10 of The Best Fingerstyle Guitar Covers On YouTube

Written by: Tiff Bryan
Inspiration

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In this blog post, we will share with you 10 of the best fingerstyle guitar covers on YouTube that you need to check out for inspiration.

If you love music and guitar, you have probably heard of fingerstyle guitar. It is a way of playing the guitar that uses the fingers instead of a pick to pluck the strings.

This creates a beautiful and expressive sound that can combine melody, harmony, and rhythm on one instrument.

Many guitarists on YouTube use fingerstyle guitar to create amazing covers of songs from different genres and artists.

They add their flair and personality to the original songs, making them sound fresh and new.

No matter what kind of music you like, you will find something that will impress you and make you want to pick up your guitar in this list.

1. The Most Unusual Guitar, The Most Dazzling Performer

What if Michael Jackson was a Scottish fingerstyle guitarist? Well, you don’t have to wonder anymore because Calum Graham has got you covered.

In this video, he plays a mind-blowing cover of “Billie Jean”, the king of pop’s signature song. Calum uses his guitar to create a funky and groovy sound that matches the original song’s vibe, while adding his own twists and techniques.

He plays with such skill and swagger that you’ll be moonwalking along with him.

2. This Is How To Play Harmonics

Gabriella Quevedo, a Swedish fingerstyle guitarist, plays a brilliant cover of “Nothing Else Matters”, the famous rock song by Metallica.

She uses her guitar to imitate the vocals and instruments of the original song and adds some variations to make it more interesting.

She plays with great skill and style. If you want to hear how to use the harmonics technique, pay attention at 0:42.

3. Sungha Jung – The True Fingerpicking Maestro

We’ve got a musical surprise just for you! Introducing Sungha Jung, the South Korean fingerstyle guitar prodigy who’s been strumming and picking his way into our hearts since the tender age of 10.

In this video, Sungha works his enchantment on Maroon 5’s chart-topper, “Payphone,” straight from their album Overexposed. But what sets this rendition apart is Sungha’s sheer ingenuity.

He flawlessly reproduces the vocals and instruments from the original track while sprinkling in unexpected and creative sounds and effects that’ll have you hooked from start to finish. 🪄🎸

4. Literally a One Man band

Hey there, U2 fans, this one’s for you! Get ready to be blown away by Luca Stricagnoli, the Italian fingerstyle guitar wizard known for his mind-blowing arrangements.

In this video, he takes on U2’s iconic “With or Without You” from their legendary album, The Joshua Tree. But here’s the twist – Luca doesn’t just play one guitar, oh no, he plays three! 🎸🎸🎸

He weaves a mesmerizing tapestry of sound, capturing every ounce of emotion from the original while adding his signature flair and technique. Luca’s passion and skill will leave you absolutely spellbound.

5. 8 Strings? Now That’s Just Being Greedy

This video is a treat for all the metalheads out there. It features Rob Scallon, an American fingerstyle guitarist who is known for his covers of rock and metal songs on various instruments.

He plays a wicked cover of “One”, the epic song by Metallica from their album. He plays with such speed, accuracy, and intensity that his performance will blow you away.

Oh, 4:47. What’s that all about?…

6. Beautiful Boyce Avenue Cover

This video is a blast for all the Twilight fans out there. It features Boyce Avenue, a cool acoustic band from Florida, rocking an awesome cover of “A Thousand Years”, the hit song by Christina Perri from the movie Twilight.

Boyce Avenue uses their guitars and vocals to make the song sound fresh, fun, and catchy while adding their own twists and turns.

They play with such energy and talent that you will want to sing along with them.

7. Close Your Eyes, Picture Yourself Chillin’ On A Beach

You’re now in for a treat because, in this video, you’ll see one of the best fingerstyle guitarists in the world: Tommy Emmanuel.

He’s an Australian legend who has played since he was four. He plays a lovely cover of “Close to You”, a classic song by The Carpenters.

Tommy’s style oozes feel. And the tone on his guitar makes you happy acoustic guitars were created. *Dreamy Smile*.

8. “Africa” by Toto Fingerstyle Cover

This video displays the amazing fingerstyle guitar skill of Alexandr Misko, a Russian guitarist who has been playing since he was 12 years old. He plays a brilliant cover of “Africa”, the classic rock song by Toto.

Alexandr uses his guitar to mimic the original song’s vocal and instrumental parts and adds his own percussive and harmonic elements to create a unique and lively musical arrangement.

9. Proof Any Song Style Can Sound Fantastic Fingerpicked

This video features Peter Gergely, a Hungarian fingerstyle guitarist who has been playing since he was 16 years old.

He plays a touching cover of “See You Again”, the emotional tribute song by Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth for the late Paul Walker.

Peter uses his guitar to convey the original song’s melody, harmony, and rap parts while adding his own percussive and tapping techniques to create a rich and dynamic musical expression.