Strumming without nails or plec (newbie)

I've been learning from Guitar Tricks for about 3 months, and making reasonable progress for an ancient newbie!

But I'm in a muddle with strumming. I can't grow my nails (soft and brittle), but my strumming technique doesn't sound very good (struggling to get a consistent tone with a pick). I also prefer the softer, mellow sound of just using my thumb.

I'm just over halfway through the first core level, and have also followed some of Caren Armstrong's strumming videos, but am not happy with my results.

I'm playing an acoustic, but also have a nylon classical.

Any suggestions please?

Nothing wrong with finger strumming. You may want to keep with the pick. Maybe it a matter of finding the right pick. There are tons of different styles..
Or your pick technique. How tight you hold it, how far from the tip, how deep do you dig in.. hand placement wrist action..
Lots of thing that we can't see of what you are doing.. Take a chord or two or no chord at all and practice strumming real easy and loose.. Note all the thing in your strum to be correct..
You may just be a fingerpicker but it's more fun if you can play different styles.
Hang in there, you'll come up with a good way to express yourself..

Originally Posted by: compart1Nothing wrong with finger strumming. You may want to keep with the pick. Maybe it a matter of finding the right pick. There are tons of different styles..
Or your pick technique. How tight you hold it, how far from the tip, how deep do you dig in.. hand placement wrist action..
Lots of thing that we can't see of what you are doing.. Take a chord or two or no chord at all and practice strumming real easy and loose.. Note all the thing in your strum to be correct..
You may just be a fingerpicker but it's more fun if you can play different styles.
Hang in there, you'll come up with a good way to express yourself..

Thanks there compart1 - I'll stick with it, and practice more as well as working on the fingerpicking and finger strumming. :-)