• Registered: 2007-03-04
  • Posts: 1

Topic: help with strumming patterns

Hi,  I've found lots of songs on here to have a go at - BUT, as a beginner, the simple chord names above the songs don't give me enough help with the correct strumming patterns to use.


I've been given a version of "Stairway to Heaven" (yes, I know...) but it has musical notation that helps me with the timing and strumming patterns, I've got much further with this than other songs that just have the chord symbols.


I know lots of the songs very well to listen to, but when I pick up the guitar, I don't know where to go.


Is it just a lack of experience? Unfortunately I don't seem to be able to get going on working out the correct strumming pattern for a song and give up in despair- advice please.

  • Registered: 2007-01-05
  • Posts: 21

Re: help with strumming patterns

Check out this site <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYfYE7XX00Y&mode=related&search=" target="_blank"> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYfYE7XX … lated& amp;search=</a>



Don't get discouraged  Happy playing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_cool.gif" border=0 alt="Cool">  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_cool.gif" border=0 alt="Cool">

  • From: Adelaide , Australia
  • Registered: 2006-06-04
  • Posts: 129

Re: help with strumming patterns

G'day,

It is difficult at first and it is a hard thing to teach (like throwing ! ) Strum patterns seem to cause a few people a bit of grief, but pick on songs you know REALLY well to begin with, its a bit like tapping your foot to a song, and you've got to 'feel' it. Once you master something familiar , the rest will come and flow into the new stuff. If you've got a basic sense of rhythm it will come. I learnt on Johnny Cash songs with the "Boom chicka Boom chika boom' and once that was stuck in my brain I could then throw in a few shuffles and muck around. Most songs have a similar rhythm suprisingly. Keep at it , Practise ,practise ad nauseum. You'll do it !!

A five yr old could understand this. Somebody fetch a five yr old !
Groucho Marx
  • Registered: 2007-02-21
  • Posts: 7

Re: help with strumming patterns

Ray is right ... I am slightly better than a beginner but I also had some serious problems strumming. Try a song like "Its your love" first. Thats has very easy chords and strumming is fairly simple.


But by practice you learn to get a feel of how you should strum.


Also another method is strum a chord once following the chords of the song. Then you get a feel for the tune and you learn how to add the additional rythm in between changes.


Hope this helps.

  • Registered: 2006-08-15
  • Posts: 80

Re: help with strumming patterns

I've noticed that I learn a song I am really familliar with and, whilst I'm learning it, I pretty much avoid listening to it. By the time I listen to it again, my strumming pattern is NOTHING LIKE the original. It is mine that I've made up that suits me, my guitar and the fact that I'm unaccompanied. Sometimes it amazes me how much subtlety I lack!


I don't know if that hepls because I never felt like I had a problem with srum patterns, being a drummer, I just did what came naturally, but too fast <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_wink.gif" border=0 alt="Wink"> I suppose it's a different perspective for you to look at the problem from if you are suffering though.


Cheers.