👋 Meet Richard Coles - Your Official Strumming SOS Teacher Assistant

Strumming SOS
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Howdy guitar friend,

Did you know that your Strumming SOS course comes with its very own dedicated teacher?That’s right! We want to make sure you’ve got extra support to help you succeed every step of the way!

Meet Richard — your Strumming SOS TA :musical_notes:

Richard Coles is your Teaching Assistant for the Strumming SOS course! He’s a JustinGuitar Admin and Official Guide, our Vintage Club host, and has been part of the JustinGuitar family since the very beginning—so he really knows his way around JustinGuitar Land.

Richard also gives optional private lessons and teaches students from all over the world as one of our JustinGuitar Approved Teachers. Richard wears many hats around here - JG wouldn’t be the same without him. :light_blue_heart:

How to connect with Richard :speech_balloon:

The best way to reach Richard is in the Community—just tag @Richard_close2u.We encourage you to ask questions publicly so everyone can learn. There are no wrong questions!

Richard is here to support you by:

  • Answering questions and offering practical tips
  • Giving clear, constructive, and actionable feedback

We’re excited to have Richard supporting you on your Strumming SOS journey—feel free to say hello! :blush:

Happy Strumming,
The JustinGuitar Team :guitar:

13 Likes
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Hi there. Not sure if this is the right place to ask this question.

I’m new, only on Lesson 1 module 3. That means I’m at the stage of realizing that strumming is tough. I can strum and I can do basic notes…putting them together? It’s not pretty.

A few questions.

  1. I’ve paid for the Lesson and Song app already. I’m following the website lesson plan too. At what point should I consider paying for the SOS course?
  2. When I am doing practice songs, what strumming pattern should I use?
  3. One of the things I’ve noticed…using my pick (thin one), I still come down quite hard on the strings (at least to my ears). It seems that as I get going, the intensity of my strike gets louder. If I use my finger or thumb (just as a comparison), I can stay fairly even/consistent.

Thanks!

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Hi @TroutRichard :slightly_smiling_face:

Thanks for your interest!

  1. If your strumming feels stiff, off-beat, or just doesn’t groove yet, Strumming SOS is for you. It’s great for complete beginners and also for more experienced players who want tighter timing and a more relaxed feel!

I’ll leave the other questions to @Richard_close2u to answer as he’s the expert! Or, if you’re joining today’s Strumming SOS live class, you can ask your question directly in the chat! You can still register and join from here: https://www.justinguitar.com/clubs

Cheers
Fanny