• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content

Adam Rafferty

Funky Fingerstyle Guitar

  • Home
  • Free Guitar Lessons
  • My New Book
  • Store
  • Tour
  • Blog
    • All Posts List
  • Podcast
    • All Episodes List
  • About
  • Contact
    • NEW – “Ask Adam” Voicemail
    • Booking Contact
    • Contact (email)
  • Show Search
Hide Search

The Inner Game of Fingerstyle Guitar

by Adam Rafferty

Playing the guitar requires a blend of intuition, intellect, and emotion, and the path to excellence can be a confusing one.

In “The Inner Game of Fingerstyle Guitar,” you’ll learn how to:

  • Practice more effectively
  • Silence the inner critic that can sabotage your performances
  • Get rid of stage fright and perform well in any situation
  • Develop your own “voice” and touch on the instrument
  • Find new performance opportunities
  • Get out of a “guitar rut”
  • Develop an effective practice routine
  • Visualize and achieve your musical goals

Available Now as paperback, audiobook or Kindle Download on Amazon

Order Now – Amazon US

If you are outside the USA, please choose the correct Amazon store to Order:

  • Amazon UK
  • Amazon DE
  • Amazon ES
  • Amazon FR
  • Amazon IT
  • Amazon NL
  • Amazon JP
  • Amazon BR
  • Amazon CA
  • Amazon MX
  • Amazon AU
  • Amazon IN

Hey – It’s an Amazon #1 Besteller! Check it out…

The strategies, real-life stories, and advice in this friendly, encouraging book will help you achieve true excellence in your guitar playing, as well as in life.

Here’s what readers are saying…

(And hey…I’d love to feature you here as well!)

“There are many fine guitar books available. This isn’t another one of them. This book isn’t “fine”, it’s great. If you love the guitar, but feel you can’t get very far or don’t know what to do next, this book should speak to you. It is a little bit of gold, an indispensable addition to the music library.

Someone who is thoroughly absorbed in their field can see a wide range of meaning and applications in the field they love. Just as Bruce Lee could teach you about philosophy and psychology and not just martial arts, so Adam Rafferty can give you advice that seriously improves, and yet goes way beyond, what happens when you pick up the guitar.

It may not be what you expect – there are no pages of tab, or pieces of music, or pictures of exercises for your hand position or your scales or whatever. If you don’t know anything about music theory, then somehow you will by the time you’ve finished it, without having been weighed down by any “teaching”. If you care about the mysteries of how your music connects with an audience – whether at a family party or an open mic night or a “proper” gig – this book will lead you towards them.

More than anything, this book is about what it means to you to have any involvement with music, whether you want an audience or not; and how you can apply the same principles to other areas of life. The only other thing I have read by a musician that came close to this is “Effortless Mastery” by Kenny Werner, a wonderful book but a little bit “spaced out” – Mr Rafferty has a more down-to-earth approach. Useful, sensible, helpful – and from the heart.“

avatar

Graham L.

Guitarist, UK

“This is all of Adam Rafferty’s wisdom accumulated through his illustrious career, and from his amazing musical friends.

This is not “how to play fingerstyle guitar”; it’s much better. It tells you everything you need to know to become a true musician rather than just a guitarist. You’ll learn to select what pieces to play, and how to play them to entertain and captivate an audience. You’ll learn how to practice effectively and how to move past technical skill and truly groove.

Adam has done it all, from classical guitar learned from the finest NYC teachers, to jazz guitar played with the great Harlem jazz bands, to modern fingerstyle guitar with Tommy Emmanuel.

And he shares it all in the pages of this wonderful book, just like he does on his teaching website, StudyWithAdam.com

Adam is a treasure. He’s learned from the musical giants, and shares it freely in the pages of this book.

You need to own ‘The Inner Game of Fingerstyle Guitar’ if you love to play and whether you aspire to share that love with your family and close friends or a world-wide audience of music lovers.

Any guitarist from beginner to performer can apply the lessons from ‘The Inner Game’ to elevate their playing to the next level and beyond.”

avatar

PickerDad (David P.)

Guitarist, CA

“Adam Rafferty is generous and he has come to know the art of the guitar deeply. This book is a portrait of his musical journey including the wonder of first discovery, the middle-earth of the guitar that is colored by ‘what should I play’ and inevitable self-doubt, and the weekly tutelage under master-musician Mike Longo who challenged and shaped how he thinks as a musician.

The generosity side of Adam Rafferty includes the fact that among other accomplishments, he is a masterful educator who understands the process of how people learn. For the rest of the world who would like to better at playing the guitar (and who wouldn’t?) that’s a winning combination because he puts some of this on a silver platter for us have.

