Man... how hard???

FunkyMonkey · #1 November 21st, 2005

I've been playing/learning for a few weeks now but man i'm finding playing up-strokes very difficult. Is it normal to find this aspect hard? and is there any good tips for practicing my up-strokes?

allthumbs · #2 November 21st, 2005

what exactly is the problem your having with upstrokes?

silverbullet5774 · #3 November 21st, 2005

Do you mean upstrokes when alternate picking or when strumming chords?

Fireproof · #4 November 22nd, 2005

When I hear "up strokes", I think about Cold Shot by Stevie Ray Vaughan or the like.

I'm in the process of learning that song, which is my first song with a lot of consistent up-strokes, and it is a challenge. I have no problem with alternate picking, or occasional up-strokes for emphasis in various songs, but this one (especially with getting the bass notes right) is something new to my hands.

I'll get it though...and so will you...

Maurice · #5 November 22nd, 2005

Hi FunkyMonkey,

Maybe you should take a look in the "Neilsonite's Lessons" forum, there is a Strumming lesson that might help you.

Strumming

FunkyMonkey · #6 November 22nd, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by silverbullet5774

Do you mean upstrokes when alternate picking or when strumming chords?

Sorry guys for being a little vague. At the moment i'm just playing simple chord progressions (A - D - E - A for example) where my downsrokes sound pretty consistent and i hit the strings evenly. But the upstrokes are less consistent, i dont seem to hit the strings evenly and it feels like i am dragging the pick up. It just feels more natural to strum down than up... This will get better with practice? Right?

Maurice · #7 November 22nd, 2005

Practice is the key!!! just keep on doing it and all of the sutton you will have it mastered

toxicity · #8 November 22nd, 2005

It will definitely get better with time. I'm having similar problems but after a week of practice I already started noticing that my strokes are more even and not as hard. I tend to concentrate hitting the upstrokes and down-strokes lightly. Initially it doesn't matter if you are missing a few strings as long as you have the flow and get to loosen the wrist.

The song I'm currently working on is Oasis Wonderwall. It has an interesting upstroke and downstroke pattern. First try playing chords that involve hitting all the strings like the Em G etc and then when you feel that your getting the hang of it try playing Am and Dm chords. Its working for me (Well its not perfect but I can notice that my strumming is getting more fluent).

Nothing happens overnight but the more you practice the better you'll get. Another thing I noticed is that if I rest for one day and then play the next I am more composed. The muscles seem to "rest" and absorb the workout you gave them the day before.

Neilsonite · #9 November 22nd, 2005

Hi, I have a couple of suggestions...

First, it's common to have the wrist too tense when strumming, and to move the whole arm up and down. This makes up-strums hard... If you are doing this, imagine flicking water off your fingers - see how your wrist is slightly bent? That's the most relaxed way to strum. Remember to gently flick the strings, it's not like you're sweeping a floor.

Second, your pick may be catching on the strings. If that's the case, try angling your pick a little bit. I like to tilt the pick like in the attached picture, I think it helps with up-stokes (both strumming and picking individual strings). By the way, I use the big triangle picks and sharpen the points, so if your pick looks different, that's to be expected!

Hope that helps. If not, let me know,
James

allthumbs · #10 November 22nd, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fireproof

When I hear "up strokes", I think about Cold Shot by Stevie Ray Vaughan or the like.

I'm in the process of learning that song, which is my first song with a lot of consistent up-strokes, and it is a challenge. I have no problem with alternate picking, or occasional up-strokes for emphasis in various songs, but this one (especially with getting the bass notes right) is something new to my hands.

I'll get it though...and so will you...

Hey,small world. I am working on that tune too. I am playing it with a slide and fingers,no pick. Doing the base line and the drums too. It is gonna take me awhile. I am following it pretty closely except I am going my own way with a solo.
This tune IMO is all about the rythmn of the upstrokes and downstrokes so if you have that nailed,there is a lot of leeway in how you can strum them.

silverbullet5774 · #11 November 22nd, 2005

practice, practice, practice... thats what it all comes down to.

FunkyMonkey · #12 November 22nd, 2005

Cheers for all your replies (and Neilsonite's lessons), its given me a few tips and things to work on. AND I WILL BE PRACTICING A LOT

One more thing neilsonite; would it be possible for you to post a video download (mpeg, wmv etc...) of you strumming up and down across all strings so i can see the motion in the flesh (as it were)

Thanks again people.

Arcor · #13 November 22nd, 2005

Hey FunkyMunky, i know what you mean, i used to have to almost force myself to use alternate picking, or upstrokes of any kind, but now i seem to do it without thinking. My advice is this: Keep on practicing it will come with time, it's always more natural to use downstrokes, but natural doesn't mean best in every case.

toxicity · #14 November 23rd, 2005

I believe the only reason it seems more natural is because we start of that way. When we are learning new chord shapes we tend to only strum down. That's why I find it more useful to strum up and down in a simple pattern (strum per beat). That way you'll find that your up strums are progressing as well as your down strums.

Cheers

Evolution · #15 November 23rd, 2005

I used to have troubles with upstrokes too when I was first starting. I used to try to hit all the strings, but now I just hit the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th strings only. To me that sounds better and its easier.