Strumming Exercises Guitar Lesson
Strumming Exercises
Mark Lincoln continues his discussion of chords and strumming. He introduces several new exercises in this lesson.
Taught by Mark Lincoln in Basic Guitar with Mark Lincoln seriesLength: 19:30Difficulty: 1.5 of 5
Warm-up the handsChapter 2: (02:46) Strumming
Stretch the fingers.
Play the open major chords.
Play the open minor chords.
We've talked about the formations of the open chords at some length, so let's talk a little more about playing those chords.
Strum notation often looks like this: 
etc where each arrow represents either a downstroke or an upstroke. Also, remind yourself of the rubber band technique where the down-up motion or should be done in one motion or a snap motion. Keep in mind that your picking hand should be relaxed. Let the pick flow over the strings. Do not grind the pick into the strings. On the other hand, be careful not to grasp the pick so loosely that it falls out of your hand. There is a balance here that you will need to find for yourself and your own playing.
Don't forget to relax! If you're finding that you're getting frustrated or stressed by playing, then set the guitar down. Take a couple of deep breaths and try again. Keep in mind that ALL OF US struggle at times and have to work on our playing diligently.
Chapter 3: (07:34) Exercise 1In this exercise, we're going to pick a few chords and practice strumming them. Here are the chords for the exercise:
Em C G D
If you need to review how these chords are fingered, do so now.
Here is the strum that we will be using:
or down down-up down, so the middle two strums (the down-up) would be the "snap" strum or the "rubber band" strum. Play the strumming pattern once for each chord listed above.
Okay, try it! When you watch me in the lesson video, you will notice that I am playing just two notes of the C chord and two notes of the G chord. I'm doing this to simplify the exercise and make the transition between chords a little easier for you at this time. Once you've mastered the changes with the chords at hand, then you can play the full versions of the chords as illustrated beforehand.
Remember what I said in the previous lesson about experimenting. Don't be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone and attempt things that may be difficult for you. Otherwise, you may be limiting yourself and your potential for greatness.
Strum the chords while keeping the following in mind:Chapter 4: (00:50) Relaxing Be sure to relax! Playing the guitar while stressed out may affect your playing negatively and reduce the enjoyment of the instrument you love. If you are simply not in the mood for playing, put the guitar down and come back later. Chapter 5: (01:39) Exercise 21)Make sure your guitar is upright and comfortable in your lap. Many players prefer to play with a strap even when sitting down in order to hold the guitar in a comfortable position.
2)Relax your strum hand remembering the ideas I mentioned previously in the lesson. Let the pick flow over the strings.
3)Listen!!! I can't emphasize this enough. Listen to the sound coming out of the guitar. If you are hearing notes that are being muffled or just non-existent then play each note individually in the chord (pluck each string separately) until you find which finger is the culprit. Then, hold that finger down more firmly. Yes, it hurts at first, especially if you’re playing a steel-string guitar. This is just an unfortunate part of the process. If it hurts too much, then stop, massage the finger until it feels a little better, then continue. Remember, in terms of developing calluses, no pain equals no gain!
4)Try to keep your fingers perpendicular to the fretboard to prevent fingers from touching strings they should not be touching. Try to arch your wrist outward to ensure the fingers are perpendicular to the fretboard. Your ultimate goal in chord formation is to place each of the fingers as close as possible to the fret without actually touching it. Each string must be held down with enough pressure to produce a solid tone.
5)Breatheeeeeeeeee!!!!!!! It is of the utmost importance that you relax and breathe during playing. The more relaxed you are, the easier the guitar is to play.
In this exercise we're going to pick four new chords and a new strum. Here are the chords for the exercise:
Am F Bm GAgain, if you need to refer to the notes for the chord structures, do so now.
The strum for this particular exercise looks like this: or down-up down-up down-up down-up. This exercise will give you another opportunity to practice the "snap strum." Play each chord four times where is equal to one. Watch how I do it! Again, pay attention to the sound that is coming out of your guitar and make the necessary adjustments as you play.
In this exercise, we're going to pick another combination of four chords. Here are the chords for the exercise: D E A G.
The strum for this particular exercise looks like this: 
or down down down-up where your snap strum is the last strum. Practice all of the exercises in this lesson until you develop a mastery of the chords that we’re using and have become more familiar with strum notation and the process of strumming itself. We'll work more on all of these rhythm guitar aspects in the weeks to come.
Supplemental Learning Material
Basic Guitar with Mark Lincoln
Found in our Beginner Lesson SetsLearning the basics of the guitar, the building blocks if you will, is an extremely important step in learning and mastering the guitar. This series is all about the basics.
Lesson 1
Guitar Basics
This lesson is all about the basics. Mark explains guitar parts, holding the guitar, and more.
Length: 13:12 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Tuning, Gear, and Chords
Mark begins by discussing equipment every guitarist should own. Then, he introduces chords and proper tuning methods.
Length: 17:28 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Chords and Strumming
Mark finishes his discussion of the "open" chords. He applies these chords to basic rhythm and strumming concepts.
Length: 17:33 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Minor Chords and More
Mark reviews the major chords and introduces the minor chords. He also covers strumming techniques in greater depth.
Length: 25:48 Difficulty: 1.0 Members Only
Expanding Chords
Mark introduces a few more minor chords. He also provides a monster chord exercise.
Length: 16:36 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Strumming Exercises
Mark Lincoln continues his discussion of chords and strumming. He introduces several new exercises in this lesson.
Length: 19:30 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Music Theory and Barre Chords
Mark covers several topics in this lesson. He explains scales and barre chords. He also demonstrates how to find notes on the fretboard.
Length: 21:45 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
E Shape Barre Chords
Mark Lincoln covers E shaped barre chords in greater depth. Mark refers to these chords as "Type 1" barre chords.
Length: 15:12 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
A Shape Barre Chords
Mark covers the A Shape / Type 2 barre chords in greater depth.
Length: 17:12 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Minor Barre Chords
Mark introduces minor barre chords that utilize the shape of the "open" Em chord.
Length: 13:10 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
A Minor Shape Barre Chords
Mark introduces minor barre chords based on the shape of the "open" Am chord. He refers to these chords as "Type 2 Minor" barre chords.
Length: 12:36 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Mini Barre Chord
Mark demonstrates abbreviated versions of the "Type 1" and "Type 2" barre chords. He calls these "mini barre" chords.
Length: 17:43 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
A Shape Mini Barre
Mark teaches the "mini barre" version of the A major shaped barre chord. He also explains dissonance.
Length: 20:29 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Minor Mini Barre Chords
Mark Lincoln applies mini-barre chord concepts to minor chords.
Length: 12:28 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Guitar Technique
Mark Lincoln explains essential components of guitar technique.
Length: 15:59 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Guitar Dynamics
Mark Lincoln explains how dynamics can enhance your playing. He covers topics such as volume, tempo, rests, and more.
Length: 27:48 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Transistion Strums
Mark Lincoln explains more about guitar technique. This time around he introduces "transition strums" and continues his discussion of liquid chords.
Length: 26:12 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Harmonic Technique
Mark Lincoln explains what harmonics are and how they are played.
Length: 15:31 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Expanding Liquid Chords
Mark Lincoln expands on the concept of liquid chords. He explains new chord variations and how they can be changed in mid-strum.
Length: 16:21 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Spicing up Chords
Mark demonstrates how chord progressions can be spiced up by adding hammer-ons and pull-offs.
Length: 12:21 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Chord Fingering
Mark explains how chord fingerings must be altered when applying "liquid chord" concepts. He also provides a few new "liquid chord" exercises.
Length: 11:10 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Precision Strumming
Mark returns to the land of chords. This time around, he provides an exercise that contains four variations on the A chord.
Length: 14:28 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
D to D in Six Steps
Mark provides a chord progression that shifts from one D chord to another in six steps.
Length: 15:20 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Chord Voicings and Construction
Mark delves deeper into chord construction and alternate chord voicings.
