Hi guys.
first video and it’s janky so i will be tying up the jist of the speaking parts.
basically working on my strumming, I hate playing with a pick so trying to brute force get used to it and last couple of days I feel I’ve made some progress.
video is of me strumming along to We Are The People - Empire Of The Sun. I’ll save you from me signing but a few bars so you can see where I am and what mistakes I make.
I chose this song and strumming pattern as it is a slightly more complex one to me in how it starts in an up down mute rather than a simple predictable pattern. definitely took me an hour to get my head round!
open for any and all advice, purposely left some errors in.
TIA!
I said above, "I predict a quick transformation!" but you've exceeded all expectations. 😮 Looks spot on. We didn't get round to discussing metronomes on Tuesday but the best way to nail that down is to tie onto a solid beat and bring that speed up as is comfortable. Keep track of that top speed and you'll be able to see whether things are improving ... or not! You'll also be able to compare to the record speed (easily found with a quick Google): Click here to search now! The mental side of stuff all being in order let's look at the physical matter of how to handle a pick. Here's some insight on that from my left handed investigation some years back.
The thinner your pick the less the importance of this concept since it will bend to accommodate poor technique but getting comfortable with a pick that won't give at all should help with other types too.
Cool, will check the song out 👍
Slowing it down a little with a tap and count. Helped me understand the bar correctly again, last chord change was messy but I was focusing on the pattern here and I think this is a better attempt and will work on speeding it up.
One other positive, I watched your video after a walk around my hometown on my day off. And once I've made a cup of tea, I'll be firing up my amp. So you've enthused me to play this afternoon :-)
Fair play, don't think I'd have been up for a video when I first started! Chord transitions remind me of me (getting fingers in place for next chord on the 'four and' beat is the key I think). And didn't spot much leg movement for a foot tap. But that might be the video! And desperately keen not to come across as a decent guitarist, preaching to a beginner. Because that's the last thing I am. I've just been very well taught by Paul, and occasionally implement what he tells me :-)
Nice one Warren ... have issued you your founder member's badge in honour of your taking the plunge! A little twist & polish and we'll have that nailed down! Here's the pattern drawn out; "x" in a circle indicates a "woodpecker" (click for lesson), in this case ready to strum up. The squiggly line means to mute all the strings with the strumming hand.
Either you're strumming upside-down or there's a lag between video and audio. Remember this strum is tied to the foot movement which is a notable omission and the first thing I'll be looking to get automated. I say there are 3 levels of practice: 1) Notes only - weak
2) Notes and foot tap - strong 3) Notes, foot tap and count - strongest! If it slows you down and feels like hard work then that's exactly what we're after. Here's a lesson I just grabbed featuring the same strum pattern from probably the most famous song to use it:
Relating what he shows here to the version written out in Taplature above should be enough to bump it up a level. Aside from the right hand pattern there are a couple of bottlenecks with your chord changes which won't take long to cure. The system for doing so is laid out here: https://www.taplature.com/single-post/2020/02/24/how-to-practice-guitar-chords-definitive-guide Will look forward to seeing what you make of it all. I predict a quick transformation! 🙂
I feel strangely uncomfortable strumming, either too hard, too soft and my pick slips.. rinse and repeat the best way?