Rhythm guitar isn’t just about strumming patterns. There’s a lot more that goes into it. Let’s talk about the three basic keys to playing rhythm guitar.
I defiantly have the down stroke but am still struggling with the up stroke. In can’t seem to get the pick and my hand at the right angle. I can do it with my fingers but not when I try to use the pick.
You boost my morale a lot. Now that you said rhythm guitar is not just strumming patterns…. Because my goal is to be good rhythm guitar player, so that I could sing along with it. Thanks Tomas.
This turned out to be the only less that I actually had to watch twice, for taking notes for the exercises. But the sound of the notes during the exercises makes me feel like finally something would sound more ear-pleasing!
This idea of hitting different parts of the strings usually takes students a while to get comfortable with. Be patient 🙂 As you progress you’ll continue to refine it and get smoother with time. When they look down at your guitar while you strumming and think “wow… is that me?”
So far, I am using only my fingers and not the pick. In excercise #3, I find it difficult to do the down-stroke up-stroke on the bass string with my thumb. Should I try to make it work, or should I take up the pick?
If you’re using a guitar with metal strings (Acoustic guitar) I think it’s time to brave the pick. If you’re using a guitar with nylon strings (Classical or Flamenco… looks like 3 nylon and 3 metal) I’ll send you to another lesson to help with strumming with the fingers.
I find you go to fast on the second exercise. after hitting the high and low strum , I lost you when you added the upstroke when hitting the low and high strum
Don’t worry too much about this Arthur right now. This is just an introduction and even a peek into a more advanced strumming technique. If it’s too much for right now just focus on down up. They’ll be plenty more lessons on strumming.
The Dsus4 is shown differently here than in the Chord Changing Strategies Recap. Here you show the 5th string open and in the recap you show the an x on the 5th string? Pete
Thanks, Pete. In this case, it doesn’t matter. The 5th string can be either “X” or “0”. That 5th string is an alternate bass not for the D chord. At this stage, we’re not using it. Later on we will.
I defiantly have the down stroke but am still struggling with the up stroke. In can’t seem to get the pick and my hand at the right angle. I can do it with my fingers but not when I try to use the pick.
You boost my morale a lot. Now that you said rhythm guitar is not just strumming patterns…. Because my goal is to be good rhythm guitar player, so that I could sing along with it. Thanks Tomas.
This turned out to be the only less that I actually had to watch twice, for taking notes for the exercises. But the sound of the notes during the exercises makes me feel like finally something would sound more ear-pleasing!
Thank you, Tomas, for the wonderful lesson! 🙂
This idea of hitting different parts of the strings usually takes students a while to get comfortable with. Be patient 🙂 As you progress you’ll continue to refine it and get smoother with time. When they look down at your guitar while you strumming and think “wow… is that me?”
So far, I am using only my fingers and not the pick. In excercise #3, I find it difficult to do the down-stroke up-stroke on the bass string with my thumb. Should I try to make it work, or should I take up the pick?
If you’re using a guitar with metal strings (Acoustic guitar) I think it’s time to brave the pick. If you’re using a guitar with nylon strings (Classical or Flamenco… looks like 3 nylon and 3 metal) I’ll send you to another lesson to help with strumming with the fingers.
Excellent practice Tomas
I’m glad you like this Rogelio.
I find you go to fast on the second exercise. after hitting the high and low strum , I lost you when you added the upstroke when hitting the low and high strum
Don’t worry too much about this Arthur right now. This is just an introduction and even a peek into a more advanced strumming technique. If it’s too much for right now just focus on down up. They’ll be plenty more lessons on strumming.
The Dsus4 is shown differently here than in the Chord Changing Strategies Recap. Here you show the 5th string open and in the recap you show the an x on the 5th string? Pete
Thanks, Pete. In this case, it doesn’t matter. The 5th string can be either “X” or “0”. That 5th string is an alternate bass not for the D chord. At this stage, we’re not using it. Later on we will.