Level 2 beginner learning some strums with How Bizzare

Hello,
I have been working on my strumming for a while.
I find that in the basic songs, I get kind of bored with the same three chords and their transitions. It seems more fun to mix a couple of songs together, like mash them up.
Here is my fist time recording myself (that’s a new experience) doing a simple Mashup of How bizzare by OMC and Run Away to Mars by Talk.
I am looking for any constructive feedback on rhythm, movement, hand placement, etc. I do notice that after a while my wrist on my strumming hand gets sore so I’m hoping to figure out why that is.
Thanks everyone!

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Hi Zach, pretty good overall, consistent strumming and nice chord changes.

One thing I noticed is your guitar position means that your strumming is having to travel at around 45 degrees across the strings. From my understanding this causes two things, you have to strum further which can be hard with fast tempos. The other is the tone of the notes from bass to treble will be affected as towards the neck it’s richer and towards the bridge brighter. Most guitarist move in either direction to alter tone, a 45 degree strum across the strings will restrict that in the future. If you move the neck so it is more level to the floor and adjust strum arm you will go across the string at less of an angle. Take a look at Justin’s strumming in some of his videos.

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Zach

Your doing pretty well. I’d echo Adrian @AJSki2fly: your fretboard is pointing a bit high. Also, your thumb is a bit high at the back of the neck and seems sometimes to be gripping there (rather than at rest) causing tension which will contribute to wrist-ache: your wrist is particularly bent when playing the G chord; dropping the thumb behind the neck can make things more comfortable. One other thing worth trying is varying the volume of the strum without changing the tempo or rhythm: developing that skill early will help you add colour and dynamism to your performances. Keep on strumming!

Brian

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Hey Zach, nice work on the strumming and chord changes!.

Regarding your strumming wrist getting sore… that’s a super common issue and I definitely had to work through that, too :slightly_smiling_face:

A couple things come to mind.

1. Stamina - this will improve as you keep practicing. Keep doing things like 5 minutes of strumming practice, playing along with songs, etc. and your muscles/tendons in your wrist and forearm will adapt.

2. Technique - This really(!) helped me.

Right now, you are strumming with your entire forearm. Meaning your elbow is the (only) pivot point.

The problem is that your wrist is relatively tense and stiff.

As you continue practicing upbeat, faster tempo strums, you’ll likely realize that it’s easier to strum when you relax your wrist and let it go almost completely loose.

The strum technique will shift from ‘elbow/forearm strumming’ to ‘wrist flicking.’ (Maybe ‘relaxed wrist rotation’ is a good description).

This method of strumming uses waaaay less tension and you should be able to play a lot longer (and faster) without getting so sore. :wink:

Hope that’s helpful!
Mukund

Thanks guys! I have heard the wrist flick thing before but I will have to look into it more because I’m not exactly what you are describing.
I will work on the guitar angle and thumb placement and see how that feels.
thanks again!

Justin demonstrates in this video.
Strumming Technique & Mechanics | JustinGuitar.com

Dude thats killer. Reallly Nicely done. Using sus chords, really good solid hand strumming with regular movment and a nice variety of strum patterns.

I think it sounds great.
Thats solid rythem guitar work especially if you rythem in a band or you got a group of people singing, great party style type song if people know that lyrics.

If I was to offer anything, the only thing, perhaps could be working on dynamics some. But you probobly know that. You know what I mean though. Bringing the energy up and down. Softer in the verses and the begining and getting big in the chorus. Then maybe bring it down at the bridge. Start building into the outro for that climax end. Use more advance chord voucings near the end. You know that sort of thing.

It’s all good though, I would be stoked. I dont konw where you were before, but your strumming work is paying off dude. :raising_hands:t2: :fire:

Keep up the good work.

:victory_hand:t2::love_you_gesture:t2::sign_of_the_horns:t2: