I started playing almost two years ago now, and I sure remember how it felt: many days I wanted to play more, but just couldn’t! Justin recommends absolute beginners practice 20 minutes per day. He suggests breaking that into two 10-minute periods to help with the inevitable finger pain. Also, especially for us older folks, this makes it easier to build strength in our hands while avoiding overuse injuries. Even if you haven’t watched all the lessons yet, have a look at the Grade 1 Module 1 practice routine. There’s good info there! EDIT - Oops, I just realized this thread is for the practice routine. It might be worth reviewing the text on the website, and maybe even the lesson, to internalize Justin’s guidance.
Thanks, Judi. I’m going to be taking a few days off because I now have a blister on my left middle finger. Anyway, I was going at a little too intense. I’ll check out the “old dogs” community.
Ah, yes, the blisters. Another thing I experienced (and still do at times) is that my callouses peel a bit and catch on the strings. I’ve found it very helpful to apply a rich hand cream to my hands, and especially those fingertips, every night before bed. It may seem counterintuitive, but it for me helps keep the callouses in good shape. (It might help with the blister too!) Oh - another tip regarding the peeling callouses is to get an inexpensive glass nail file and even out the catches without removing the callous itself. Here’s the one I got, but there are many out there. Hope your blister heals quickly!
I am roughly at Module 4 of Grade one, learning for a little over a month now.
One thing I am really confused about is how / when did Nitsuj start to strum multiple times in a bar?
Also I dont find the connection between the number of times he strums in a Bar and the Guitaraoke thing on the videos. Sometimes there is just one Chord name in a circle (in a a bar) and he strums two or more times and sometimes he ignores a Chord (when it is the same chord) on Beat 3 in a Bar.
What should we (beginners) be doing and where is it explained?
I really feel a link missing between my Chord and first songs practice and Strumming patterns.
Any pointers and directions are highly appreciated.
Generally, when starting of with a new song (or song practice), first strum once per bar, on the first beat. When that goes well, you can add a strum on 3. When that’s fine, go for 4 strums per bar, on each beat. And when you can get that right, you can try applying some more fancy strumming pattern, like the ‘old faithful’ pattern introduced in module 4.
Try to play as even as possible, so nice clean chord changes and even, relaxed strumming.
Thanks a lot! Really appreciate it! In hindsight makes a lot of sense, but as a total beginner, I was just not sure and did not want to invent my own “rules”
What when there is a different Chord on Beat 3 of a Bar? Should I just continue with the strumming pattern?
First focus on strumming on 1 and 3, making sure you get the chord change in time. Then go for 4 down strums. When that goes well, try some strumming pattern that sounds good. Using old faithful will give yo some extra time to change the chord, as there’s no strum on 3. But you can try different strumming patterns, see how you go - put a bit of your creative side in it It will also teach you when to start a chord change in order to be in time for the strum on 3.
When a bar is shared equally between two chords, the second chord first occurs on the count of 3.
Old Faithful is not a good pattern for such bars as there is no strum happening on the count of 3.
You are better advised, if you want to move beyond simple four strums per bar, to play a different pattern.
For example,
D, D, U, D, U, D
1, 2, &, 3, &, 4
Hi all. I have a (probably stupid) question. I will try my best to explain. When I lift my fingers to move to a different chord, the strings make an extra sound (essentially like a pull-off). How do I stop this to get cleaner chord switches? It is on nylon strings so not sure it that plays a role. It almost feels/sounds like the string is sticking to my finger when I life, thereby essentially played when I lift off (and yes I ensured to wash my hands prior to playing just in case ).
Hmm… There are no stupid questions, only stupid answers
Which strings? The ones you were fretting? Are you pressing down on the strings very strongly, so that it takes effort lifting your fingers? Are you perhaps inadvertently touching the strings again shortly when you are changing chords?
The only thing coming to my mind right now, is that you could experiment with how lightly you press down on the strings and have them still ringing out clearly. That could lessen friction when changing chords, I guess…
thank you. Yes it is the fretting string and I was thinking that I was not pressing down that hard. Perhaps it will get better with practice but I will try pressing lighter going forward and see if that helps, as well as try to lift fingers quicker/slower.
Hello Johan, welcome to the community forum. I haven’t experienced your problem when playing my nylon classical guitar, but I thought of some suggestions. If you haven’t been playing long, your calluses may not be fully developed. The strings will not stick as much to callused fingertips. Also, you might try to press your fingers closer to the fret (toward the body of the guitar and away from the nut). It will take less finger pressure closer to the fret.
I think with more practice that problem will go away.
Hi all, I am back to starting guitar again and really impressed with everything here on website… and will purchase app in a bit. Question: It mentions in the “Using my Practice Assistant”, you can add the full Lesson 1 routines to it vs having to create yourself… yet, I can’t find that anywhere in Lesson 1 where I can just add all the practice items at once… so they all show up in the assistant. Any ideas? thanks, Dave
Hi Stephen, welcome to the Community! As you surely know, unhappy fingertips are unavoidable at the beginning of this journey. It will pass…seems like it takes forever while they hurt, but one day soon you realize you’re not thinking about that any longer. As a fellow beginner, I’ll remind you not to practice too long at a stretch while you build up hand strength (and callouses!), as it’s too easy to develop an over-use injury. If you haven’t yet, consider introducing yourself to the entire community over here.
