Strumming.

Hi all,
just starting playing (really badly) got the chords worked out ok but what I am having trouble with is the strumming.
My question is how do I know the stumming pattern for the cords as each piece of music is different ?
Is it just a case of working it out for myself ?
If it is a case of working out the strumming pattern for myself does anyone have any advice or help they could give me ?
I know about 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 but that does not work all the time as I know that sometimes chords are just played once or twice but how do I know ?
I expect that must of you will think I am thick when you read this maybe I am. Any help at all would be very welcome. Does anyone have any music that has the strumming pattern with it please.
Thanks for your time
Ian (bad player) :confused:

http://www.boulderschoolofmusic.com/RhythmsFills.htm

This may help you. Basically, you need to learn all(or atleast some) of the defined rhythm patterns. The above page is usefull because you can get audio examples. Learning these defined rhythms can help you see what strumming pattern to play as most patterns are noted based on defined patterns such as waltz, shuffle, bosa nova, etc. This is what you would learn if you were to take percussion. Something not necessarily taught in guitar.

Thanks very much for the help and your time

All the best

from badplayer

Hey dude,

Im writing a beginners tutorial covering this as we speak.

Im aiming to get it published here next weekend or shortly after.

I will have midi, video and mp3 support and will cover both the basics of strumming, flat picking, and show how to integrating the all three styles.

So, as they say on all the best radio shows, don't touch that dial !

Dr.
You will use one chord first to teach the down-stroke ,
then combine the up-stroke with the downstroke?

Just kidding

Mark TRIAD
P:S What Key will you use first?

Well, it is Twinkle Twinkle littler star in C !!

Is that snickering I hear ??

I have the piano piece (yes the Mozart variations no less) done (by Catherine my wonderful wife) and the guitar accompaniment down and the audio spliced to the video. So, now it is just a case of putting captions on the video and getting the whole thing published here at GT!!

Dr.

Anyway i forgot to ask if you have checked out or do check other
instuctors on how, they teach guitar?
In my area alot of the music store instructors, are mad, about the cable tv,
instructors teaching guitar on video.
They can rewind, fast forward, pause,the lessons ect.
I checked them out and thier not bad.
I alwasy pick up littles things from other instuctors then add them,
some where in my brain.lol
Anyway i thick video will be the teaching tool of the future.
These guy and gal instuctors on cable tv are located in fl,
when thier not on the road.
If you want check them out thier web site is www.magrack.com
Its called guitarexpress.
Later skee1= Mark
P:S Sorry guys i'm in the wrong forum!

Yep I pegged 'em !

I thought they were OK for what they were. However there is no interaction and more importantly no one to tell you:

"Dude you are doing this totally wrong" or

"yeha man that is cool", or

"it is easier like this" or

"yep that is what the text books say but they are full of it" or

"you will never use this bit of knowledge ever again"

or even the old classics, "you are holding your pick (I said pick !!) wrong" when the bottom of the barrel has been reached !

I think on of GTs biggest strengths (and weaknesses) is this forum. I say strengths because you can find all sorts of people who have been playing for a million years and really know there stuff. And weaknesses as you have to decide who they are !!

Oh yes they also missed out the best bits !! I was watching "How to Play Iron Man" and on the whole it was good...... but it missed out the solo !!

I can understand why they did this, but think it would have been a million times better (and more useful, marketable etc etc) if they had rolled up there sleeves and done the job properly !

I also went to the web site to look for the solo just out of curiosity. Unfortunately the impression the web site left with me was that it was hanging in tatters which was also a shame.

I certainly think video is a useful medium however for a beginner or someone looking to woodshed a technique, there is no substitute for a human who can hit you over the head when you do it wrong !!

Interaction is the right word.
And yes i totally agree with every thing you said.
Plus the guy sits there and hits a pinch harmonic note on a blues lick,
and don't even say what it was plus; that he's useing up and down strokes.
or how to do the pinch harmonic note.
Like you i want to see what the student is doing plus make sure he knows,
what i'm doing..........
Later
skeet1=Mark
P:S Thank god for live Teachers plus live Students to Interact With.

Keep pickin guys and gals but have fun.