Carter Picking

Carter picking, a classic fingerstyle guitar technique named after Maybelle Carter of the influential Carter Family, combines rhythm and melody for a full, rich sound that can be accompanied by solo guitarists or singers.

Theory

At its heart, Carter picking is built on the idea of playing:

• Melody on the bass strings (usually with the thumb)
  
• Rhythm on the higher strings (usually with the index finger, sometimes middle)

It mimics the sound of two instruments: a bass/melody line and a strummed rhythm guitar.

Structure

1. Thumb (T) plays the melody, often on the 6th, 5th, or 4th string
2. Index (I) brushes or plucks the higher strings (mostly 2nd and 3rd) for rhythm between melody notes

This creates an alternating pattern, like this:

T      - I     - T      - I
Melody - Brush - Melody - Brush

Harmony & Chords

The melody is usually harmonized with simple open chords (C, G, D, A, E, etc.). You play the melody notes within the chord shape — often on the bass strings — while filling in rhythm on the treble strings.

Practice

Let’s say you’re playing in C major. Here’s how a measure might look:

Measure in C major (4/4):

| C (thumb) | Brush (index) | E (thumb) | Brush (index) |
| C         | G & B strings | E         | G & B strings |

Steps to Learn:

1. Start with the thumb. Play the melody notes on the bass strings in time (quarter notes to start).
2. Add brush strokes: After each melody note, brush down lightly with the index finger on strings 2 and 3 (sometimes 4). Don’t overdo it — it’s rhythmic, not melodic.
3. Practice slow, steady tempo. Use a metronome. Accuracy > speed at first.
   
4. Use chord shapes. Practice within basic open chords — C, G, D, etc. Learn to locate melody notes within them.

Carter Picking – Wildwood Flower (Intro - Simplified)

C major chord shape (keep it held down)
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|
G|------0---------|------0---------|
D|--2-------------|--2-------------|
A|--------3-------|--------3-------|
E|----------------|----------------|
    T   I   T   I    T   I   T   I

G major chord shape
e|----------------|----------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|
G|------0---------|------0---------|
D|--0-------------|--0-------------|
A|--------2-------|--------2-------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|
    T   I   T   I    T   I   T   I

Part 1 – [C Chord]

e|----------------|----------------|----------------|-------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|------0------|
G|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|------0------|
D|--2-------------|--2-------------|--0-------------|--0----------|
A|--------3-------|--------3-------|--------3-------|--------3----|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|-------------|
    T  I  T   I      T  I  T   I
  "I'll twine with my mingles and…"

Part 2 – [F Chord]

e|----------------|----------------|----------------|-------------|
B|------1---------|------1---------|------1---------|------1------|
G|------2---------|------2---------|------2---------|------2------|
D|--3-------------|--3-------------|--3-------------|--3----------|
A|----------------|----------------|----------------|-------------|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|-------------|
    T   I   T   I    T   I   T   I
  "…waving black hair"

Part 3 – [G Chord]

e|----------------|----------------|----------------|-------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|------0------|
G|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|------0------|
D|--0-------------|--0-------------|--------0-------|--------0----|
A|--------2-------|--------2-------|--2-------------|--2----------|
E|--3-------------|--3-------------|----------------|-------------|
    T  I  T   I     T    I T   I
  "With the roses so red and the…"

Part 4 – [C Chord]

e|----------------|----------------|----------------|-------------|
B|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|------0------|
G|------0---------|------0---------|------0---------|------0------|
D|--2-------------|--2-------------|--0-------------|--0----------|
A|--------3-------|--------3-------|--------3-------|--------3----|
E|----------------|----------------|----------------|-------------|
    T  I  T   I     T   I  T   I
  "…lilies so fair"

Tips

• It helps to hum or sing the melody — you want to know what note you’re targeting.
• Maybelle often used a thumb pick, but a bare thumb works fine too.
• Keep the index finger motion light and rhythmic — like strumming with just one finger.

Listen

Some good Carter picking examples:
- “Wildwood Flower” – The definitive example
- “Keep On the Sunny Side” – Rhythm and melody clearly separated