Strumming

In my first attempt at playing the guitar (about 15 years ago) I felt that I was having a harder time with my right hand rather than my left. In other words, I was able to get chords down but I was often confused about how to strum something a little more interesting than down-down-up-down or some variation thereof. This became all the more apparent when I tried to play a tune (say a Beatles song) from a songbook. The songbook tells you what chords to play but nothing about the strumming. So even though I knew what chords to play, I couldn't get the song to sound anything like it should have. I realize I'm still very much a beginner - just wondering if there's some general advice or guidelines on strumming. Thanks in advance!

I've been strumming for years and it's still tricky

it's important to alter the angle of the pick, so you stroke the strings at less of an angle.

It's in the wrist action, between up and down strokes

a lot of times I find myself in that position...I can strum, but not sure of the specific pattern..what helps for me is to listen to the song alot and then some more...try to get it in your head so when you are playing it...you can try to match up what you hear and what your hand is doing...if you still cant get it up to the speed of the original song you might want to try looking up the song on you tube. Some people on there will try to teach a song( and not just play it ) and slow it down or take it piece by piece to show you the pattern....
good luck

Cool! Thx for the comments! I'll try your suggestions and keep working at it.

Hi folks,

This series has a lot of good basic info and skills on which you can build to create more and more interesting strumming techniques. It covers pick angle, upstrokes, etc. It may start out too "easy" for you, so feel free to jump ahead and try one of the more advanced song projects.

ACOUSTIC STRUMMING 1: GETTING STARTED
http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=486

ACOUSTIC STRUMMING 2: BUILDING ON THE BASICS
http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=487

ACOUSTIC STRUMMING 3: PLAYING IN 3/4 TIME
http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=488

ACOUSTIC STRUMMING 4: SONG PROJECT: BLACK JACK DAVY
http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=490

ACOUSTIC STRUMMING 5: CLASSIC “MUST-KNOW” RHYTHMS
http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=496

ACOUSTIC STRUMMING 6: SONG PROJECT: JOHN BARLEYCORN
http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=497

ACOUSTIC STRUMMING 7: SONG PROJECT: ANGEL BAND
http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=514

Best wishes, Lisa

Wow, that's great Lisa! Thanks for the post; just confirms that you guys have the best online lessons site around!

Thanks again!

P.S. Where are these tutorials found? Fundamentals? Courses?

Does the $12.95 per month cover access to everything here?

Bill

Hi Rono1,

Besides the Fundamentals and the other Style Courses, every instructor at Guitar Tricks has their own catalog of lessons and tutorials that they have prepared on topics that they specialize in.

These could be be anything from how to hold the guitar, to advanced metal, jazz, or classical techniques. You'll find amazing stuff there.

Go to the main Instructors page, and click on any instructor's picture, and you'll find all the tutorials they have created.

The ones you specifically asked about, the Acoustic Strumming series, is part of my catalog, which can be found here:
http://www.guitartricks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28291

And yes, I believe the monthly fee covers full access to everything on the site. Such a bargain!

-Lisa

Thanks Lisa. I joined this morning. The videos seem to be of good quality which is important to me. This is the 3rd online guitar course I've tried. I was not pleased with the other 2.

Bill

Welcome Bill!

Hopefully the third time is a charm.

Keep us posted and let us know how it's going for you.

-Lisa

Just thought I'd mention that you might want to make use of the Jam feature on each page too. Not all instructors post jam tracks to go along with their lessons but I'm making a concerted effort to try and include an example song with each lesson showing how the chords are played and strumming methods used. Each lesson has an MP3 file and a looped Jam track that you can practice to.

For instance if you were interested in learning seventh chords you could find 14 lessons here:

http://guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=9609&s_id=181

Thanks a lot Kevin. This was very, very helpful. Your "Beginner Strumming Techniques - Lesson 6" was very insightful. Just what I was looking for!

My pleasure. Glad I could be of help :)

I bought a new acoustic/electric guitar a few months ago in hopes of learning. I am a beginner and I have been somewhat disappointed until now. This is exciting to see so many helpful videos and folks here!

Bill