What You Need to Know Before Starting

"End of the Beginning" is a fingerstyle acoustic guitar piece that sits at an intermediate level — you'll need solid finger independence and comfort with open position chords before tackling it. The song uses a mix of fingerpicking patterns, suspended chords, and some barre chords, so expect to spend a few weeks working through it section by section rather than learning it in a day.

The piece is in standard tuning and doesn't require any alternate tunings or capo, which makes it more approachable than some fingerstyle arrangements. The main challenge isn't the individual techniques — it's keeping your right hand steady while your left hand moves between chord shapes.

Key Takeaways

  • The song uses fingerpicking patterns over suspended chords and open position shapes, requiring independent finger control in both hands.
  • You'll need to learn the chord progression first, then layer in the fingerpicking pattern once the changes feel automatic.
  • The right-hand pattern repeats throughout most of the song, so mastering one section makes the rest much faster to learn.
  • Slow practice with a metronome at 60 BPM is more effective than playing at tempo with mistakes.

Learning the Chord Progression

Start by learning the chords without worrying about fingerpicking. The song primarily uses Dsus2, A7sus4, Gmaj7, and Asus2 — all open position chords that sit comfortably under your fingers. Write out the chord names on a piece of paper and practice switching between them cleanly, aiming for smooth transitions with no buzzing strings.

Dsus2 is D-A-D-E-A-D (strings 6 to 1). A7sus4 is X-0-2-0-3-0. Gmaj7 is 3-2-0-0-0-2. Asus2 is 0-0-2-2-0-0. Spend three to five minutes just moving between these four shapes until you can change without looking at your fretboard. This foundation matters more than speed — accuracy first, tempo later.

The Fingerpicking Pattern Explained

The right-hand pattern uses your thumb on the bass strings and your index, middle, and ring fingers on the higher strings. The most common pattern in this piece is: thumb plays the lowest note, then index-middle-ring play in sequence, then the pattern reverses or repeats depending on the section.

A typical measure might look like: thumb on string 4, then index on string 3, middle on string 2, ring on string 1, then back down. Practice this pattern on a single chord — say Dsus2 — for two minutes at a time, keeping your thumb steady and letting your fingers fall naturally. Your thumb should stay in a consistent rhythm while your fingers respond to it, not the other way around.

Combining Chords and Fingerpicking

Once the chords feel automatic and the fingerpicking pattern is solid on a single chord, combine them slowly. Start with just two chords — Dsus2 to A7sus4 — and play the fingerpicking pattern over each one. Change chords on beat 1 of each measure and keep the picking pattern going without stopping.

Use a metronome set to 60 BPM and play four measures of Dsus2, then four measures of A7sus4. If you miss a note or the transition is rough, slow down another 10 BPM and try again. The goal is zero mistakes at a slow tempo, not speed. Once you can move between two chords cleanly, add the third chord, then the fourth.

Working Through the Song Structure

Most versions of this piece follow an intro, verse, and bridge structure. The intro is usually four to eight measures of fingerpicking over a single chord or two chords. Learn the intro first because it sets the tone and fingerpicking pattern for the rest of the song.

The verse repeats the same chord progression and picking pattern, so once the intro is solid, the verse is mostly repetition. The bridge often introduces a new chord or a variation in the picking pattern — this is where you'll spend extra time. Break the bridge into two-measure chunks and learn each one separately before stringing them together.

Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

The most common mistake is playing too fast too soon. If you're making errors, your tempo is too high. Drop it by 20 BPM and play cleanly. A clean performance at 80 BPM is better than a sloppy one at 120 BPM, and your muscle memory will build faster from clean repetition.

The second mistake is letting your thumb rush ahead of your fingers. Your thumb should be the metronome — steady and predictable. If your fingers are chasing your thumb, slow everything down and focus on keeping your thumb in time with the metronome while your fingers follow. Record yourself on your phone and listen back; you'll hear the rhythm issues clearly.

The third mistake is not muting unused strings. Open position chords ring out across the whole neck, and if you're not careful, you'll hear buzzing or unwanted notes. Make sure your fingers are pressing down firmly and that your hand position allows the strings to ring cleanly.

Practice Schedule That Works

Spend the first week learning the four chords and switching between them smoothly. Spend the second week learning the fingerpicking pattern on a single chord. Spend the third week combining chords and picking. By week four, you should be able to play the intro and verse at 60 BPM without stopping.

Practice in 15-minute sessions, three to five times a week. Longer sessions lead to fatigue and sloppy playing. Short, focused sessions build muscle memory faster. Always warm up with the chord changes before you start the fingerpicking pattern, and always end by playing the section you struggled with most that day — your brain will work on it while you rest.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need fingernails or fingerpicks to play this song?

Either works. Fingernails give you more control and a warmer tone, but they break easily. Fingerpicks are durable and consistent, though they take time to get used to. Start with whichever feels more natural to you — the technique is the same either way.

What if I can't switch chords fast enough?

Slow your metronome down to 40 or 50 BPM and focus only on clean chord changes. Once you can change without looking or hesitating, gradually increase the tempo by 5 BPM every few days. Speed comes from clean repetition, not from trying to play fast.

Should I learn this song from a video or from sheet music?

Both have value. Sheet music shows you the exact fingering and rhythm, while a video shows you hand position and movement. If you can read music, start with sheet music and use a video to check your hand position. If you can't read music, a video is faster to learn from.

How long does it usually take to learn this song?

Most players at an intermediate level can play it cleanly in four to six weeks with consistent practice. Beginners may need two to three months. The timeline depends on how much you practice and how much fingerstyle experience you already have.