strumming

[guitara]

hey guys,

i've been playing electric guitar for sometime, and want to start learning acoustic (i went straight to electric). but i have a problem. i cant seem to control my strength when strumming. i tend to strum very hard on an acoustic guitar. it probably has become a habit. can i know how i can correct my strumming. maybe my hand posture, angle are all wrong, or maybe i use too much wrist movement. i want to know how to control my strength so that i can strum softer, with better rhythm. please help me.. thanks.

and also how to practise strumming the correct strings,..?

 

[matt-muser]

practise.... swing ur wrist...

 

[viper]

i think most importantly follow the flow of the song , strum the way that fits that certain song you're playing best.

and also maybe you can try muting the strings that you don't want to play ?

 

[matt-muser]

yea.. muting it first is ideal.

 

[sleepykitty]

just mute the whole damn fretboard with your left hand and just foucs on your strumming. keep your right wrist loose. dont hold the pick too hard. wat's important is a loose wrist.

 

[matt-muser]

just mute the whole damn fretboard with your left hand and just foucs on your strumming. keep your right wrist loose. dont hold the pick too hard. wat's important is a loose wrist.

yea.. with a loose wrist any kind of strumming u also can do.

 

[Crawldaddy]

Hmm.

When it comes to strumming, you must have the groove.

I strum hard myself, but with learning how to play softly as well, I am able to capitalise on playing dynamics.

This allows you to have a different feel within a song, which also allows you to make the song more interesting, instead of bashing out open chords one after another.

 

[guitara]

hey, thanks guys.. i will practise hard. =)

 

[guitara]

oh ya, issit easier to practise strumming with a soft pick first.

 

[tany]

doesnt matter, just take note of dynamics by the momentum of ur swinging wrist.

 

[Josh]

oh ya, issit easier to practise strumming with a soft pick first.

Do what is most comfortable for you. Pick choice is a very personal thing. You may wish to test out a few pick materials, thickness and edges. Choose the one that suits you most. If you are most comfortable with the soft one, go for it.

 

[SteveTan86]

ok here's a question... wat if i dont like strumming with picks? If I strum with my bare fingers, its not wrong right? Its just a matter of personal preference right?

 

[Josh]

Yes. Personal preference. I think that if you have fingers that can produce good strumming tones, you have an advantage! That means you can easily and immediately alternate between strumming and plucking the strings!

Guitar players who rely on picks to get their tones usually need to put away / grab it when they alternate between strumming and plucking. Quite a tricky thing to do.

 

[Crawldaddy]

Hmm.

^^ no doubt it is an advantage, I have overcome that issue of alternating between strumming and picking by stashing my pick between my forefinger and middle finger whilst picking, and using my thumb to retrieve it when I need to strum.

Also it's an art to use a pick and the rest of your fingers together to pick the strings... called hybrid picking.

 

[Josh]

Yes. I personally use the alternate/hybrid picking method. Hold the pick between your thumb and forefinger. Use your pick to pluck the bass strings and your last 3 fingers to pluck the treble. Took some hardwork, time and perseverance to get it right. Esp when plucking with that little finger.

New players should just focus on using the strumming method that works and sounds best for them first.

 

[Crawldaddy]

Hmm.

True, and frankly the best way to retain the feel and mojo of a song is to just wrap your thumb around the neck and just whack.

But whack in time lah.