dad is going to love hearing me play this one.
Bill B says
Hi Jerry,
Great site! Just starting on Fingerpicking section lots to learn. If you ever have time I’m trying to find the Boz Skaggs version of Corrina Corrina found on the Memphis album. It will be a great addition to your site.
Thanks for everything,
Bill B
Anonymous says
Hi Jerry,
It may seem odd to you that I can not find a phone number for you and that the email address really doesn’t get me to you. I did send you a message on facebook but haven’t received a response.
All I would like is to get a lesson on Leonard Cohens, Hey That’s No Way to Say Goodbye.
You have a video on youtube. The first time I viewed it was helpful but later the picking right hand was somewhat blocked with a banner. I don’t know where to send my money for this lesson. Please advise.
Thank you,
becky
https://www.jerrysguitarbar.com/guitar-video-lessons/fingerstyle-collections/#0
Jerry says
Hi Becky. I did reply to your Facebook message. Please check your Facebook messages.
Richard Dunlop says
Hi Jerry, Great instructional videos! Somewhere on your site I heard you play “Today” by John Denver, but I can’t find that as an instructional video to purchase. Any plans on adding that one? Thanks for what you do. Richard
Anonymous says
Any luck;
Daniel says
I have recently discovered your site and absolutely love it. I am interested in the Travis picking style. I know most chords you present with your lessons. However I know nothing of finger picking. Will you come out with a CD for beginner finger picking? Thanks again. Daniel
Jerry says
Hi Daniel,
I made a short video introducing Travis picking for those who have never played it.
It’s on Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t_VPUGh514
If you haven’t seen it yet it’s a good place to start
Daniel says
Thank you, I’ll check it out.
[email protected] says
Hi Jerry. Like your site. Having played acoustic for a year now I’d like to add an electric guitar. Any lessons on here geared toward that?
Jerry says
I’ve got a few lessons on electric – not many. Off the top of my head:
T Rex – Get it On
Allman Brothers Band – Ramblin’ Man
Pink Floyd – Dogs
Pink Floyd – Nile Song
Pink Floyd – Breathe
Eagles – New Kid In Town ( the solo is taught on electric)
Eagles – Hotel California
Beatles – Come Together
Helle says
Hi Jerry,
thx for putting so much stuff at our disposal for free
Jerry says
You’re welcome Helle and check back in often. I’ll add more free stuff all the time.
Dennis Krupicka says
Hands down, the most “tastfull” fingerstyle guitarist that I know is Mark Knopfler (my opinion). The man can play anything but only puts in a song what is absolutely essential………and no more. To me that speaks of a true master. Perhaps, Jerry, you might grab a song or two from his lineup in the future. A suggestion, “That’s where I belong” from the Notting Hillbillies.
Also, I’ve yet to meet a guitarist that doesn’t want to learn the groove of J.J. Cale. Food for thought……..
Keep up the good work. I’ve learned a lot from you and when I retire in just a few months this old hippy will be at it even harder. Cheers, Dennis
Jerry says
One of the greatest guitarists – I agree with you about Knopfler. For sure some of his material has to appear here. I have a Dire Straits collection planned but I agree that his acoustic stuff is brilliant too.