African Fingerstyle Guitar Lessons

Take Your Guitar Playing Beyond the Ordinary

In Congo, there are 450 tribes, 450 dialects, and 450 unique approaches to music. At the heart of these traditions is an extraordinary fingerstyle guitar technique that transforms the instrument into an entire ensemble. Every inch of the fretboard is used, creating cascading melodies, intricate rhythms, and a depth of sound unlike anything else.

This style is deeply rooted in tribal knowledge, often guarded by musical elders who see it as a sacred tradition. The complex melodic structures, syncopated rhythmic phrasing, and percussive techniques make this one of the most challenging and rewarding guitar traditions to master.

Niwel Tsumbu is one of the few musicians who has dedicated his life to understanding and sharing these techniques. In this course, he breaks down the mechanics of tribal fingerstyle guitar, making it accessible for players who want to push their technique beyond the ordinary. Whether you are a fingerstyle player looking to expand your approach or a plectrum-based guitarist seeking new inspiration, this course will change the way you see the guitar.

Key Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Master Tribal Fingerstyle Guitar Techniques

Develop a plectrum-free approach that uses all five fingers of the right hand.
Build independence between basslines, melody, and rhythm within a single performance.
Learn syncopated and percussive right-hand techniques unique to Congolese guitar.

Expand Your Melodic and Harmonic Understanding

Understand African intervallic movement, including 3rds, 6ths, and 9ths in Congolese music.
Explore the harmonic and melodic framework of different tribal guitar traditions.
Apply African chord-melody techniques to create intricate solo arrangements.

Deepen Your Rhythmic Awareness

Learn complex African time-feels, polyrhythms, and cross-rhythms.
Study how traditional Ba Kongo and Ba Ngala grooves function in an ensemble.
Develop the ability to lock into African rhythmic cycles naturally.

Sample Lessons

Meet Your Tutor: Niwel Tsumbu

Niwel Tsumbu’s journey began in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he crafted his first guitars using fishing line and bicycle cables. From those early days, he developed into one of the most sought-after and versatile guitarists of his generation, blending his deep roots in Congolese music with jazz, classical, and global influences.

His career has taken him across the world, performing with artists such as Buena Vista Social Club, Baaba Maal, and Natty Wailer, and collaborating with Sinéad O’Connor, Nigel Kennedy, and Michael O’Suilleabháin. More recently, Niwel played on Rhiannon Giddens’ Grammy-winning album and has toured extensively with her and Taj Mahal across the US and Canada. His latest album, Milimo, showcases his ability to bridge African tradition with contemporary expression, further cementing his reputation as a truly innovative musician.

Despite his genre-spanning career, Niwel remains deeply connected to his roots in Sebene, Soukous, and Rumba. In this course, he brings decades of experience back to where it all started—teaching the fundamental rhythms, phrasing, and techniques that define Congolese guitar.

The Ultimate Learning Experience

Tribal Fingerstyle Guitar

Through this 1 hour 40 minute course you are guided all the way by Niwel’s patient dissection and demonstration of how all the component parts of the style slot together.

Interactive On-Screen Notation

Our state of the art learning technology speeds up studying with innovative, interactive tools. Access on-screen notation, tablature, animated fretboards, variable tempos, and more today.

Masterclass

Gain further insights into the traditional fingerstyle guitar genres of Congo by discovering more about the regional styles of music making throughout the country.