Strumming chords is one of the first things to learn on the guitar.
This lets you play songs right from the start and from my experience, it's also one of the the most common things that keep students motivated to learn music.
Over the years, I have had lots of beginner students ask me this question.
So here are a few things to look into to help you strum chords well and play the music you want to.
These are the same tips my own students have used and found effective. So let's check them out and get you playing shall we?
Movement Of Your Wrist
I have noticed in most students that they end up moving the whole arm while strumming.
That is not what you'd want to do if you want to develop a good technique.
Instead, most of the movements needs to be coming from the wrist alone.
You want to have movement on your elbow when you are accenting a beat, or you just want to strum a chord harder than the rest.
Loosen your Wrist
If your hands are stiff/rigid (which it probably is if you're a beginner), you will feel some restrictions while strumming.
Thing is, a stiff hand also means the sounds coming out of the instrument will be harsh.
So drop you hands on your sides, loose all that tension and try again.
The goal is to have comfortable movement in your wrist.
Strum Light And Fast
It is really important to strum light and fast in order to create a pleasant sound on the instrument.
Develop this by working on one stroke at a time.
Hold a chord and move your strumming hand downward across the strings as lightly and quickly as you can.
Do this patiently and record yourself when you do so.
This way you get an objective feedback for yourself, by yourself.
Balancing The Loudness
Try applying the previous point while practicing upstrokes and make sure to balance out the loudness of each stroke.
This is essential for any musician.
Where To Strum?
Strumming at different areas of the guitar will create slight differences in sound.
The further you are towards the bridge, the brighter the guitar will sound.
And the further you are towards the fretboard, the darker/warmer the guitar will sound.
The idea is to mix and match what suits the dynamics of the the music you are playing.
Want To Learn Music?
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*Open to students from all over the world and all age groups.
Here are some of the things I talk about in class:
Music fundamentals and theory
Ear-training
Composition
Improvisation
The guitar as a solo instrument
Musical, compositional, and improvisational philosophies
Artistry
Expression
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