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GMC Forum _ PRACTICE ROOM _ Strumming Advice

Posted by: buttmonk Mar 10 2009, 09:13 PM

Yo guys,

Ever since I started playing few years ago I have not really got the hang (or even started to get the hang for that matter) of proper strumming i.e. getting a nice smooth and even action and sound. That has not been much of an issue since it is not required for the kinda music I play which is more of a heavy metally type stuff.

Anyhooo, today I started to learn Holiday by Green Day and that doesn't go too well if u can't strum I use dunlop Jazz III picks, .88 and 1mm, but have also tried with normal dunlops of various thickness but they were worse if anthing. I am trying to use both wrist and forearm and am trying not to grip the pick too hard, but that just ends up in the pick twisting in my fingers. My main problem is digging into the strings too much. I developed a new technique with which I managed to get fairly good results: resting my arm near the elbow on the top of the guitar, using arm and wrist with quite a wide motion (starting and stopping the strum well clear of low and high Es), turning the pick sideways and angling down a bit, and strumming nearer the bridge. I turn the pick sideways so that 1 of the big blunt corners (the corners Mr Jim did not intend u to pick with) strike the strings and this seems to prevent dig-in compared to using the proper point (Jazz picks are really pointy) and I think I prefer the sound too. Strumming nearer the bridge also seems to help with dig-in cos the strings are more taught there.

Anyone got any comments on this technique? Advice on how to practice? I know I am supposed to try to strike with only the lightest of touches, and then alot of these measures I mention above would not be needed perhaps, but at the moment that light touch eludes me and I am either digging in or missing altogether... At least the above technique seems to allow me to be fairly heavy handed and still get a reasonably flowing and rhthymic action.

Posted by: Dejan Farkas Mar 10 2009, 10:05 PM

I can only recommend you one of my lessons for strumming:

http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/rhythm-guitar-workout/

Try it and see if it helps

Posted by: sigma7 Mar 10 2009, 10:13 PM

wut helps me just lightly strumming, ur problem seems unconcious so just practice is slow until you can do it...crappy advice sorry but it is hard to explain

Posted by: Pedja Simovic Mar 10 2009, 11:07 PM

Could you perhaps post a video of you strumming some chords at different tempo ?
That would make things much easier in order to give some pointers

Posted by: skennington Mar 10 2009, 11:21 PM

Dejan gave you a good lesson of his to practice. I would also suggest a lesson by Muris, http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/rhythm-guitar/beginner-strumming-and-arpeggios/

Good luck and don't let "1" fool you.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Mar 11 2009, 02:02 AM

Strumming should be executed with your strumming hand totally relaxed and from the wrist. Try not to wave with your elbow too much - with the wrist you can achieve more control with lot less movements. Also, second important thing is to carefully positions the pick in parallel to the strings. Pick a slow tempo and strum, while focusing to get the pick perfectly straight - otherwise it will tend to escape from the grip.

Posted by: Ramiro Delforte Mar 11 2009, 02:54 AM

I agree with Ivan, your hand must be relaxed all the way. And the movement has to come from your wrist.

Here I've found a video that shows the good way to play a strummed chord and then the wrong way to play it.

First the wrong way:

Now the correct manner:

There there is another video with more information:

And now just for fun I leave you this one:

Posted by: buttmonk Mar 11 2009, 08:10 AM

thx all! Will take me some time to absorb all these suggestions....

Posted by: Ramiro Delforte Mar 11 2009, 08:16 AM

You're welcome mate!

If you still have some questions don't hesitate to post them