• Registered: 2006-12-07
  • Posts: 33

Topic: Strumming

I was wondering is strumming on an electric guitar should be different to acoustic strumming?

  • From: Nova Scotia, Canada
  • Registered: 2007-03-07
  • Posts: 99

Re: Strumming

Hi David 137, I Have a Fender Strat, 63 Gibson Stereo Hollowbody, Yamaha FX-TBS40 and an Epiphone Jumbo body, I Strum them all in exactly the same fashion, maybe a little bit lighter on the electric, as the strings are wound tighter and are thinner. I Tend to play the strat without the amplifier, and strum it quite hard to get sound out of it, And have broken a few strings, so I would say always use your amp and a light pick on electric.  Hope this helps!  <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_twisted.gif" border=0 alt="Twisted Evil">

DJ Cormier
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  • From: Nottingham, UK
  • Registered: 2006-08-08
  • Posts: 690

Re: Strumming

If you strum with overdrive enganged the sound is too bombastic for anything but AC/DC. If you lighten the sound by turning tone and volume down or even switching out coils/PUs you can strum away, I find 60s Brit Invasion stuff does pretty well like this.


Having said that the trick to getting electric sounds right is partial strums. On alot of Stones songs you just tickle the top 3 strings with occasional full whacks for emphasis. On the chorus of Johnny B Goode (described by me earlier) you do a 'call and response' between the bass strings and  the treble strings, the trebles match in with the Go Go Go!s in the lyrics.

'The sound of the city seems to disappear'
  • Registered: 2006-04-05
  • Posts: 72

Re: Strumming

in my experience, i would say 'no'

  • From: Murphysboro Il
  • Registered: 2007-02-10
  • Posts: 292

Re: Strumming

You usually don't have to strum as hard because it does little to effect the volume after a certain point. How you strum an electric is like with an accustic in that it depends on the song, the sound and feel you are going for and so on. There are some differences. Palm mutting tends to be a bit more drammatic on electric. Power chords and barre chords sound fuller and brighter generaly and are maybe a bit easier to make and hold on an electric. Basiclly I recomend trying various techniques and see what sounds appropriate in each situation.Explore!!!!!!

"Nobody paints by ear so why would I play guitar by sight?" hmm