THE IMPORTANCE OF STRUMMING = RIGHT OR WRONG?

The style is neither good nor bad.  It is yours.  If I wanted to hear the song done exactly the same way as it was done on an album, I'll just play the album. 

- Zurf

Doc

I'm in the same boat with strumming style ... I never really go by what is "tabbed" ... I go with the rhythm that I think sounds good ... and like you said, it's recognizeable when you hear it

Well, I'm real similar in that I'm usually the nut playing. 

- Zurf

I think that there are a lot of guitar players here with strumming problems.
I also try to play some "picking" but before I know I'm strumming again.
Russell, I had a dreadlock  wig ma men, smoked some ganga too, and strummetiestrum NO WOMAN BO CRY. I'm living sexless since almost 3 years now, I think I'll  study for priest, GITAARPRIESTPHIL in nomine patris et filiis et sanctus spiritum
AGNUS DEI QUI TOLLIT ... DONA NOBIS PACE.

Right or wrong I listen to the CD or radio and pick out the "Beats" of the bass notes as the strum patterns. To me the strum patterns is a rythmic melody of the song in some down and up sequence that fits the song. In a pattern such as;
D...D...U...D...U...D...U....D = 1...2...&...3...&...4...&...1 in a 4/4 time. All D's or 1's will be downstrums and the U's or &'s will be upstrums in your counting patterns. This works for me in any sequence of patterns that you hear or feel weither the song timing is in 3/4, 4/4, triplet or whatever. Any song can have more than 1 strum pattern so if you can hear it then play it. I, and I haven't been playing for that long, started developing my strumming skills (if that is what you want to call them) by keeping a pick on the console of my truck and strumming to the song I hear on the radio as I'm driving. Many songs, to my ear, are the same patterns but they are slower or faster and in the style of whoever happens to be singing the song. To me, if you can tap your foot to the rythem of the song and keep time, you should be able to do the same with your struming hand. The hardest part to me was learning to tap my foot and strum all at the same time.

Nela

Just have to add that if you are interested in furthering your knowledge of strumming patterns, you HAVE to check out Richie Havens, especially his rendition of Dylan's "Just Like A Woman" from the Dylan tribute in like 2000-2001 something like that.  I have been playing for 20 years, and that just blew my mind.  I still can't do it justice.  But, I did find while practicing that song that starting on an upstrum dramatically changes the beat and sound of the guitar - something to experiment with anyway.  Seriously, though, check out that tune of Havens'

Ok, that Havens tune was an awesome representation of playing a song the way YOU feel it.  I've always thought that some people have enough built in rhythm/musical sense that they know how to make a song recognizable, or make it their own.  Doc, don't worry about picking some and strumming some--- check out Tommy Emmanuel. I do the same thing and I generally know how most songs go.  Also if you listen to artists who have been playing the same song for 20 - 30 years, they change them up quite a bit when performing live.  Keeps the song fresh and the musicians don't get bored.  So go your own way, and let the rest look for strum patterns.

For reggae try counting one and two and three and four and then only strum the ands missing out the numbers altogether pick the ands  down then try them up see what you like the sound of best. mmm it's hard to put into words. This probably won't help I dunno

As an addition to jennymare...true, people aren't so interested in solos too often, but if you want something more than just chords to play on your acoustic, maybe you should check out some video game music.  Haha.  Some of it is real simple, but you can find plenty of good stuff too.  A lot of it is easily recognizable to groups as well, for instance, the Super Mario theme, or the Dreamland song from Super Smash Brothers.  I dont know if anyone on here will be interested, but if you are I'd check out www.gametabs.net.  They have tabs and midis/mp3s to listen to for each song.  Some of the tabbers even form it into sheet music of sorts with timing and everything.  Woo for music theory!  .  Anyway, happy first post on here to me (I've been lurking =P).

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