Finger-picking... how to learn, develop technique (on electric)?

[poodlesrule]

Even though I usually use a pick, I find casual finger-picking very satisfying, and I get a good, organic sound that I like, with it.

To pursue it, and get more benefits from it, I would need to work on the technique, using some/most fingers.
Any advice?
(maybe I need to watch more Freddy King and Robbie Keiger)

Related: What's up with nail growing? I have a strong thumb one, but others are lacking, as is. I think I once read that some folks use a nail hardener or such??

 

[Bookkeeper's Son]

I took folk lessons when I was in grade school, so I got comfortable with a couple of basic fingerpicking styles, one I think is called the Travis pick. It's second nature to me, and I think it'll take a decent amount of practice for a non-beginner to "master". Anyway, I remember the pattern, as my teacher taught it to me: PT1T2T, or Pinch, thumb, one, thumb, two, thumb - which translates to:

For an open C chord

Pinch - two strings at once, 5th and the 2nd
Thumb - pluck 5th string with thumb
1 - pluck a higher note, the 2nd string with the index finger
T - pluck a lower note with the thumb, the 4th string
2 - pluck a higher note, the 1st string with the middle finger
T - last pluck on the 5th string with the thumb

Specific strings will vary, depending on the chord, but I'm going to assume you'll get the idea when you try it.

 

[Eric]

I used to be more adept at it when I played primarily acoustic guitar, but I'd generally suggest the same as I do for everything: start with something simple and go from there. I found 'Landslide' by Fleetwood Mac to be very very simple, at least the version I learned. It goes like this:

C: x3201x
G: x2003x
Am7: x0201x
G: x2003x

Those are read with the low E string on the left. Play the strings like this:

A G D B G D G

for all chords, and do it pretty slow.

You might already be beyond that, but if not, that steady motion is something that sounds decent and sounds like a real song, yet is a good starting point. These days, whenever I pick up an acoustic I just end up fingerpicking chords, usually some open suspended chords or something. I'm no John Fahey or anything (I think he used fingerpicking, right?), but it's the same as anything: eventually your fingers get used to it. HTH.