Playing with Alternating Fingers
Alternate between your index and middle fingers. Anchor your thumb on the pick-up and strike the open G string with your index finger in the same fashion as with the single stroke technique.
As soon as it comes to rest on the next lower string (D string) pick the open G string again, this time using your middle finger. Maintain this alternating movement between the two fingers. Make sure one of the two fingers is always resting on the D string while the other one is picking the G string and vice versa.
Always use this alternating finger style as it will give you more possibilities when changing between notes and strings.
Go back to the previous examples and use the alternating finger style.
Quarter Note Rest
A quarter note rest is a beat of silence.
In the example below there is a rest on the fourth beat of each bar. To obtain this silence you must stop the strings from vibrating (i.e. muting them). This is achieved by placing your left hand fingers lightly on the strings. Do not press too hard as this will produce a new note. When using the left hand to mute an open string, place it over all four strings as this is easier (see photo).
When changing strings e.g. from the open G string down to the open D string, you have to use the left hand to mute the G string, otherwise there will be two strings sounding at the same time. In the following examples use left hand muting to achieve each rest.
