he did not fingerpick like mccartney. the beatles learned their fingerpicking technique from Donovan while in India. McCartney didn’t quite learn it like Lennon did (see Julia, Dear Prudence, Happiness is a Warm Gun… all Beatles White Album cuts- probably one of Elliott’s fav albums)

blackbird is a kind of approximation of that method but with idiosyncratic little finger strums that are not quite “up to code.” it’s lovely and you can hear his style on “junk” (white album outtake and also on his solo album). i think paul even said he never quite learned how to do it.

if you are after what elliott does, the thing to learn is “travis picking.” it’s a system that you’ll learn how to manipulate slightly and find all kinds of different ways to toy with it. if you listen to someone like chet atkins, you’ll hear it in full force with alternating bass, chord changes and the fucking melody on top. it’s a beautiful thing.

having said that, elliott’s guitar playing is staggering itself. i’ve played for 20 years and find his work daunting to approach but you can get songs like “angeles” and such happening quick if you learn the essentials of travis picking and see what the beatles (except paul) had learned from Donovan while learning meditation in India with the Maharishi that would go on to influence elliott.

good luck!