Best way to go about learning a new technique?

I saw him before and it was alot of fun!
I know nothing about this but will say something anyway….
just give me some time…. :)

Practice Steve…practice practice practice and start with slower tempo until you get it clean. Also ditch the pick while you learn the finger picking parts until you get good at it.

For most new items, its OJT. on the job training. this technique applies to just about any situation, including sex. i never really discuss sex on Fluther, but this is one question where the S word seems appropriate.

One way is to learn basic classical guitar and other finger-pick styles become so much easier because they’re all based on it. you should (generally) use your thumb to come down on the bass D(4), A(5), and E(6) strings, and use primarily your middle and index finger on alternating notes on the E(1), B(2), and G(3) string. Sometimes the reach is too great and you should use the ring and index fingers, or it’s a picked chord and you should use all three fingers and the thumb (kinda like the rockabilly thing). Don’t worry about picking with your pinky – it’s not necessary (And technically wrong in classical, for what it’s worth.) This style dates back to the beginning of classical guitar and is still used in rock/pop/whatever today. If you really do a hard study of finger-pick you may all but give up the pick.

I don’t use a pick when I’m playing my 12-string. But I have seen some pretty amazing finger work from players that use a flat-pick and a finger picking style, like Setzer. Find the technique that suits your style. Then practice, and practice, and then practice some more.

My style is similar to the one described by @JeanPaulSartre above, except I use my thumb for the bass, as described, and then use my index, middle and ring fingers, and occasionally my pinky. I find that the use of a pick, even with a finger picking style, deprives me of one finger I could be using on the rest of the pattern. But it’s ultimate a matter of personal choice, and the type of sound you want.

I’d have to admit that this is an area where I could use improvement too. I would feel lost without my pick though. So I, in turn, developed a style kind of like Eric Johnson. Where you still hold the pick, but when needed, pick higher strings (E—high—B and sometimes G) with my middle or ring finger.

As for learning the technique. This shouldn’t be that hard to explain, but @JeanPaulSartre got the history lesson and basic classical mechanics of it for ya & @Cruiser has got the right idea. Practice, practice, practice and just when you think you’re done, practice, practice, practice again. I can’t stress enough using a metronome. Out of my 15years of playing only in the last year and a half have I been using one and let me tell you, I wish I had one long ago. This is why @Cruiser said,“start with slower tempo until you get it clean.” Any technique can be mastered by this premise. The idea is, you want to play it as perfect as you can at all speeds, but you only play it good fast and not slow your fast is quite sloppy. Playing it perfect slow is almost granted that you’ll be able to work yourself up to near perfect speed.

Enjoy. :)

Practice no doubt :)

Thanks for the tips guys, I think I will get some exercises and licks for the style with a metronome…..see how it goes from there.

Repetition.

A metronome is a good tool to use. Start slow.