Strumming question

I have owned a number of guitars over the years and have learned to play the basic chords, pretty well, but stumming and not sounding like the songs that I would like to play has really kept me from getting anywhere.

So, my question is how do you strum? What pattern? When? Do you strum to the melody or is it different?

I am working through the "CLS" and did no see anything that covers the strum.

Please help.

Hi Mick,
There are a number of tutorials on this subject. This new one has been getting rave reviews:

http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=1408

Please give it a look and let us know if that helps?

Jon

Originally Posted by: Jon Broderick
There are a number of tutorials on this subject. This new one has been getting rave reviews:

Jon

Thanks. I had not thought to look "outside" the "CLS"
Mick

OK, I went through Caren's Tutorial about strumming and I did learn some new, useful stuff. Thanks for pointing me in that direction.
I have a new question, actually, I believe it the question I meant to ask in the first place - what gives me problems while strumming is keeping the beat and trying to sing - as I play.
I am sure all new-ish players have siminlar issues so my NEW question is:

How do you work past this? Does it come with time? Do you just practice along with the song until one day you notice you're singing along without trying?

Please help.

I have come to realize THIS is why I frequently set my guitar down for long periods of time only to come back months - or years - later still WANTING desparately to play.

So far, the "CLS" has taught me a lot as have several of the other tutorials but none of those really cover this issue.

I have a 6 year old son and he wants to sing two songs, just two, on Christmas Eve with me for his grandparents as part of their Christmas and I do not know how I am going to pull it off. I can have the chords and chnages down and just have him sing but - and I am sure all of you know what I am feeling - I want to be able to sing along with him.

OK, there's my sob story. Any help will be appreaciated.
Mickholt

Hi Mickholt,

You might find these tutorials helpful, as each new skill that is taught is then presented within the context of a song to learn to play and sing. Maybe it would help you put the strumming and singing together if you learned some of these songs and played and sang them along with me in the videos.

Acoustic Strumming Step-by-Step, Level 1

Acoustic Strumming, Step-by-Step, Level 2

Hope this helps!
Be well, Lisa

Originally Posted by: LisaMcCHi Mickholt,

You might find these tutorials helpful, as each new skill that is taught is then presented within the context of a song to learn to play and sing. Maybe it would help you put the strumming and singing together if you learned some of these songs and played and sang them along with me in the videos.

Acoustic Strumming Step-by-Step, Level 1

Acoustic Strumming, Step-by-Step, Level 2

Hope this helps!
Be well, Lisa

Lisa,Thank you. I started Level 1 the other night. I am working on "Frere Jacques" now.
I am sure this will help. Thanks again.
Mickholt

Great - keep us posted!

Mickholt,
Looking at in a different way.

Rub your left hand up and down on your stomach, at the same time with your right hand tap your head. Keep doing it.

Now while you are doing those two things …….Sing. My guess is you can’t sing much better doing that, than you can while playing.

Just like with the guitar you are trying to do 3 different things at the same time. A lot of time has to be invested to get past that. Sounds like you will invest it.

Originally Posted by: haghj500Mickholt,
Looking at in a different way.

Rub your left hand up and down on your stomach, at the same time with your right hand tap your head. Keep doing it.

Now while you are doing those two things …….Sing. My guess is you can’t sing much better doing that, than you can while playing.

Just like with the guitar you are trying to do 3 different things at the same time. A lot of time has to be invested to get past that. Sounds like you will invest it.

OK, so for laughs, I tried it - as I am sure everyone that reads this will - and I was able to sing all I cared to sing of Jingle Bells while rubbing and patting.

However, I ran into trouble when I tried to sing Jingle Bells while trying to rub my stomach to the melody or trying to count out the "1 2 + + 4"

You're right, I will invest the time now that I have a better undersatnding of my issue.

Thanks for the exercize. I am now well patted and rubbed :D

Something you can do to help while not at the guitar. If you’re in a chair put your hands palm down on the arms. Now use your thumbs to lift your hands, so you can move your fingers and tap the chair. Now move one finger on your left hand down to tap on the chair. At the same time move one finger down on your right hand. So now you have one finger from each hand touching. Now as you raise those two fingers up lower two other fingers to touch the chair. I bet your using the same two fingers on each hand.

Put the second finger on your left hand down as you put the third finger of your right hand. Now as you lift them put your first finger of you left hand down and your right pinky. So all four fingers are moving at the same time. Use other combination of your fingers. You can work on this almost anywhere you can tap.

Originally Posted by: haghj500Something you can do to help while not at the guitar. If you’re in a chair put your hands palm down on the arms. Now use your thumbs to lift your hands, so you can move your fingers and tap the chair. Now move one finger on your left hand down to tap on the chair. At the same time move one finger down on your right hand. So now you have one finger from each hand touching. Now as you raise those two fingers up lower two other fingers to touch the chair. I bet your using the same two fingers on each hand.

Put the second finger on your left hand down as you put the third finger of your right hand. Now as you lift them put your first finger of you left hand down and your right pinky. So all four fingers are moving at the same time. Use other combination of your fingers. You can work on this almost anywhere you can tap.

Woah, that's tough!