Matteo Mancuso: Game Changer Finger Style - Tutorial through Interviews 

For classical I was trained that the sound should be 50% nail and 50% flesh. You don't need long nails for this. Additionally you can strengthen nails by painting a nail strengthening polish on them. I used to do it all the time when I was younger, but switched to playing with a pick. For simplicity's sake now that I'm older and don't have as much time to practice I'm switching back to fingerstyle. I used to play fingerstyle on electric but it was tough to play rock and jazz which is why I switched to a pick. Mateo has inspired me and shown me it's not impossible.

This young man can play. He is unbelievable and so young. He has a long career ahead of him. May G d Bless him ! Keep playing !

At 24 years old, he's a prodigy and a genius. It's not only his technique, it's his mature knowledge of music.

A stunning genius

8th Awesome wonder of the world. Another who came to develop a unique technique to reinvent guitar playing! Totally Awesome Dude!

Caro Matteo , sinecramente sei uno dei migliori gitaristi che ho sentito nella vita.. e sono sicuro come gitarista..che il tuo modo di imaparare suonare questo strumento..e stato diverso degli altri ..io sto suonando 4 anni ..e suono sempre..guardo tv... suono ..sto litigando coni figli suonando.. mi serve gitara come una terzo mano ..ma il tuo livelo , e un " viagio diverso " ... sono contetno che mi posso esprimere in italiano .. 😊, ti augoro un grande sucesso internazionale.. ( scusa se ci sono erori gramatici 😉..) saluti da Edy ,

Awesome skills . One of todays premier guitarists !

Congrats, very nice and useful video for Matteo fans...

Thank you so much for putting all the work in to create this compilation.

We need to see more of him and his bands

Thank you for posting such a valuable video on technique! 🙏

Complimenti Matteo, hai una grande tecnica, grande suono e pulizia di esecuzione very Nice 👌👌👌👍👍

amazing Matteo and the video presentation also!

Thanks for compiling this. Very useful, like compact collection. Really appreciate it

I would suggest studying classical guitar. I went school for classical guitar performance and this a-m-i technique is exactly what I use to play 'shred' speeds.

this guy would have an insane tremolo on classical guitar lmao

Thanks Matteo you give me hope. I just turn to electric guitar from spanish, fingerstyle on electric aint easy you looked it an easy cake 😂.

He was born with it. You can tell.

I was watching right now the video from where you took this images. Excellente "in short" you did, thank you very much. Greatings from Brasil.

thank you a lot for this video!

Amazing, so much talent! Thank you for this insight into his technique. I'd like to know more about his fingernail shape/length and his tapping technique. I wonder how he is able to tap without the fingernails getting in the way. Does anyone know about this or have a picture of his fingernails? Does he use a specific finger for the tapping and keep the nail short to allow for tapping?

On electric guitar, no one is near this kid in ANY way. Between him and Yamandu Costa on nylon string, they have it sewn up.

I’ve accepted that I’ll never be that good. But I’ll keep playing.

🔥

how do matteo do power chords? i was looking videos

7:51 a cliff of dover spotted

This is Claudio Quartarone s technique.

… and he also does tapping and harp harmonics

I don't see how he can rely on only his natural fingernails. What if they wear down, or if he breaks a nail? I thought for sure he had an acrylic nail treatment for more strength and durability

11:11 .

CASTELDACCIA STYLE

The strings are played like some bass players play. I'm guessing there is a lot of compression used.

Whatever dude!

Disagree that you need nails for hundred percent finger style guitar playing, have been playing with the flesh of my fingers for years because I got sick of the nails getting chewed up and long nails are no good for piano, once the callous forms it’s not a problem only a different sound.

You're Sicilian???? You look more like you're from France😮

I love matteo's playing, but Claudio Quartarone invented this technique.

Inimitabile

Just because he shows you what to do doesn't mean your going to be able to do it we are all built different with are own abilities some people just can't move that fast and some can't sync left and right hands with increased speed it is better imo to learn about yourself and take it from there do what you can do and don't stress what you can't because we don't all want to sound the same

This is great, and what a talented player. But this seems to only work for the style of music he plays. If you're playing rock, or metal, the sharp tone that the pick creates is almost necessary. When you hit the strings with your fingers, the tone always comes out alot thicker. And then what if he needs to do like pinch harmonics all over? Not that you cant do that with your fingers, but now you're making things extremely hard on yourself, just to play arpeggios fast. and unless you're playing arpeggios all the time, and for speed.. would this style even work for most players or just Matteo? If he tried a metallica riff, with his fingers, it would sound dead. So where I understand to play things, lightning fast, such as arpeggios.. he's probably correct, the pick will stifle your speed. Unfortunately for most of us, we need the pick for our rhythms. We don't all play flamenco. If theres a video someone can link me, of him playing different styles and it actually working.. that would be cool. I just cant see his style working for anything other than flamenco, or spanish styles of playing. The reason for this post, is the initial thought of alot of players is going to be "wow. i cant play arps that fast and clean, i better switch to finger style". and then they try to play some metal style riff with a sweep.. and its gonna sound awful, using just your fingers. And dropping the pick everytime you wanna sweep, probably isnt gonna cut it.

I frickin’ ADORE this guy. I am thankful to be alive at the same time he is, and I’m 70, so I’ve seen and heard all the greats. Matteo is a gift to the world. If there was ever proof of reincarnation, he would be it. I think he possesses the combined talent of several lifetimes, and I’m deadly serious.

I laugh everytime he so easily explains a conplex musical problem and he hesitates a moment, but its not because the nearly impossible musical passage, its because hes seeking to find the right English word for us!! 😂 God bless, you Matteo. May God give you many many productive years.

...now let's analyze and do science around Matteos playing... He just found his way and developed it hand in hand with his talent and virtuosity and he's gorgeous. In my opinion, what's he teaching us is trusting ourselves while being different. It may sound too philosophical, but it's the way. Let's develope our own talents, not being scared to step out off stereotypes. Thank you Matteo. I'll let my sons know about you ❤️. (Sorry for my english)

That's the classical way to play with nylon strings in Andalucía.

His playing is nothing short of spectacular. Note choices, phrases. Hats off

I just discovered this young man about three weeks ago. He’s quickly become one of my favorite guitar players. He’s absolutely amazing.

What's truly incredible about Matteo is that, yes, he is showing us a "beyond" technique, but that he also has incredible TASTE. I think both of those are what turned heads like Al DiMeola's!

I play flamenco guitar and this reminds me of that style especially the index and middle I also use my ring finger. Superb technique and more importantly excellent phrasing and note choices.

I hope Yamaha is eternally thankful for Matteo. The best living fusion guitarist on Earth, faithfully playing those axes; must be such a charmed relationship.

My fingernails are thin as paper. A very good excuse to not try to master astonishing technique of Matteo Mancuso! :)

I am learning this technique , expanding my classical guitar knowledge to play electric guitar, Mateo is one of the best players I've encounter in my journey, yes I like guys like Abasi or Marty Friedman or Charlie Hunter, but I think to me Mateo is very complete and fluid and clear.

Matteo is my latest favorite guitarist. I often play playlists of his music in our store. He's played with some of the top guitarists in the world, and they are in awe of him. I wish he'd tour the USA!

That alternate fingerpicking has a name. It's : picado And it's used in flamenco a LOT.

I have been Travis picking for fifty years and the timing to tie the two hands together is next to impossible.

He isn’t doing nothing Lenny Breau wasn’t doing in 1969!

Inventare un nuovo modo di suonare nel 2000...e con melodie e suoni fantasticI.... UN GENIO ASSOLUTO NEL MONDO

His genius is the musicality of soloing not the technique - his fingers do what he has in mind, so mature and it sounds as it was all just available as the air we breathe … once upon a time I decided to leave fingerstyle because I believed in rock or fusion guitar must be a pick. This bravery is what kicks me the most about the technique. It’s simply beautiful as a whole.

I feel like I have wittnesed future of guitar world

i suspect we will see more from Matteo going forward...

Imagine how many hours this guy practice to get to this lvl🙀🙀

This is awesome material, and I will be studying it heavily! Thanks Attila!

