Must-Know Riffs using Droning Strings

"Copperhead Road" by Steve Earle

"Welcome to Paradise" by Green Day, in the style of Tyler Childers

Droning the Open 1st String

Again, the Key of E reigns here. Given the 1st string (in addition to the 6th string) is an E note, this makes for a convenient option in this key. It’s also nice when fingerpicking, as this string is fairy easy to grab/flick/play given it has no neighboring string on one side.

Getting Started with "She Talks to Angels" and Open-E Tuning

First Steps with "Malagueña" (Spanish Classical Guitar)

Wyclef Jean Fingerstyle, Step by Step (feat. Gone Till November)

Chords with Droning Strings

Here’s a nice mix of songs, some in the Key of E (where the thinnest two strings are open). We also have a few in the Key of C and G, where the 3rd string is left open for all chords. See Joni Mitchell’s A Case Of You for an example of putting the Key of C chords to use.

"Yellow Ledbetter" by Pearl Jam

"Angel Flight" by Radney Foster

"Blackbird" by The Beatles

Fingerstyle Chord Tip: Two-Finger Voicings

Fingerstyle with Droning Bass Notes

And finally, an example of a would-be Travis Picking song… but instead of alternating the bass note between two strings, we’ll be droning the bass note of the current chord on the quarter notes.

Adding Fills to a Fingerstyle Groove

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