[denverguitar]

I have been trying like hell, using the "http://www.grouptherapy.guernsey.net/strumming.html"

The down sounds ok but the up goes all to hell, any ideas? tips?

thanks in advance

[allthumbs]

Try these lessons.
True beginner? Here's a lesson for you!
You need to relax and keep your wrist soft. Your fore arm does most of the work but, the wrist also moves. It is not rigid.

[Clancy]

Here's a great strumming lesson denverguitar Strumming - you can play along with the downloadable mp3's.

Cheers

Clancy

[Hero]

with practice,you get better,just give it time budd.

[WernHalen]

I have trouble strumming as well, not while playing acoustic stuff. It is the stuff I play on the electric, because of the palm muting i have to do while strumming... I am jsut one of those people that does not have very good rythm, mine is not bad but it is just not what I want it to be...

Best advice I can give you is to use a metronome.. It is irritating but it is the best piece of equipment for improving your guitar, apart form your guitar that is...

[Hero]

how long are you playing?

[nalk]

I just found a beginners video that includes a lot of strumming lessons:

http://www.guba.com/watch/2000767541...= 1&src=2&o=0

It should last you about a month or two.

Two things about the things the teacher says though that I disagree with:

1. The position of the thumb. If you´re just starting out learning to play you might as well get it right from the beginning: The thumb should NOT "peek" up over the neck. It should be placed on the middle of the back of the neck. This way you´ll never have problems playing clear notes.

2. On tuning the guitar he says that you can tune it by loosening the string. DONT do that. Always tighten the string to get it in tune. If you "overshoot" the tone and make it higher than it should be loosen it below the correct tuning and tighten it up until you reach the right tuning. If you loosen the string to hit the right tuning, the guitar will be out of tune before you have finished tuning the rest of the strings.

Have fun

[Misty2u]

Originally Posted by nalk

On tuning the guitar he says that you can tune it by loosening the string. DONT do that. Always tighten the string to get it in tune. If you "overshoot" the tone and make it higher than it should be loosen it below the correct tuning and tighten it up until you reach the right tuning. If you loosen the string to hit the right tuning, the guitar will be out of tune before you have finished tuning the rest of the strings.

Have fun

Thanks for that useful advice Nalk. Now I know what I've been doing wrong.

Cheers
Tracy

[D-Dawn]

Originally Posted by nalk

I just found a beginners video that includes a lot of strumming lessons:

http://www.guba.com/watch/2000767541...= 1&src=2&o=0

It should last you about a month or two.

WOW I used that video...on VHS about 7 years ago to get started! Now its free!
My brother loaned it to me ..... I had spent all my money on my guitar and didn't have more for instruction! Then he borrowed my guitar and never gave it back LoL so I guess my first "song" was Tom Dooley now that I think about it
Dawn

[nalk]

"WOW I used that video...on VHS about 7 years ago to get started! Now its free!
My brother loaned it to me ..... I had spent all my money on my guitar and didn't have more for instruction! Then he borrowed my guitar and never gave it back"

Heh, sort of like selling a set of strings to some one and getting their guitar as a down payment. I may have some swamp land if you´re interested.
Sorry.

Seriously brothers and sisters can be a pain. Mine used to borrow my guitar and then break the strings.
And my exgirlfriend (emphasis on the EX) used to come in and listen to me practising. After a couple of minutes she´d shake her head and say "tsk, tsk you´ll never learn that song".

Any of you ever get hassled or teased by friends and/or relatives? How do you cope?

[nalk]

Could somebody tell me how to remove a post I have made? This one and the one with only half a quotation mark.

[si16]

Hi nalk, you can edit your own posts, although there is a time limit on this, but you can't delete them. If you want one of your posts deleted just contact one of the moderators and we'll do it for you.

I'll delete the first post but I'll leave the second one and this reply, because other members may not know and might find this information useful.

[D-Dawn]

Originally Posted by nalk

Any of you ever get hassled or teased by friends and/or relatives? How do you cope?

Always...if I hit sour note then they are sure to comment...play a piece perfectly and no one seems to notice....

[8LU3]

Always...if I hit sour note then they are sure to comment...play a piece perfectly and no one seems to notice....

funny how things work out like that