Thanks for doing this! We should give Matteo a Patreon donation for his contribution to guitar! And for sharing it.

Let's not forget his left hand - perfect finger independence and an extremely strong little finger.

he's great because he studied classical guitar

Flamenco Picado player here- trying to use this technique on electric like him. Assuming the technique is a little different

5:38 FUCK. My guitars and amps are now for sale!

This is amazing to watch! Thanks so much for putting this together 🙏 Very helpful and inspiring!! Advantage: You are a brilliant bass player on top of it after those studies :D

incredible guitarist

His right hand technique is like a lutenist -- fingers nearly parallel with the strings. I gave up picks about 5 years ago, but I can't play even half as fast as Matteo. Sigh.

Genio assoluto

8:58 the interviewer is so impressed by Matteo's technique his head has fallen off

This has been an eye-opener for me. After years of worrying about the right hand fingering, it was great to see how Matteo has taken his own approach based on the classical technique. Whatever feels more comfortable for him and sounds better - is always the way.

I’m a finger style guitarist trying to branch into more jazz and fusion and honestly idk how tf he does what he does 🤯

Ok Master All picking styles classic etc then add your breakthrough solution GOT IT👍😎

Just curious, could this be accomplished with out nails? I know it would be more soft scratchy sounding with finger pads/tips but could it be accomplished?

Insanity. I'm 37 and just starting to learn guitar I am putting the pick down and going to try with my fingers!! How amazing

Matteo is just amazing ! For sure, he's one of my favorites guitar players.

The bassist Percy Jones uses the three finger method

Più guardo Matteo e più mi convinco che ha una mente straordinaria su cui fare crescere il suo straordinario talento musicale

Can't make out from the videos exactly - does he use nails, flesh, or both?

When will he peak? Now...30 yo, 35-40 yo? Even if it's now he is truly innovative and in a league of few if not of his own.

Thanks to both of you for showing his approach. So intuitive. His musical sensibilities are amazing too.

Get the NOAD Solo Guitar Playing book. It teaches this stuff. Standard stuff for teaching Classical guitar. Having a good classical guitar teacher is key though. Also you really have to learn to take care of your nails.

Caio Matteo ! You live in My Families Home Town.

He's kind of doing for guitar what Victor Wooten did for bass - combining techniques in revolutionary ways.

He's moonwalking the strings at 5:15 lol

I love ❤️ my baby Paison Mateo @😊

Just a little food for thought. I was going through these and if you can 2 way pick slant and economy pick/sweep in both directions you can do these kinds of phrases. The additional secret is hybrid picking only when it is absolutely necessary. Like when he was demonstrating the minor arpeggio going backwards in 4s you could hybrid pick the first note and sweep the rest for each group of 4. Hope this helps because I like these phrasing ideas and they are definitely doable with a pick and fingers imho. Good luck!

Matteo is a genious. A low quality video with strong content.

For the "free stroke" picking, I think the reason his fingertips are almost parallel to the strings is so that he can pluck each string at almost the same distance from the bridge. This helps assure that there isn't much difference in the "timbre" of each string. This is particularly important on steel strings, but is not much of an issue on nylon strings. And, that's why his hand position for free stroke is so different to that of many Classical Guitarists.

This is awesome 👍 thanks for editing

I like to use finger picking but hate having long nails on one hand

he would make a great flamenco player ,, rest stroke and finger style ,, all that you do

He has to work with davie504 It's the only way to change the world

Claudio Quartarone.

This guy deserves wayy more recognition than the Likes of polyphia or even mateus asato

For the "Classic Yngwie Lick" at 1:58 it looks like he is using the 6 notes per beat pattern of: M I M A M I [ I = index, M = middle, and A = ring ] But his slow speed is still so damn fast, it's hard to be sure. This has his middle finger playing the downbeat. Am I right, or did anyone catch what he's doing there more precisely?

As a classical player, I've heard a lot of people try this and Matteo has developed this technique better than most classical players. Matt Palmer is the only other player I can think of who plays AMI runs as even, fast, and clean.

I quit.

Wonder how it sounds with full tonality and without the siliencer up the neck

An absolute monster.