Mixing Strumming & Chord changes

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Hi,
I am not sure what is the issue with me, I am able to strum a pattern with muting string something like DDUUDU pattern , but when i try to apply the same thing to play a song for example the song i have uploaded , I am confused on which beat i need to change chords or is it something like strumming should keep on going & i need to change according to the lyrics or only on 1st & 4rd beat, :sob: I really feel I am stuck ,If anyone could help here please

Thanks

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I can’t answer the question on this song, I don’t know the song. Usually with chord/lyrics sheets the chord is printed above the lyric where the chord change happens.

I’m assuming from your question you’re at a beginner stage. At this stage you will find it much easier to change on beat 1. It’s not unusual to struggle with strumming in the early stages. My suggestion is to try some of the level 1 songs on the website and try following along with the demonstration in Justin’s lessons.

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Hi @chris_m
Yeah I am beginner , its been 2 months I have started, what I am trying to say is can i change chords on any beat maybe it can be on 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 any beat, but the the key is to not to stop the strumming.
The strumming hand should never stop it just loops the pattern and i need to change chords accordignly based on lyrics.
Am I understanding it right?

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Welcome to the forum Deepak
Yes you can change chords on any beat as long as it is in time with the music and yes it a good idea to keep your hand moving.
That being said strumming patterns are not always a repeating constant.

As a beginner you will find it easier to keep time if you always change chords on the down beat so your example of old faithful will not work on the song you posted. So to keep it easier to keep in time where there are 3 chord changes in one bar(bar 2 of the song) it would be best to change the strumming pattern to 4 down strums.
2 on the C and 1 on the D and 1 on the Em

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can we play multiple strum patterns for any song.
ex: chorus we can add one pattern & verse a diff strum pattern?

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Yes you can but most beginner songs avoid this until you get you timing and chord changes down. Timing is something you want to get really good at before doing advanced changes.
How for into the beginner course are you?

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I am done with the Grade 1 course. I could play few strum patterns and change chords on beat 1 i dont feel that difficult.

Example: G chord DDUDDU and change to C chord DDUDU and change to Em or Am and DDUDDU and i am able to do this while keeping my strumming in place as well chord changes in place.

But when it comes to songs the above song which is a reginoal song, we sing in our church it is translated to english by the way. I couldnt able to apply (something like the rythm & timing) what I have learned into the songs. I really feel sad whether Am i missing something or is this common at this level and help me with any tips to overcome this any exercise I need to follow something.

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Listening to the original song or a version that you’re trying to play will help you figure out the pattern.
You need to fit the strumming to the song not the song to the strumming pattern. Some song have very simple patterns and some have very complex patterns. I don’t know the song you’ve posted so can’t help with the pattern.

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Anyways thanks for help man

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These kind of chord sheets are tough when you are starting out because there is no indication of timing at all. E.g., There are so many lyrics for the first Em, so is it played for more than 1 bar? Probably. But that information never appears in this kind of chord sheet, and it’s frustrating for beginners (or when you’re not a beginner but a friend wants you to help him play a song you don’t know).

The way I got through it is very simple. You have to know the song first. Listen to it.

First time listening, identify the beat and tap your foot to the beat.

Second time listening (and often more :grinning_face_with_big_eyes:), where do you hear the chords change?

  • Identify the places where the same chord is held for more than one bar and write that on to your chord sheet. (E.g., it’s probably not one Em followed by C D Em, it’s probably several Em followed by C D Em. Write this on your chord sheet). Pay attention to the last chord written on a line, and the first. If there’s a vocal break between the lines, one of those chords is often repeated but not written.
  • Identify the places where you have to make chord changes within a single bar (which feels a little goofy with Old Faithful the first few times you do it). Draw a circle that includes all these chords played in the same bar.

Play along, does it sound correct?

I don’t know whether what I’ve written is helpful, but I hope it is. Unfortunately no one can give you the exact answer you need unless they know the song. But above is the recipe I used (and still use) when I see a chord sheet for a song I don’t know.

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Hey, this really sounds great, maybe i will give it a try, once I try listening to the song, maybe not once more times i will tap along the beat and try notice where the changes are happening. thanks a lot man :slightly_smiling_face: