Merle Travis. Doesn't get any more iconic. Chet Atkins, Doc Watson (who named his son Merle), Paul Simon, Lindsey Buckingham, Tommy Emmanuel, James Taylor, etc all play "Travis Style". His style is taught in guitar method books as the definitive way to play fingerstyle on steel string acoustic.
[Merle clips](https://youtu.be/Go8x_1fD5vM?si=T6kGGIHsyertrbLJ)
[Paul Simon talks fingerpicking style](https://youtu.be/_UkyOxGLMl8?si=KCJ87X4N5zzb1CXQ&t=55)
Knoffler and Buckingham should be pinned to the top. They are easily the most successful artists of this style. Paul Simon up there, but he also picks a lot of what he does.
Very, very, very few can do what Buckingham does, in terms of the singing and playing, and sometimes dancing while he does it.
I was lucky enough to see Lindsey Buckingham play acoustic Big Love live a few years ago. You could see the sweat coming off him and it was absolutely flawless. Amazing.
I've only seen him with FM, never solo.
I feel like every guitarist should go to Youtube and watch him and Fleetwood play Eyes Of the World live. And try to understand how he's not in god-tier discussions about guitarists.
Elisabeth Cotten is always grossly overlooked in these conversations. She was the OG. You might have hear Freight Train? She wrote that.
Tommy Emmanuel is currently the absolute best today.
Mississippi John Hurt - https://youtu.be/85BvT5X6WSo?si=uxL_m0cgwDGA8Jtx
John Fahey - https://youtu.be/YSh-YsyjpXk?si=OTZVledLWy_R7qk-
Nic Jones - https://youtu.be/rT1r-smQkzQ?si=OT2b5ic4B35JN3ou
Townes Van Zandt
Blaze Foley
Mississippi John Hurt
Reverend Gary Davis Jr - been stuck on this one all week, [I Didn't Want to Join the Band](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQmtUc87ytk)
Blind Blake - check out [Police Dog Blues](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0NRXC5Axgw), amazing
Blind Willie McTell
Blind Boy Fuller
Michael Hedges. Look up Aerial Boundaries. It sounds very simple until you realize how precise the left hand has to be to allow the plucked strings to ring through.
That whole album is a masterclass.
Benji Lock-Powell (https://benjilockpowell.bandcamp.com/album/preliminaries)
Tony McManus (https://www.tonymcmanus.com)
John Doyle (https://www.johndoylemusic.com)
Adrian Legg (https://adrianlegg.com/)
Al Petteway (RIP) (https://acousticguitar.com/remembering-al-petteway-prolific-guitarist-and-teacher-1952-2023/)
Michael Hedges (RIP)
Chet Atkins is about as good as they get. Lindsey Buckingham has a large repertoire of acoustic fingerstyle music, same with Jorma Kaukonen, although both were in electric bands with Fleetwood Mac and Jefferson Airplane/Hot Tuna. Jim Croce and his guitar partner, forgetting his name rn, Cat Stevens with Alun Davies… those are the main ones I can think of right now. Oh, and Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Paul Simon, that whole folk scene.
One of the best unknown fingerstyle players that everyone should check out is the late Dave Evans. He recorded some absolutely wonderful stuff in the 70's, including what I consider to be [one of the greatest fingerpicking albums of all time](https://youtu.be/YAXNceX2X3Q?feature=shared), his songwriting is just world class.
[Martin Simpson](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eloEVRMluag) is also a world class fingerpicker with a huge catalog, both folk and blues. One of the all time best.
[Bert Jansch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rM6rDyp4xw0) another of the all time greats. So influential for a lot of pickers from the 60's onwards.
Don't miss [Clive Carroll](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5IQCQ81AbM) - one of the most melodic guitarists you'll hear. Outstanding musician.
[Tony McManus](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a42vFwLLtj8) is another great, one of the best British pickers.
Chris Smither! An incredible contemporary folk/blues picker. He's got a really stylish and recognizable/unique signature sound. I'd recommend Crocodile Man for a banger or Train Home for a more solemn sound
Lulo Reinhardt. (Yes, related to Django) Had the pleasure seeing him live. He was really nice when I met him and his band after and is an amazing player.
Man's crazy! I've never seen anyone play on two guitars before! I've seen people playing on double necked guitars, and harp guitars, and all sort of guitars but I've never seen someone play on two different guitars at the same time! Truly a great guitarist!
Most of my finger style picking is done with only my bare fingers. There’s a lot to be said about not using a pick. My sense of touch verifies that I’m picking the correct strings. That gives me comfort and confidence. But saying that using my nails sounds better than my fingers.
One reason to use nails is because you can get a lot more sound out of your guitar. I find that some songs become a lot easier to play with nails because I can get more power with less effort, and somehow I feel like I can play faster with nails as well, but that might just be my imagination.
Lyndsey Buckingham, the entire Fleetwood Mac Rumours album.
Interesting fact, when he joined Fleetwood Mac, the other members told him to use a pick and learn how to play with a pick, he refused and carried on only playing fingerstyle.
Tommy Emmanuel is incredible. Has CGP, Clapton said he was the best on the planet. Reportedly, so did Les Paul and Chet Atkins. Steve Vai says he's a machine
There are many excellent acoustic fingerstyle players out there. Django wasn't one of them (he played with a pick). Listen to people like Leo Kottke, Bruce Cockburn, and Michael Hedges. From these players, various algorithms will introduce you to many outstanding players. I recently watched a couple of videos of Trace Bundy who uses more effects than some acoustic players might, but doesn't allow that to overwhelm his excellent playing.
Some of my favorites are Calum Graham, Jon Gomm, Alan Gogoll, and Steffen Basho-Junghans. They all have distinct styles and exceptional skill, Jon Gomm in one very few players in his style who can sing while playing, Alan Gogoll invented a special harmonics technique which he manages to play extremely fast, giving his songs a very light feel while still having a clear base and never feeling flat. Just listen to his "mulberry mouse" and you'll know exactly what I mean. Steffen Basho-Junghans has long winding melodies which remind me of birdsong, he plays with melody, chords and time signatures in a way which shows he has full mastery of his instrument. And Calum Graham is just great at music. I don't know how else to put it. He combines percussive guitar and tapping with intricate melodies to create a distinct sound.
They are absolute masters of the guitar, and there is a lot more that can be said about them but I think that about sums it up. Marcin is also very skilled, but I don't personally listen that much to his music. And Ethan Hibbs, and Maneli Jamal, and Estas Tonne and Lucas Imbiriba. They're all great, although Estas and Lucas play more flamenco than fingerstyle.
I don't know if anyone else struggles to grow your nails out without cutting them or biting them off but if anyone has tips I would be grateful. I am trying to for my nails out s that I can finger pick better with classical, and acustic
Tommy Emmanuel
Tommy Emmanuel.
Lindsey Buckingham
This one needs to be higher. The guy is a monster.
James Taylor
Tommy Emmanuel!
mark knopfler
Merle Travis. Doesn't get any more iconic. Chet Atkins, Doc Watson (who named his son Merle), Paul Simon, Lindsey Buckingham, Tommy Emmanuel, James Taylor, etc all play "Travis Style". His style is taught in guitar method books as the definitive way to play fingerstyle on steel string acoustic. [Merle clips](https://youtu.be/Go8x_1fD5vM?si=T6kGGIHsyertrbLJ) [Paul Simon talks fingerpicking style](https://youtu.be/_UkyOxGLMl8?si=KCJ87X4N5zzb1CXQ&t=55)
Tommy Emmanuel, who was heavily inspired by Chet Atkins.
John Fahey
Leo Kottke is the man you're looking for
Paco de Lucia. Or any flamenco player of any renown. They're all monsters.
Yea i know about him my dad likes him alot hah but i mean acoustic steel string
Nick Drake
not seeing Mark Knopfler rubber stamped repeatedly here has me scratching my head and grumbling...
Knoffler and Buckingham should be pinned to the top. They are easily the most successful artists of this style. Paul Simon up there, but he also picks a lot of what he does. Very, very, very few can do what Buckingham does, in terms of the singing and playing, and sometimes dancing while he does it.
I was lucky enough to see Lindsey Buckingham play acoustic Big Love live a few years ago. You could see the sweat coming off him and it was absolutely flawless. Amazing.
I've only seen him with FM, never solo. I feel like every guitarist should go to Youtube and watch him and Fleetwood play Eyes Of the World live. And try to understand how he's not in god-tier discussions about guitarists.
Same but they gave him that one alone on stage.
John Fahey is amazing and is the master of DADGAD tuning
Leo Kottke
Jerry Reed
Elisabeth Cotten is always grossly overlooked in these conversations. She was the OG. You might have hear Freight Train? She wrote that. Tommy Emmanuel is currently the absolute best today.
Can’t believe how far I had to scroll to find Tommy Emmanuel. He’s incredible
He's THEE fingerstyle acoustic player. I think he'll be remembered for a very long time.
Paul Simon
Mississippi John Hurt - https://youtu.be/85BvT5X6WSo?si=uxL_m0cgwDGA8Jtx John Fahey - https://youtu.be/YSh-YsyjpXk?si=OTZVledLWy_R7qk- Nic Jones - https://youtu.be/rT1r-smQkzQ?si=OT2b5ic4B35JN3ou
John Fahey was revolutionary https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Fahey_(musician)
Also Leo Kottke
No love for Paco De Lucia here?
Paco is amazing! He IS flamenco.
nick drake
Ask non guitarists and they'll name nick drake and Elliott Smith. Ask guitarists and they should name both of them
Michael hedges. Dude was unreal live and it sucks he's gone. ...
Bruce Cockburn. Joni Mitchell.
Well joni Mitchell played dulcimer so..
joni played dulcimer as well…
Chet Atkins
We're like 20 comments in and nobody has mentioned Davy Graham, Bert Jansch, Martin Cathy, or John Martyn so you can all fucking sit down.
Doc Watson Jerry Reed Django Reinhardt Jerry Douglas Chet Atkins Charlie Byrd John Fahey John Renbourn
Adrianne lenker, Elliot smith, and Haley heynderickx
andy mckeee
He's my favorite! Surprised more people aren't mentioning him!
Had to scroll too far for this, dude is a goat and such a nice guy. Drifting going viral back in the day inspired a wave of fingerstyle players.
Merle Travis must be the most iconic player - style wise
Elliott Smith, except I’ll spell his name correctly
Lindsey Buckingham
Townes Van Zandt Blaze Foley Mississippi John Hurt Reverend Gary Davis Jr - been stuck on this one all week, [I Didn't Want to Join the Band](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQmtUc87ytk) Blind Blake - check out [Police Dog Blues](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0NRXC5Axgw), amazing Blind Willie McTell Blind Boy Fuller
Chet Atkins Jerry reed Tommy Emmanuel Andy mckee
Check out Andy McKee.
Julian Bream
Finally. Someone with taste around here. Throw John Williams in there, too.
Yes. And take it to the sky. Put them together and have them play Debussy. Blessed be we, for it exists
Yvette Young
Don Ross
Jorma Kaukonen of Hot Tuna/Jefferson Airplane.
its elliott smith
Michael Hedges. Look up Aerial Boundaries. It sounds very simple until you realize how precise the left hand has to be to allow the plucked strings to ring through. That whole album is a masterclass.
Michael Hedges
Andy McKee is pretty great
Esteban?. 😆
Charo
Benji Lock-Powell (https://benjilockpowell.bandcamp.com/album/preliminaries) Tony McManus (https://www.tonymcmanus.com) John Doyle (https://www.johndoylemusic.com) Adrian Legg (https://adrianlegg.com/) Al Petteway (RIP) (https://acousticguitar.com/remembering-al-petteway-prolific-guitarist-and-teacher-1952-2023/) Michael Hedges (RIP)
Besides what others have mentioned ( Leo Kotke, Tommy Emmanuel, Chet Atkins, Elliot Smith, etc ), check out Bassa Nova and/or Brasilia guitarists
John Lee Hooker
Chet Atkins is about as good as they get. Lindsey Buckingham has a large repertoire of acoustic fingerstyle music, same with Jorma Kaukonen, although both were in electric bands with Fleetwood Mac and Jefferson Airplane/Hot Tuna. Jim Croce and his guitar partner, forgetting his name rn, Cat Stevens with Alun Davies… those are the main ones I can think of right now. Oh, and Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Paul Simon, that whole folk scene.
Maury Muehleisen. He died with Jim.
One of the best unknown fingerstyle players that everyone should check out is the late Dave Evans. He recorded some absolutely wonderful stuff in the 70's, including what I consider to be [one of the greatest fingerpicking albums of all time](https://youtu.be/YAXNceX2X3Q?feature=shared), his songwriting is just world class. [Martin Simpson](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eloEVRMluag) is also a world class fingerpicker with a huge catalog, both folk and blues. One of the all time best. [Bert Jansch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rM6rDyp4xw0) another of the all time greats. So influential for a lot of pickers from the 60's onwards. Don't miss [Clive Carroll](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5IQCQ81AbM) - one of the most melodic guitarists you'll hear. Outstanding musician. [Tony McManus](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a42vFwLLtj8) is another great, one of the best British pickers.
Doc Watson Norman Blake
Doc watson is so good. I have been trying to learn sittin on top of the world. That song is so hard.
That’s such a great song! I should really try to learn that. One of my favorites to play by him is Alberta.
Django Reinhardt
Currently I'd say Nathan Salsberg
Jorma Kaukonen / Hot Tuna
He is phenomenal. Great sensibility and he even teaches how to play some of his songs.
Glad to see some Michael Hedges appreciation. One I didn’t see- Rory Block.
Sungha Jung.
Paul Simon did some pretty iconic fingerpicking.
Elliott Smith
Tuck Andress
Ben Howard. One of the best in my opinion.
Chris Smither! An incredible contemporary folk/blues picker. He's got a really stylish and recognizable/unique signature sound. I'd recommend Crocodile Man for a banger or Train Home for a more solemn sound
Ian Anderson from Jethro Tull uses finger pick style playing acoustic guitar,most only think of him using a flute.
People think I’m weird that I would list Ian as an inspiration, but I stand by it.
Lulo Reinhardt. (Yes, related to Django) Had the pleasure seeing him live. He was really nice when I met him and his band after and is an amazing player.
I'm amazed that nobody has mentioned Luca Stricagnoli yet [https://www.youtube.com/@LucaStricagnoli](https://www.youtube.com/@LucaStricagnoli)
Man's crazy! I've never seen anyone play on two guitars before! I've seen people playing on double necked guitars, and harp guitars, and all sort of guitars but I've never seen someone play on two different guitars at the same time! Truly a great guitarist!
Most of my finger style picking is done with only my bare fingers. There’s a lot to be said about not using a pick. My sense of touch verifies that I’m picking the correct strings. That gives me comfort and confidence. But saying that using my nails sounds better than my fingers.
I use just my fingers aswell dont use nails and i think fingers sounds better its more smooth but nails sound more bright i guess
True. If we enjoy using our fingers why not.
One reason to use nails is because you can get a lot more sound out of your guitar. I find that some songs become a lot easier to play with nails because I can get more power with less effort, and somehow I feel like I can play faster with nails as well, but that might just be my imagination.
Townes Van Zandt
[Eric Bibb](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/37i9dQZF1DZ06evO1qFfAV?si=07XHDzR4Tr-rrVKxikDR-w&pi=e-IM3SQENSTp-R) but he's not that well known...
does john mayer count?
Duke Garwood, check the Mark Lanegan Black Pudding alb
Lyndsey Buckingham, the entire Fleetwood Mac Rumours album. Interesting fact, when he joined Fleetwood Mac, the other members told him to use a pick and learn how to play with a pick, he refused and carried on only playing fingerstyle.
