What "Missed Call" Is and Why It's Worth Learning

"Missed Call" is a fingerstyle guitar piece that uses open tuning and a percussive, rhythmic approach to create a modern, minimalist sound. The song relies on tapping the body of the guitar alongside plucking strings, so it sounds fuller than a standard fingerpicking pattern would. If you've heard it on social media or YouTube, you've likely noticed the distinctive hollow-sounding hits that come from striking the guitar's body rather than just the strings.

The piece is popular among intermediate to advanced fingerstyle players because it combines technical finger independence with creative use of the guitar as a percussion instrument. You don't need to read sheet music to learn it — most players learn by ear or from video tutorials — but you do need patience and a willingness to practice the body-tapping technique separately from the string work.

Key Takeaways

  • Most versions of "Missed Call" use open D tuning or a similar open tuning, which you'll need to retune your guitar to before starting.
  • The core technique involves alternating between plucking strings with your fingers and tapping the guitar's body with your hand or knuckles to create rhythm and texture.
  • Learning the piece in sections — first the body-tapping pattern alone, then the string pattern alone, then combining them — makes the process much less overwhelming.
  • A metronome set to a slow tempo (around 60 to 80 BPM to start) helps you lock in the timing before you speed up.

Setting Up Your Guitar Tuning

Before you play a single note, you need to retune your guitar. The most common version uses open D tuning, which means the strings are tuned (from lowest to highest) to D, A, D, F#, A, D. If your guitar is currently in standard tuning (E, A, D, G, B, E), you'll need to lower several strings.

Start with the low E string and tune it down to D. Then tune the A string down to F#. Leave the D, G, and B strings alone — they're already at the right pitch. Finally, tune the high E string down to D. Use a tuner to check your work; even being slightly off will throw off the whole piece.

If you're not comfortable retuning by ear, use a digital tuner or a tuning app on your phone. Once you've got the tuning right, play all six strings together — you should hear a rich, open D major chord. That's your reference point for the rest of the piece.

Learning the Body-Tapping Pattern First

The most distinctive part of "Missed Call" is the percussive body tapping. Before you worry about which strings to pluck, isolate this rhythm and get it solid. The basic pattern usually involves tapping the body of the guitar in a specific spot — typically near the soundhole or on the upper bout of the body — in a steady, repeating rhythm.

Place your hand (usually your right hand if you're right-handed) on the guitar body and tap with your knuckles or the fleshy part of your palm. The goal is to create a consistent, audible "thunk" sound. Practice this pattern slowly with a metronome set to 60 BPM. Don't rush — getting the timing locked in is more important than playing fast.

Once the tapping feels natural and you can do it without thinking, speed it up slightly to 70 or 80 BPM. The rhythm should feel like a heartbeat — steady and predictable. This is the foundation everything else sits on top of.

Adding the Fingerpicking Pattern

Once your body tapping is solid, learn the string-plucking part separately. Most versions of "Missed Call" use a fingerpicking pattern where you pluck specific strings in a repeating sequence. The exact strings vary depending on which version you're learning from, but a common pattern involves plucking the lower strings (D and A) in an alternating pattern while occasionally hitting higher strings for texture.

Use your thumb for the lower strings and your index, middle, and ring fingers for the higher strings. Practice this pattern without the body tapping — just focus on getting the finger movements smooth and consistent. Again, use a metronome and start slow. The pattern should feel automatic by the time you're ready to combine it with the tapping.

Pay attention to which fingers are responsible for which strings. Consistency matters more than speed at this stage. If you find yourself fumbling or hesitating, slow down further and drill just that section until it's solid.

Combining Tapping and Plucking Together

Now comes the tricky part: doing both at the same time. Start at a very slow tempo — 50 or 60 BPM — and play just one or two cycles of the combined pattern before stopping. The goal is not to play the whole piece yet, but to prove to yourself that your hands can coordinate.

If you find yourself losing the tapping rhythm when you start plucking, that's normal. Go back to practicing the tapping alone for a few more minutes, then try again. Your brain is learning to split attention between two independent rhythmic tasks, and that takes repetition.

Once you can play a few cycles cleanly, gradually increase the tempo by 5 or 10 BPM. Stay at each tempo until it feels comfortable before moving up. This is not a race. Most players spend several practice sessions just getting the coordination solid before they worry about playing at performance speed.

Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

The most common mistake is trying to play too fast too soon. "Missed Call" sounds impressive at full speed, but the only way to get there is through slow, deliberate practice. If you're making mistakes, the answer is always to slow down, not to push through.

Another frequent issue is inconsistent body tapping. If your taps are uneven in volume or timing, the whole piece falls apart. If this happens, stop and spend five minutes just tapping the body with a metronome. Don't add any string work — just lock in the rhythm.

Some players also struggle with muting unwanted string noise. When you're tapping the body, your plucking hand is busy, so strings can ring out and create muddy sound. Practice letting strings ring when they should and dampening them when they shouldn't. This comes with repetition and ear training.

Finding Video References and Tutorials

Since "Missed Call" is primarily learned by ear, watching someone play it is invaluable. Search YouTube for "Missed Call guitar tutorial" or "Missed Call fingerstyle" and you'll find multiple versions. Watch a few different players — they may use slightly different tunings or techniques, and seeing multiple approaches helps you understand the core idea.

Slow down the video using YouTube's playback speed controls (set it to 0.75x or 0.5x) so you can see exactly where the player's hands are and what they're doing. Pause frequently and try to replicate what you see. This is how most fingerstyle players learn modern pieces like this one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use open D tuning, or can I play it in standard tuning?

You can transpose it to standard tuning if you want, but open D tuning is what makes the piece sound the way it does. The open strings ring together and create that full, resonant quality. Learning it in the original tuning first is worth the effort.

How long does it usually take to learn this piece?

If you're already comfortable with fingerstyle guitar, you might have the basics down in a week or two of regular practice. If you're newer to fingerstyle, expect two to four weeks. The body-tapping coordination is the biggest hurdle for most players.

What if my guitar doesn't sound good in open D tuning?

Some guitars sound better in open tunings than others, especially if the neck is set up for standard tuning. If the strings feel too loose or the intonation sounds off, your guitar may need a setup adjustment. For now, just make sure your tuner says you're in the right tuning and proceed — the piece will still be learnable.

Can I use a pick instead of fingerpicking?

You could, but fingerpicking gives you much more control over which strings ring and which ones stay quiet. The body tapping also works better when your picking hand is free to tap. Fingerstyle is the right approach for this piece.

Should I memorize the piece or read tabs?

Most people learn "Missed Call" by watching videos and playing by ear rather than reading tabs. If tabs exist for the version you're learning, they can help you understand the structure, but the real learning happens when you watch someone play it and copy what they do.