The “inner game” can be part of the problem or part of the solution. In his book, the “War of Art,” Steve Pressfield personifies that inner voice of negativity who takes as victory everytime you tell yourself you’re no good. And here Adam takes all of that and applies it to creating success with playing the guitar.

The book literally takes off when we get to Adam’s guidance under Mike Longo who served as Dizzy Gillespie’s piano player and arranger. What Adam has done in this book is to open the doors for the reader that Longo opened for him. It remains your choice to walk through those doors, but in the true spirit of generosity shaped by the mind of a consummate educator, Adam takes you there.

The most powerful example when he shares Longo’s structured thinking of “What to play” and “How to play.” Each of those categories has 5 components. That alone is worth the price of admission, but then Adam offers his guidance on effective means of practicing and his personal and humbling experiences with both success and failure in performance.

It is the how to proceed on the guitar, with Mike Longo philosophies and Adam Rafferty applications that make this the fine work that it is. Highly recommended.”

Michael Miles
Concert Artist & Author (Banjo & Guitar)

avatar

Michael Miles

MilesMusic.org

I sincerely hope that this book brings you closer to your goals of guitar excellence and helps you along your journey.

I look forward to getting your feedback and getting to know you better!

Groove on! – Adam

Available Now as paperback, audiobook or Kindle Download on Amazon

Order Now – Amazon US

If you are outside the USA, please choose the correct Amazon store to Order:

  • Amazon UK
  • Amazon DE
  • Amazon ES
  • Amazon FR
  • Amazon IT
  • Amazon NL
  • Amazon JP
  • Amazon BR
  • Amazon CA
  • Amazon MX
  • Amazon AU
  • Amazon IN

Get private guitar coaching from me HERE.

Adam Rafferty

Copyright © 2023 Adam Rafferty and Crescent Ridge Publishing | Email Policy | Privacy GDPR, & Cookies

FREE - “Discover the 7 Tools You'll Need to Record Awesome Fingerstyle Guitar - At Home!”
Learn how you can get great results with very affordable equipment. I'll show you exactly what I used at home to record my most recent CD. Enjoy!
Start playing "Simplicity" and "Vitamin E Blues" - in just minutes...for FREE!
Your tabs will come INSTANTLY via email. Just fill out this form, grab your guitar and start learning - Instantly!
Discover 5 Powerful Techniques that Will Make You Sound Like a Full Band on a Single Guitar. Learn to play Bass Lines, Melodies and Grooves at the Same Time - Guaranteed!
Watch these FREE guitar lesson videos revealing my “secrets” to guitar technique, groove, and effective practice so that you can improve YOUR playing, INSTANTLY!
FREE - Get PDF tabs and 9 Step-by-Step Video Lessons for "Vitamin E Blues" - Instantly...
Your PDF tabs and video links will come INSTANTLY via email. Just fill out this form, grab your guitar and start learning - in just minutes!
Get the FREE PDF and Start Playing "Simplicity" for Solo Guitar in Just Minutes!
You will love learning and playing this song...and your friends and family will listen in amazement as YOU play it!
Learn to play "Silent Night" for Fingerstyle Guitar - Instantly!
You'll get a PDF and 8 Video Guitar Lessons, FREE.
Learn to play "Silent Night" for fingerstyle guitar - Instantly!
You'll get a PDF with complete guitar tabs and 8 video guitar lessons - free.
FREE - “Discover the 7 Tools You'll Need to Record Awesome Fingerstyle Guitar - At Home!”
Learn how you can get great results with very affordable equipment. I'll show you exactly what I used at home to record my most recent CD. Enjoy!
Start playing "Simplicity" and "Vitamin E Blues" - in just minutes...for FREE!
Your tabs will come INSTANTLY via email. Just fill out this form, grab your guitar and start learning - Instantly!
Discover 5 Powerful Techniques that Will Make You Sound Like a Full Band on a Single Guitar. Learn to play Bass Lines, Melodies and Grooves at the Same Time - Guaranteed!
Watch these FREE guitar lesson videos revealing my “secrets” to guitar technique, groove, and effective practice so that you can improve YOUR playing, INSTANTLY!
We take your privacy seriously. No spam. See our terms and privacy here.
FREE - Get PDF tabs and 9 Step-by-Step Video Lessons for "Vitamin E Blues" - Instantly...
Subscribe to my newsletter and get Instant Access to the Free PDF - and videos! The will come INSTANTLY via email. Grab your guitar and start learning - in just minutes!
Get the FREE PDF and Start Playing "Simplicity" for Solo Guitar - Instantly!
You will love learning and playing this song...and your friends and family will listen in amazement as YOU play it!
We take your privacy seriously. No spam. See our terms and privacy here.
FREE - Get PDF tabs and 9 Step-by-Step Video Lessons for "Vitamin E Blues" - Instantly...
Subscribe to my newsletter and get Instant Access to the Free PDF and videos! Links will come INSTANTLY via email. Grab your guitar and start learning - in just minutes!
FREE - Get the Tabs and MP3 for
"Just A City Boy" - Instantly...
Your PDF tabs and mp3 will come INSTANTLY via email. Just fill out this form, grab your guitar and start learning - in just minutes!
FREE - Get the Tabs and MP3 for
"Ciao Bella" - Instantly
Your PDF tabs and MP3 will come INSTANTLY via email. Just fill out this form, grab your guitar and start learning - in just minutes!
FREE - Get the Tabs and MP3 for
"Listen to Your Heart" - Instantly...
Your PDF tabs and mp3 will come INSTANTLY via email. Just fill out this form, grab your guitar and start learning - in just minutes!
FREE - Get the Video Lessons, Tabs and MP3 for
"Shelter Island" - Instantly...
Your PDF tabs and video links will come INSTANTLY via email. Just fill out this form, grab your guitar and start learning - in just minutes!
FREE - Get the Tabs and MP3 for
"America" - Instantly...
Your PDF tabs and mp3 will come INSTANTLY via email. Just fill out this form, grab your guitar and start learning - in just minutes!
10 Tips for Healthy Guitar Practicing
The form collects information we will use to send you updates about promotions, special offers, and news. We take your privacy seriously. No spam. See our terms and privacy here.
Almost there! Please complete this form and click the button below to subscribe to the newsletter and gain instant access.
Learn to play "O Come All Ye Faithful" for Fingerstyle Guitar, Instantly!
We take your privacy seriously. No spam. See our terms and privacy here.
Subscribe to my newsletter and get Instant Access to the Free PDF - enjoy!
Learn "Angels We Have Heard on High" for Fingerstyle Guitar, Instantly.
We take your privacy seriously. No spam. See our terms and privacy here.
Subscribe to my newsletter and get Instant Access to the Free PDF - enjoy!
We take your privacy seriously. No spam. See our terms and privacy here.
FREE - Get the PDF Tabs for this "E7 Groove"
Instantly...
Subscribe to my newsletter and receive tips about guitar and get instant access to the free PDF.