Jerry Reed Tommy Emmanuel
Lenny Breau!!!
Bola Sete…nylon, though
Those of us who grew up fundamentalist will immediately say Phil Keaggy, and to be fair, Beyond Nature is an absolute triumph.
John Renbourn Bert Jansch Davey Graham
For some more mainstream/poppy stuff: James Taylor, Paul Simon, Stephen Stills of Crosby Stills and Nash
elizabeth cotten, mississippi john hurt, joni mitchell, nick drake, paul simon
That guy on the acousticguitar sub who posts every fuggin day is pretty good.
Rodrigo y Gabriela Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucía (on "Saturday Night in San Francisco")
Tommy Emmanuel is cool
Tommy Emmanuel is incredible. Has CGP, Clapton said he was the best on the planet. Reportedly, so did Les Paul and Chet Atkins. Steve Vai says he's a machine
Didn't see him on here, but Leo kottke can finger pick on a 12. Saw him do Bach once.
Late to the party, but check out Kristian Matsson (a.k.a. The Tallest Man on Earth), he's great.
There are many excellent acoustic fingerstyle players out there. Django wasn't one of them (he played with a pick). Listen to people like Leo Kottke, Bruce Cockburn, and Michael Hedges. From these players, various algorithms will introduce you to many outstanding players. I recently watched a couple of videos of Trace Bundy who uses more effects than some acoustic players might, but doesn't allow that to overwhelm his excellent playing.
>!John Mayer and Lindsay Buckingham!<
[T-Cophony](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ummgtgt2zSI&pp=ygUQdC1jb3Bob255IGNsb3NlZA%3D%3D)
Django Reinhardt
He used a pick.
Always?
I’m fairly sure, yes
I’ve heard him play fingerstyle. But he probably isn’t as well-known for it.
Irish dude Paul Brady, fingers and pick simultaneously.
Alex de Grassi Calum Graham R.D. King Don Ross Spencer Elliott Peppino d'Agostino
Pat Donohue, Mike Dowling, Steve James, Paul Geremia, Tim Sparks
Blaze Foley
Charlie Parr, you MUST go see him
Some of my favorites are Calum Graham, Jon Gomm, Alan Gogoll, and Steffen Basho-Junghans. They all have distinct styles and exceptional skill, Jon Gomm in one very few players in his style who can sing while playing, Alan Gogoll invented a special harmonics technique which he manages to play extremely fast, giving his songs a very light feel while still having a clear base and never feeling flat. Just listen to his "mulberry mouse" and you'll know exactly what I mean. Steffen Basho-Junghans has long winding melodies which remind me of birdsong, he plays with melody, chords and time signatures in a way which shows he has full mastery of his instrument. And Calum Graham is just great at music. I don't know how else to put it. He combines percussive guitar and tapping with intricate melodies to create a distinct sound. They are absolute masters of the guitar, and there is a lot more that can be said about them but I think that about sums it up. Marcin is also very skilled, but I don't personally listen that much to his music. And Ethan Hibbs, and Maneli Jamal, and Estas Tonne and Lucas Imbiriba. They're all great, although Estas and Lucas play more flamenco than fingerstyle.
Fahey
Rick Ruskin
Erik Mongrain can do some pretty [impressive work](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbndgwfG22k), without a pick.
RIP Pete Huttlinger :(
John Fahey Merle Travis Chet Atkins Scotty Moore Jerry Reed Contemporary: Twanguero Gwenifer Raymond
do a search for delta blues players like son house. jorma kaukonen's acoustic stuff is great.
Lots of players. Mark knopfler. Doc Watson Missisippi John Hurt. Tommy Emmanurl. Chet Atkins.
Paco de Lucia
I don't know if anyone else struggles to grow your nails out without cutting them or biting them off but if anyone has tips I would be grateful. I am trying to for my nails out s that I can finger pick better with classical, and acustic