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New to acoustic guitar help
Posted on 4/3/21 at 11:12 pm
Posted on 4/3/21 at 11:12 pm
So I picked up guitar about a year or so ago and started learning a bit. I have the majority of the basic chords down and can switch to all of them well.
My problem: I just can’t figure out how to strum or strum correctly for a specific song. I got online and there are strumming patterns I tried to learn but that’s difficult. Some other people told me to forget that and just feel the music and that hasn’t worked either. Any suggestions on strumming, timing and following songs? Thanks
My problem: I just can’t figure out how to strum or strum correctly for a specific song. I got online and there are strumming patterns I tried to learn but that’s difficult. Some other people told me to forget that and just feel the music and that hasn’t worked either. Any suggestions on strumming, timing and following songs? Thanks
6
Posted on 4/3/21 at 11:31 pm to SaintNation
Try this...worked out pretty good for the Beatles.
Posted on 4/4/21 at 12:09 am to SaintNation
Depends on what songs you are trying to learn. A lot of songs that sou d simple actually have difficult rhythms. Hank Williams songs are what I was told to learn when I was a beginner. They are very simple. Try some of those.
Posted on 4/4/21 at 8:24 am to SaintNation
At this point I'd suggest paying someone for a few lessons.
While book knowledge, do it this way, and theory are everywhere online it really sounds like you need the old fashioned let me hear what your doing. It wouldn't have to be many lessons especially since you can chord.... just be honest that you're looking for a very limited set of lessons dealing with strumming and/or timing.
While book knowledge, do it this way, and theory are everywhere online it really sounds like you need the old fashioned let me hear what your doing. It wouldn't have to be many lessons especially since you can chord.... just be honest that you're looking for a very limited set of lessons dealing with strumming and/or timing.
Posted on 4/4/21 at 8:42 am to SaintNation
Song choice and starting slowly is key. My son’s roommate plays, and my son said every song he plays sounds the same. Kid came over and I let him play my guitars, and he had the right chords for the songs he was playing - he was just using the same strumming pattern on every song. 
Lessons would definitely help you.
Lessons would definitely help you.
Posted on 4/4/21 at 12:00 pm to SaintNation
Everybody starts at the same place,I guess.
I play to the rhythm in my head.I'm 59,so I've got a library of rhythms in my head.
It took awhile for my hands to start getting there.
20 years and still a work in progress.
Learn songs that you like.Have fun.
I play to the rhythm in my head.I'm 59,so I've got a library of rhythms in my head.
It took awhile for my hands to start getting there.
20 years and still a work in progress.
Learn songs that you like.Have fun.
Posted on 4/4/21 at 1:43 pm to tidalmouse
Get your arm hand going up and down, up and down, up and down in rhythm. Then remember ... just because you arm and hand are moving by the strings, that doesn't mean they necessarily have to hit the strings every time they pass by them.
Example, if the strum pattern is up, up, down, up, up, down, there's still a down stroke - still in rhythm - between the two ups, you just don't hit the strings on that down stroke. Make sense?
Example, if the strum pattern is up, up, down, up, up, down, there's still a down stroke - still in rhythm - between the two ups, you just don't hit the strings on that down stroke. Make sense?
Posted on 4/4/21 at 2:10 pm to TheFretShack
quote:
Get your arm hand going up and down, up and down, up and down in rhythm. Then remember ... just because you arm and hand are moving by the strings, that doesn't mean they necessarily have to hit the strings every time they pass by them.
This.
Watch a YouTube of Chris Cornell playing Thank You live. His arm never stops. His pick may pass the strings 2 or 3 times without hitting them.
That’s just the best example I can think of for what he’s talking about. Then it melts into you knowing what the songs should sound like and translating to a strum and how hard you strum.
I never took to lesson that give me D-D-U-D-U-D. It muddies my head more.
Posted on 4/4/21 at 2:40 pm to SaintNation
I was a drummer a lifetime ago and I feel that helped. I'm not saying pick up the drums, but maybe a practice pad and some sticks - work on some very basic rudiments - strumming patterns are based in rhythm/percussion, not harmony/melody.
Another thing I picked up by watching some of the masters - you have to keep time and if that means you move your arm and skip the strings to stay in pattern rather than trying to artificially start and stop, do that if it works.
Another thing I picked up by watching some of the masters - you have to keep time and if that means you move your arm and skip the strings to stay in pattern rather than trying to artificially start and stop, do that if it works.
Posted on 4/4/21 at 3:29 pm to TheFretShack
quote:
Get your arm hand going up and down, up and down, up and down in rhythm. Then remember ... just because you arm and hand are moving by the strings, that doesn't mean they necessarily have to hit the strings every time they pass by them.
This.
Practice eighth notes, meaning each down stroke is a down beat so the upstroke is the "and" of the beat 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and. Practice this slowly. If you have a metronome practice with that at a slow tempo (you can even start with a slow metronome say of 60 and use that click for each stroke, down or up). Do this until it is smooth. Don't worry about changing chords just yet, get the pattern down. SOOOO many strum patterns are based off this eighth note pattern, but as Fret say, you not strike the string every time. That's what gives it variation. But you need that down/up pattern nice and smooth. As it becomes more natural, start changing chords without interrupting the pattern. Then, start doing different patterns as Fret suggests. Once you have the down/up going well, many patterns are just a matter of NOT hitting the strings at times. But they are all based off that simple eighth note rhythm.
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