FINGERPICKING KEY
The right hand:
P = Thumb
I = Index
M = Middle
A = Ring
Fingerpicking Pattern No. 1
This is the most essential fingerpicking pattern to start with. It requires no left hand chord or fretted notes. It is used in many popular fingerpicking songs and some songs are slight variations of this same pattern.
We have all open strings being plucked in sequential order. Each note is a quarter note in duration and will last exactly one second each if played at 60bpm.
Lets get to playing!
We will pluck each open string in order starting from the 6th string (Low E) and ending on the 1st (High E).
Step 1. Lets start with thumb (p) and pluck the 6th-4th string
Step 2. Pluck index (i), middle (m) and ring (a) on the 3rd-1st strings.

Here is a video demonstration of the finger picking pattern:
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