Tom, thanks for the good tips. I have written out my own song sheets with chords above the correct syllables, but haven’t tried to add the correct rhythm counts. I have been a bit lazy about that and usually just memorize how the rhythm is supposed to sound. But that has gotten me into to trouble before when playing and singing.
2 Likes
I am the same as you, Tom. I think for me, it’s once the playing and singing are all just automated then the foot just starts moving on it’s own.
2 Likes
For me, tapping my foot just seems like something else that I need to manage (I’m not saying it’s wrong just beyond what I’m capable of right now). Unfortunately I tend to hold my strumming pattern by basically humming the rhythm in my head so as soon as I try to sing the strumming goes to pot. I can’t decide if this humming is a bad habit I need to break now or just more a sign that much more practice is needed.
I think this is probably a bad habit - I suspect it uses the same parts of the brain that are used for singing.
For me, it feels like my strumming patterns are in in my strumming arm/hand, not my head. I’ve automated it enough that I can think at a higher level i.e. “Chorus coming up! Switch from OF to pumping 8ths strum!” and keep singing.
Of course, it’s not always that smooth, and I often have to isolate those transitions and really practice them, until they flow nicely when I’m playing the song.
Justin has a “feel good strumming” exercise. Putting in some more time on that would probably help you.
1 Like
I come at this from a different angle to most, I learn the cords, with only a feel for the strumming and I do not attempt to copy a recommended or original struming pattern. Without that extra pattern baggage in your head you can learn to sing the song and strum. After you are confident and it becomes automatic you can then start to move some focus on tweaking the strumming how you want in small steps and in a far more relaxed manner.
Works for me.
As for finger picking or picking out single notes whilst singing, I have no chance, my brain can’t do it - ha ha.
You should say your brain can’t do it YET, as you evolve and things like fingerpicking become more automated it will likely happen.
I want to thank everyone who answered my questions a few weeks ago.
I’m the guy who was struggling, playing along with a metronome. I mean really struggling. You all me such great advice.
I took it to heart
As I told you, I was having an incredibly difficult time strumming this song and singing it.
The metronome, and I use the Justin metronome app, was certainly not my friend
Instead of ignoring my problem, I confronted it head on
I had to set the BPM at 50, and even then it was not easy to get my brain and my hands working together. I spent hours just working this out.
One of you said, don’t sing until you have the rhythm down 100%
So, that’s what I did
I want to tell you that we learn from each other
I just finished playing this song and singing it and in time at 100 BPM
Also, I’ve been using the random beat drop on the Justin app
I can now do various strum patterns in time at 120 bpm. For five minutes.
Justin, and this community, are the Safety net, for all of us, learning how to play the guitar, helping us appreciate the love of learning in the beauty of this instrument
So, thank you to everyone.
The metronome is now my friend
26 Likes
Thanks for sharing your progress, Tom. You’re a quick study. I wish I advanced as well as you!
Judi:
Quick study?
No way!
If you could have observed me, you would have noticed that my steady stream of swear words were more in time with the metronome than my strumming.
But I’m stubborn.
I would struggle, make my new progress, mess up again
I take a half hour break, and then come back to it
But I have so much more to learn.
That’s the beauty of trying to learn how to play the guitar.
I find parallels with what I do for a profession – I am a writer/storyteller
There is no finish line in the creative world
I complete one story, love it, and then the next one is nothing but the nightmare of a blank screen
Same with learning music.
But I’m the kind of person who does not like finish lines in life
Learning is the magic.
2 Likes
My singing sounds more like a steady stream of swear words already! I must be further along than I think…
4 Likes
I want to thank you, Tom, for expressing so well what I’ve been thinking. I’m in the middle of the Strumming SOS course, and have been slavishly strumming patterns and simple chord changes at various bpms with my new buddy, Mister Metronome. I disliked him 
a great deal for a long time. After a week, returning to songs I’ve been practicing with a lot of clunky mistiming are now pleasingly more smooth. Thanks to Justin for scolding me 
on to the proper path.
2 Likes
@mfeeney0110 and @Thallman - your stories have convinced me to return to the strumming course. I worked through the Foundations course, but set it aside because I (thought I) had too many things to practice. While I do practice with the metronome, I’ll review the foundations course immediately.
I like the nightmare analogy. Fortunately this nightmare often has a happy ending!
1 Like
Good on you Tom, whilst you’ve had good advice the result is all down to you, don’t forget that please and be proud, you should be.
Onwards my friend! 
1 Like
For sure that’s what makes Justin’s site the best is the Community, and all the kindness that we share. We all learn more than guitar here.
2 Likes
Thank you for such kind words
1 Like
Thanks for the update, good to hear you are progressing so well, Tom
Hear Hear Well said !!!
1 Like
Thanks for the update, Tom. Being stubborn and resilient can pay off sometimes.You also reminded me that I should go back to Strumming SOS 2 and 3, which are still unfinished.
Since you painted such a beautiful picture: I love the analogy between writing and learning music. Nothing is ever finished, I agree. My husband said lately, what if magically I could play and sing every song I wanted perfectly. Wouldn’t that be great? I just said: No, I don’t want that. What would I do then? If there would be nothing anymore to dream about? Nothing that I could try to improve very slowly, step by step? It’s the journey, the little successes, the ups and downs. It’s about learning, struggling and dreaming.
Thanks for being a part of this community and making me think 
1 Like
Your metronome story sounds like it could be from me. I hated the sound of the metronome. It was just distracting. Than I begun recording songs, close2u, David P. and many others always said the timing is off. But I was a beginner. A few years later, not a beginner anymore, recorded songs and timing was still of. @Richard_close2u gave me a good critique and that was the point where I used a metronome. I bought the Justin metronome app because as I said at the beginning that I can’t stand the sound of the one I bought. The app is great. You can change the sound of it. Bought strumming SOS and my timing got better.
2 Likes
This community — all through Justin - is amazing
1 Like
Justin’s metronome app — as I go though the strumming class — is a fantastic tool
1 Like