Fingerstyle

Fingerstyle music emerged in the late 19th century, primarily in America, when clever guitarists decided that strumming was far too pedestrian for their artistic urges. The technique involves plucking the strings with fingers rather than a pick, which sounds rather like an intricate conversation between the guitar and the player, albeit one that’s slightly pretentious but in a charming way. It's quite popular, especially amongst those who enjoy making music that sounds both soothing and annoyingly complex enough to impress their friends at parties.