Learn to use harmonics, slaps and percussion!
We take your privacy seriously. No spam. See our terms and privacy here.
Download The "Groove Scales PDF" and Watch Your Technique Improve Effortlessly!
Subscribe to my newsletter and receive tips about guitar and get instant access to the free PDF.

Learn this simple yet powerful warm up technique in minutes...
We take your privacy seriously. No spam. See our terms and privacy here.
Download The "4 Levels of Thumb Picking" and Watch your Technique Improve Dramatically!
Subscribe to my newsletter and get instant access to the FREE PDF!.

Full chord progression as played in the video is included in the tabs.
We take your privacy seriously. No spam. See our terms and privacy here.
Discover Lush Guitar Harmonies With a Simple
One Finger Move...
Subscribe to my newsletter and get instant access to the FREE PDF!

You'll also get the 'move' as well on D, G, C, E and A minor chords in the tabs!
Learn to play "O Holy Night" for Fingerstyle Guitar - Instantly!
We take your privacy seriously. No spam. See our terms and privacy here.
Subscribe to my newsletter and get Instant Access to the Free PDF - enjoy!
We take your privacy seriously. No spam. See our terms and privacy here.
Give Your Technique and Fretboard Knowledge a Boost - Quickly and Easily....
Subscribe to my newsletter and get instant access to the FREE PDF!

You'll get the 3 octave G scale with all tabs and fingerings - Instantly!
Learn to Play Arpeggios "Magically" on the Guitar - In Just Minutes...
It's actually so easy to understand and play arpeggios using this technique, that you'll feel like you're cheating! :-) Enjoy!
Give Your Technique and Fretboard Knowledge a Boost, Quickly and Easily...
Subscribe to my newsletter and get instant access to this free PDF. You'll get the "Boost Your Scale Chops" tabs with fingerings delivered Instantly!
We take your privacy seriously. No spam. See our terms and privacy here.
Are You Curious About the Jazz Solo from
my "Black Orpheus" Video?
Tabbed out just for you! Here's the improvised solo from "Black Orpheus" plus a lead sheet of the alternate chord changes I use. Enjoy!