Justin was right...strumming soon becomes an issue

Strumming SOS Ask Richard - Your Official Strumming Assistant
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I love the lessons. Justin was right, remembering the chords is an initial issue but strumming soon becomes the next challenge. I give in. I bought the strumming SOS course. For simple strumming, I am pretty good but as soon as we start to skip ups and downs my arm isn’t consistent. I hope this course helps. LOL

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I’m sure it will Jason. I felt the same not long ago but having embraced Richards philosophy of ‘learn songs, learn songs, learn songs’ :laughing: I am feeling good progress has been made.

Stick with it, it’ll happen.

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Hey Jason. I found Strumming SOS to be a very worthwhile purchase. The good thing is you can do the lessons as many times as you need, and you should. Learning chord shapes is hard. Learning to strum and pick and keep rythym is harder. Then you have put those together into songs. Once you have that down, you have to add singing on top. And if you succeed with all that, you’ll have to figure out how to manage all the fame :smiling_face_with_sunglasses: and fortune :money_bag: that follows from your record contracts and stadium tours! Have fun.

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@jdavitsky

Jason, I will give two suggestions. Use at least one of them so long as chord changes are making the physical act of strumming an issue.

One
Use muted strings. Lightly touch with all four fingers somewhere near the first few frets so when you strum you hear a percussive sound. Remember - your guitar operates on several musical levels - Rhythm & Harmony & Melody. For now, join the rhythm section and make musical noises that are in time.

Two
Say what you play and play what you say. If you are playing a strumming pattern of all eighths you will say this as you play.

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

Ideally you can do that. If not, to begin, you may find it easier to speak the direction of movement out loud.

Down Up Down Up Down Up Down Up

If you are strumming Old Faithful you will say out loud:

1 _ 2 & _ & 4 _

You can aternate with:

Down _ Down Up _ Up _ Down _

I hope that helps.
Richard
:slight_smile:

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Thanks Richard, this is really helpful. I will try both and see what sticks best. I started to get confused I think when 16ths were introduced. I will work hard on the strumming course and do each lesson until I perfect them.

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I found the strumming sos course invaluable. Helped me a lot.

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I need to get this so badly

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@Ontime Go for it Jason! As Ian says it is invaluable!

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