 Lessons, How To Strum your Guitar Guitar Video Lesson |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
IntroIt seems that one of the most difficult techniques for beginners to grasp is coming up with a decent strumming pattern to play the chords to a song. Strumming is the most important part of playing the guitar and the following section will show you how to start strumming a guitar, with strumming patterns for you to practice and learn. There are many different kinds of strumming patterns, you can even form your own. As many players as there are, you can be assured new strumming guitar techniques, as well as guitar strumming tricks will be invented to challenge the old patterns. Learning guitar chords strumming or just the basics of strumming the guitar could take a few months, but years to master. Correct TimingInteracting with other musicians is one of the great joys of playing a musical instrument. However, without a good sense of correct timing you will find it difficult to perform in a group. The different feel of the song give it different count. A normal 4/4 fast praise song will counting at "1 n 2 n 3 n 4 n 1 n 2 n 3 n 4 n..." (video 2) in a quaver feel and this is called an eight note stum. A normal 4/4 worship slow song will be counting at "1 e n a 2 e n a 3 e n a 4 e n a..." (video 1) in a semi-quaver feel, this is called a sixteenth note strum. A 16 beat fast praise song will be in the same semi-quaver feel of a worship song but it's much faster. Tap your right foot on the floor in a slow steady manner. Each time your foot hits the floor is one beat. While tapping your foot on the floor for each beat, count out four beats: 1 e n a 2 e n a 3 e n a 4 e n a. Watch the example below: This is a normal 4/4 worship slow song. And you can tap faster a normal 4/4 fast praise song: Strumming NotationFirst you need to learn how to read the strumming pattern:  = Downstroke = Upstroke = Accent downstoke = Accent upstroke = Downstroke mute string - lightly damp the strings so that when you pick the note it sounds dead. It is used to get a percussive sound "Ok, but how can I transfer this notation to my right hand?" Take a look at the following example: Ok so far? Now, let's see how to transfer this action to the right hand. Examples of Strumming PatternsGrab your guitar, and make sure you have your guitar pick in hand. Note:The strumming pattern below are place in terms of difficulty, first one should be fairly easy and can be the first strumming you learn for fast and slower songs. Using your fretting hand, form a G major chord on the neck. Now, take a look at the first example, which is a very basic strumming pattern.
Count out loud: 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and 1 and 2 and (etc.) Notice that on the "and" (often referred to as the "offbeat") you are always using an upwards strum. Notice that the pattern starts with a downstroke, and ends with an upstroke. So, if you were to play the pattern twice in a row, your hand wouldn't have to vary from it's continual down-up motion. Strumming patterns are like a loop - when you reach the end, continue from the beginning. You should be aiming for trying to keep the time between strums exactly the same. Note:Whilst learning to strum you should always keep your right arm moving going up and down and if you find your arm pausing at any time, you're doing it wrong. If you are having problems keeping a steady rhythm, try listening to, and playing along with, the video of the strumming pattern. In the next example you can see a classic variation of the previous pattern with a use of mute string (often called as "slap strum").
Notice that in the 2nd and 4th beat you need to produce a percussive sound (video 3). With this strumming pattern above you can play thousands of songs. Example of suitable songs: CCR's Have you ever see the Rain, John Lennon's Stand By Me.
Now we can move on to something a little bit more challenging. By removing only one Downstroke from the first pattern, we will create one of the most widely used and versatile strumming patterns in pop, country, and rock music!
The trick is to keep the strumming motion going in the picking hand; but ever so slightly lift the hand away from the body of the guitar momentarily, on the downstroke of the 3rd beat, so the pick misses the strings. Then, on the next upstroke (the "and" of the 3rd beat), bring the hand back closer to the body of the guitar, so the pick hits the strings. So, to summarize, the upward/downward motion of the picking hand should not change AT ALL from the first pattern. Let's see the previous pattern with mute string variation:
By now you only have seen the eight note strum patterns. Now we can move to sixteenth note strum examples. Keep in mind to count "1 e n a 2 e n a 3 e n a 4 e n a..." as seen before.
Now the previous pattern with mute string in the 4th beat:
Example of suitable songs: John Lennon's Imagine Tips1. First practice repeating the pattern over and over with one chord. 2. Next practice them by changing the chord at the end of each pattern. 3. If you are playing an acoustic guitar, make sure to strum directly over the sound hole 4. On electric guitar, strum over the body (different locations will give you different sounds), not over the neck 5. Make sure all strings are ringing clearly 6. Make sure the volume of your down strums and up strums are equal 7. Be careful not to strum too hard, as this often causes strings to rattle, and produces an undesirable sound 8. Be careful not to strum too softly, as this will produce a "wimpy" sound. Your pick should be striking the strings with a 7. relatively firm, even stroke 9. Think of your elbow as being the top of a pendulum; your arm should swing up and down from it in a steady motion, never pausing at any time. 10. Having said that, the bulk of the picking motion should come from a rotation of the wrist, rather than from the forearm. Be sure not to keep your wrist stiff when playing. |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Members who watched this video also watched:
|
