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Post by trueblue on Jun 9, 2011 5:19:10 GMT -5
I used to play the guitar when I was a kid but I didn't like my teacher and refused to practice, or go to her, then my sisters boyfriend at the time (now her husband) offered to teach me but he was only learning himself and couldn't really teach much, so I pretty much gave up on the idea of learning the guitar. Last week I have done what I have been wanting to do for the past 15 or so years, I was driving down the road in a nearby town, and I saw a sign for a music store, it was right on closing time but the owner of the place welcomed me in, I looked around for a while and there was one that stood out from the crowd, a nice looking electric acoustic Ashton, as soon as I saw it I knew it was coming home with me. Anyway at some point in this story I had better get to the point, I am having trouble with strumming and making it sound like a song, or even something other than noise, but when it comes to fingerpicking type songs like 'more than words' I have no trouble picking them up and making it sound like something with a little practice, but no matter how much I practice I am not making much progress with the strumming type songs, I know practice will make perfect but I am a firm believer that only perfect practice will make perfect, so I'm wondering if anyone can give me some tips to improve my strumming. Any help would be appreciated.
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Post by lesblues on Jun 9, 2011 6:12:06 GMT -5
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Post by leerummey on Jun 9, 2011 11:13:24 GMT -5
didnt look at the threads posted by les above so if this is in one of those im sorry lol you could try just down strums to start with and do them slowly do you know about 8th and 16th note strumming ?
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Post by leerummey on Jun 9, 2011 11:18:45 GMT -5
can i just add the reason i ask about 8th and 16th note strumming is that i feel its important to understand the theory behind strumming (which isnt hard) and therefore your strumming will be built on a good foundation
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Post by trueblue on Jun 10, 2011 3:12:06 GMT -5
I know a little about it, learnt it all way back when but I do admit most of the theory I have forgotten
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Post by leerummey on Jun 10, 2011 10:42:14 GMT -5
im my opinion you should go back to basics with strumming why dont you type something like basic strumming techniques in to you tube ? there are lots of helpful videos there but you mentioned the main word in your opening post and that is practice my friend
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Post by leerummey on Jun 10, 2011 14:17:21 GMT -5
another good practice method is to listen to the song you want to play first then try to strum it how you hear it start slowly and build your speed up do you also struggle with chord changes within the strumming pattern?
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Post by leerummey on Jun 10, 2011 14:25:40 GMT -5
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Post by trueblue on Jun 12, 2011 0:23:58 GMT -5
Thanks heaps for that leerummey, I haven't had much time this past week to practice, I knocked out a 50 hr week at work, so I've been pretty tired, I realise practise is the only way to get perfect, but like I said in the OP only perfect practice makes perfect, if you don't know how to practice properly you will never improve, so thanks again for your help, hopefully now I will be able to make some in-roads into this strumming buisness ;D and yes I'm also having trouble with chord changes but that is steadily improving as I get used to where they all are
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Post by leerummey on Jun 12, 2011 1:05:49 GMT -5
cool glad i could be of help ;D re the chord changes just remember to do it slowly , speed will come ;D
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Post by balashazar on Jun 20, 2011 12:18:17 GMT -5
cool glad i could be of help ;D re the chord changes just remember to do it slowly , speed will come ;D Slow is the ticket for me with chord changes... As for strumming, there was a post or two about it earlier, but some basic patterns are the best way, IMO, to feel good about what you are playing. Maybe 4 beats per measure, 4 down strokes. Then change to 3 down/1 up and continue same slow pace. Speed comes with training your fingers through repetition. Soon enough, you won't think about each strum stroke, it will just happen. I have to disagree with your idea of perfect practice, I've come up with a couple really fun strumming patterns by 'messing' up the one I was working on:> Good luck, from this beginner:> Cheers!
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