Length: 13:36 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Quantitative and Qualitative Changes
Mark tests your guitar knowledge with a pop quiz. Then, he discusses quantitative and qualitative changes.
Length: 22:54 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Quantitative and Qualitative Review
In the 26th installment of his basic guitar series, Mark reviews the quantitative and qualitative changes he presented in lesson 25.
Length: 17:34 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Rhythm and Guitar
Mark provides exercises designed to make you a better rhythm player.
Length: 0:00 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Expanded Rhythm Exercise
Mark Lincoln expands on the rhythm exercise from lesson 27. This time around he incorporates several C based chords.
Length: 14:31 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Hand Structure
Mark discusses proper playing technique. He provides a few exercises that facilitate right hand mechanics.
Length: 17:02 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Cadd9 and Dsus2
Mark provides an exercise that features two new chords - Cadd9 and Dsus2.
Length: 0:00 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Finger Glue and Flexibility
In the 31st lesson, Mark discusses his "finger glue" technique. This technique improves speed and accuracy.
Length: 21:31 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Reviewing Chord Changes
Mark takes a step back in lesson 32 to explain how to make quick and accurate chord changes.
Length: 22:14 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Sliding
Mark explains how to use the slide technique between chords.
Length: 19:24 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Keeping Time While Playing
Mark reviews qualitative and quantitative changes. He explains how to keep time while performing these changes.
Length: 21:17 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
A Minor Progression
Mark discusses qualitative and quantitative changes within an A minor progression.
Length: 19:56 Difficulty: 0.5 Members Only
Chord Transistions
Mark Lincoln discusses several techniques that can be used when transitioning between chords.
Length: 21:43 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Chord Transistions Revisited
In this lesson, Mark once again covers the subject of chord transitions. This time around, he focuses on barre chords and includes several helpful exercises.
Length: 23:25 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Playing Individual Notes
In lesson 38, Mark discusses how playing single notes rather than chords can spice up your playing.
Length: 22:56 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Rocking Out
Lesson 39 is all about rocking out. Mark discusses some tips to take your playing to the next level.
Length: 18:08 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Slash Chords
Lesson 40 takes a deeper look at slash chords. Mark discusses why they're called slash chords, and how they are formed.
Length: 14:42 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Strumming from the Wrist
In lesson 41, Mark reviews the warm-up section and provides new tips on playing adequately from the wrist.
Length: 22:09 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Raising the Barre
Mark builds further on barre chord techniques and liquid chords.
Length: 17:24 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Building on Your Chord Knowledge
In lesson 43, Mark discusses additional skills related to learning and playing chords, specifically "liquification" of chords.
Length: 20:42 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Experiment With Playing
Lesson 44 is all about trying new things. Mark discusses experimenting with your playing in order to take it to the next level.
Length: 17:20 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Diversifying
In this lesson, Mark once again talks about changing up chord derivatives to create a more unique sound.
Length: 20:56 Difficulty: 1.5 Members Only
Shaping the Hands
In lesson 46, Mark explains how to maximize your options by maintaining chord shapes while playing.
Length: 21:44 Difficulty: 1.5 Members OnlyLesson 47
Precision Strumming
Today, Mark takes in depth look at strumming.
Length: 23:57 Difficulty: 1.0 FREE
Shine Like the Sun
Mark Lincoln teaches an original song entitled "Shine Like the Sun."
Length: 18:59 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Changing Chords : Accuracy and Speed
Mark teaches some useful information on how to mix postures, "finger glue," and techniques to make your chord changes speedy and more effective.
Length: 30:56 Difficulty: 2.5 Members Only
Play Along with Mulitple Chord Voicings
In this lesson, Mark guides you through the world of alternate chord voicings. He teaches several shapes and shows how they can be used to enhance your playing.
Length: 23:06 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
Understanding Liquified Chords
Mark brings us a very appealing aspect to better understand the guitar. With his explanation of "liquified" chords, mark will explain how to move up and down the guitar to create different chord voicing.
