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Hi Everyone

At the moment I'm having to work on strumming
I have a big blister on my middle finger
D.I.Y ,sanding, wife said I had to put the guitar down sometime,Tried to get it done quickly lol ouch.

My Question is, Watching Neil strum, he seems to drag the first down stroke, or slightly slows that stroke(If so does this effect timing?), I know my description doesn't do Neil justice and I hope you under stand this, Just wanted your sage advice on this technique.What Is it he's doing??

RicksPick

Rick, do you mean about a specific song or strumming in general?

Marc

I'm guessing that you mean without a pick. If that's the case, then check this short vid I made to clarify Neil's teaching on this.



(reposted per Neil's request to TG Student section)

Thanks for the reply guys

Strumming in general, I will try to find a specific video with time code

But for now I will try to explain different

Say on a Normal (With pick and Invisible pick) D DU UDU strum The first down is emphasized more by slightly strumming slower to let each string ring clearly.

Am I just seeing something that's not there?? second guessing myself now lol
I know sometime Im in a world of my own so its possible.

RicksPick

You can emphasize that first strum in a number of ways. Slower, Faster, Louder, Softer... It depends on the song and the feel you are trying to achieve.

Neil is strumming the way I showed in my vid, but he's doing it in time. (Of course). Normally you would play the first strum a bit louder to get the emphasis. That puts it on beat 1. Which beat do you want to bring out? It's common in country strumming to put it on 1 and 3. Rock is 1, and some ballad type songs are 2 and 4, especially if the lyrics start on a different beat. Reggae is on the "ands". For reggae, strum backwards, up on the numbers, down on the ands.

If you can, post a video of what you are doing and then ask how to do what it is you want to achieve. That way we can better answer your question.

Ok here is an eggsample

http://www.totallyguitars.com/target-so ... -song#song

Time code of 55 secs and 57 secs each time on changing chords.

Maybe I'm not mad,,

Will let you judge,

RicksPick

Yep, because he is lifting his fingers off on the and of 4, he makes sure and strum the 1 a bit louder to really make the beat sound in time. You can do this simply by tightening your grip on the pick slightly, or move into the strings a bit more so that you get a louder, more emphasized strum.

Thanks for staying in there Andy
Sometimes I'm hard work lol
Wasnt sure how it was emphasized

Thanks to you both

RicksPick

Glad I could help.