Neil,
I am a beginner to intermediate acoustic player and I've developed some bad habits in my strumming. I cannot keep my hand moving!!!! I reviewed your My My Hey Hey video and realized that I am hopeless. I can play the tune but it clearly lacks rythm and sounds choppy. I also realized that for other songs that involve something besides just strumming that I have the same problem.
How do I break the bad habits?
~Jason
:unsure:
Bad Habits in Strumming
It is not that easy if you only try to match a song rhythm. I know as I had the same problem. I took some lessons from a guy who gave me a strumming exercise where he wrote on a sheet different strumming patterns which I had to do in a loop (hitting the same chord all the time so to concentrate on the rhythm rather than on a song). line 1 was 4 quarter notes, then line would be 2 quarter notes, 2 eight notes and 1 quarter notes, line 3 would be 1 quarter note, a pause and an eight note, a quarter note and 2 eight notes and so on. I gave me 16 different rhythms where the hand never stops . I think the whole idea is to trust your rhythm not to stop and not try to do the melody with uneven strum strokes. So I was wondering if Neil could provide a lesson on strumming rhythm which would not only benefit to beginners but many intermediary players. I know that Neil has discussed this aspect in many lessons (ex: Long tall woman with a black dress lesson) but it could be interesting to have a specific training on this subject.
Marc
Marc
Jason, try playing with a metronome. It will keep your strumming consistent. If you don't have one, try this online metronome.
http://www.metronomeonline.com/
Bill
http://www.metronomeonline.com/
Bill
haoli25 wrote:
Finally, if you are really serious about fixing this problem and have the ability to do a video of yourself playing you could upload it and Neil could solve your problem, whatever it is, in seconds!
If you have uploading problems just ask, there's lots of guys that are really good with that stuff (Acoustic Al !!). Some are videographers!!
Good luck! :cheer:
Excellent idea! Also, don't hold your pick tightly or your hand/arm will stiffen. Stay loose! Some new players try to pick with an up and down motion whereas I think you need a more rotational motion. This is even more important when you are picking out notes. If your whole arm is moving you will have major control problems!Jason, try playing with a metronome. It will keep your strumming consistent. If you don't have one, try this online metronome.
http://www.metronomeonline.com/
Bill
Finally, if you are really serious about fixing this problem and have the ability to do a video of yourself playing you could upload it and Neil could solve your problem, whatever it is, in seconds!
If you have uploading problems just ask, there's lots of guys that are really good with that stuff (Acoustic Al !!). Some are videographers!!
Good luck! :cheer:
I don't think Neil has a specific lesson for strumming patterns but he does have a few on strumming techniques which do cover some tips on better strumming e.g. 'Invisible pick', 'Strumming with Thumb' and 'Strumming with fingers'. I actually was looking at them earlier today and they are useful to someone needing a bit of strumming guidance
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neverfoundthetime
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A lesson focussed just on strumming could be really valuable and popular, good idea!
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AcousticAl
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- Joined: Wed Mar 25, 2009 3:10 pm
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Hey Jason,
I have problems strumming as well- but I think it's coming along for me. You'll notice 3 of the videos I've uploaded are all fingerpicking songs. I think that's because that just comes easier for me.
If you have a video camera, I'd suggest uploading a clip of yourself to the TG Member Review section. It doesn't have to be an entire song- just a clip showing what you're having problems with. You'll get loads of positive, constructive feedback.
Al
I have problems strumming as well- but I think it's coming along for me. You'll notice 3 of the videos I've uploaded are all fingerpicking songs. I think that's because that just comes easier for me.
If you have a video camera, I'd suggest uploading a clip of yourself to the TG Member Review section. It doesn't have to be an entire song- just a clip showing what you're having problems with. You'll get loads of positive, constructive feedback.
Al
You really, really, really need to fix this problem before you go onto something else. You never want to build on a shaky foundation.
Try this:
Choose a chord, preferably one you know well.
Set your metronome for a slow speed. maybe 40 bpm. Strum along with it for 5 minutes non-stop. When you can strum it for 5 minutes with zero mistakes, then speed it up a bit. Maybe to 50 bpm, then 60 then 70... Work your way up to 120 at least. Do not worry about strumming patterns yet. Just play 4 downstrums.
AFTER you can do that at 120, then go back and use a strumming pattern. Try 1 2 3 4&. Just play that pattern starting at 40 bpm and work your way back up again never stopping. DO NOT CHANGE CHORDS during this exercise.
Changing chords is what messes our strumming up in the first place. You need to have a few patterns down really solid to overcome your bad habit.
Try these:
1 2 3 4&
1 2 3&4
1 2&3 4&
1&2 3&4
1& &3 4
By the time you can play these with no mistakes, then your bad habit should be broken.
Now to slowly work on changing chords again to get it right.
Try this:
Choose a chord, preferably one you know well.
Set your metronome for a slow speed. maybe 40 bpm. Strum along with it for 5 minutes non-stop. When you can strum it for 5 minutes with zero mistakes, then speed it up a bit. Maybe to 50 bpm, then 60 then 70... Work your way up to 120 at least. Do not worry about strumming patterns yet. Just play 4 downstrums.
AFTER you can do that at 120, then go back and use a strumming pattern. Try 1 2 3 4&. Just play that pattern starting at 40 bpm and work your way back up again never stopping. DO NOT CHANGE CHORDS during this exercise.
Changing chords is what messes our strumming up in the first place. You need to have a few patterns down really solid to overcome your bad habit.
Try these:
1 2 3 4&
1 2 3&4
1 2&3 4&
1&2 3&4
1& &3 4
By the time you can play these with no mistakes, then your bad habit should be broken.
Now to slowly work on changing chords again to get it right.