cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/41433257
this post was submitted on 10 Jan 2026
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Picking requires much more control than fretting once you've learned the basic shapes or movement.
Think of the timing in it. The fret can be pressed at any time between two notes, but the picking needs to be exactly on time. Fretting basically becomes muscle memory while the picking is the real decision making.
Also think of the expression. Once you've fretted a note, there's little to do with that finger. Bending and hammer-ons maybe, but it's nothing in comparison to what the picking hand does. The picking can change the volume, overdrive, pinch notes, muting and overtones depending on position. Also of course timing as already mentioned.
Traditionally, it was probably chosen because of finger picking though. A lot of classical music is based on very basic chord shapes while the picking hand does all the coordination of playing both bass and melody simultaneously. That requires a lot more rhythmic independence on the picking hand than the fretting hand.