Length: 25:32 Difficulty: 2.0 Members Only
About Mark Lincoln
View Full Biography
Mark Lincoln was born in S. California but was raised near Portland Oregon in a town called Beaverton. When he was twelve years old, he began his journey into the realm of the creative by composing poetry and was later published in a journal called "In Dappled Sunlight." He wrote for four years until his older sister blessed him with his first guitar, an old beat-up nylon stringed classical guitar. Mark played that guitar for five years, continuing to compose his own lyrics and starting the process of matching his own words with chords that he was learning on the guitar. He learned to play chords from his friends and from music books that he both bought and borrowed. Mark cited his four biggest influences, at that point at least, as The Who, Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull, The Rolling Stones.
Mark cites his most current influences as Radiohead, U2, older music by REM, and Peter Gabriel amongst others. He performs with two acoustic guitars, one being a six-string M-36 Martin with a three-pieced back for increased bass response, and a Guild Twelve-string which is his most recent acquisition. Mark is fond of saying that the twelve-string guitar is better because you get two guitars for the price of one, but he still plays his Martin equally as much and with the same passion.
Mark ended up in Fort Collins Colorado where he currently lives, works as a Marriage and Family Therapist, and continues to write, teach and perform music. He currently performs with a group called "Black Nelson" as well as with a number of other seasoned professional musicians including his cousin David, a virtuoso lead-guitar player. Mark has performed in many of the smaller venues in Denver and Boulder, as well as some of the larger ones including the Fox Theatre, The Boulder Theatre, Herman's Hideaway, and also at The Soiled Dove where he opened for Jefferson Starship as a soloist. Some of Mark's originals are also available for your listening pleasure on MySpace.
Acoustic Guitar Lessons
Our acoustic guitar lessons are taught by qualified instructors with various backgrounds with the instrument.
Nick Amodeo
Nick explains how to play some of the most commonly used chords in the bluegrass genre.
Free LessonSeries Details
Mark Kailana Nelson
Mark delves into the world of slack key guitar. He discusses basic concepts such as open tunings and chords.
Free LessonSeries Details
Pamela Goldsmith
Pamela brings a cap to her first 13 JamPlay lessons with another original etude inspired by the great Leo Brouwer. This is...
Free LessonSeries Details
Mark Kroos
Free LessonSeries Details
Erik Mongrain
Erik expounds on the many possibilities of open tunings and the new harmonics that you can use in them. He explains what...
Free LessonSeries Details
Miche Fambro
Miche introduces several new chord concepts that add color and excitement to any progression.
Free LessonSeries Details
Jim Deeming
Jim Deeming walks you through the process of changing your strings. He gives some excellent tips on this important process.
Free LessonSeries Details
Jessica Baron
Jessica kindly introduces herself, her background, and her approach to this series.
Free LessonSeries Details
David Anthony
David teaches two separate chord progressions to get you acquainted with performing chord changes. These progressions sound...
Free LessonSeries DetailsElectric Guitar Lesson Samples
Our electric guitar lessons are taught by instructors with an incredible amount of teaching experience.
Brad Henecke
Brad Henecke explains the construction of diminished seventh chords. He also provides a diminished chord exercise.
Free LessonSeries Details
Doc Coyle
Doc Coyle teaches "Anti Hero" from Gone Forever. This song is reminiscent of old school 80's metal but still retains...
Free LessonSeries Details
Dave Felton
Learn this Mushroomhead fan favorite from the man himself. Mr. Dave Felton takes you step by step through "Sun Doesn't Rise."
Free LessonSeries Details
Brad Lindsey
Brad Lindsey teaches the signature riffs from the classic rock song "Tush" by ZZ Top. This is an arrangement of the original...
Free LessonSeries Details
Eric Madis
In this lesson Eric talks about playing basic lead in the Memphis Blues style.
Free LessonSeries Details
Nick Kellie
Nick explains how to use scales and modes effectively when soloing over a chord progression.
Free LessonSeries Details
Jane Miller
Jane Miller talks about chord solos in part one of this fascinating mini-series.
Free LessonSeries Details
David Wallimann
This is a crucial lesson that explains tablature, how to read it, and why it's important.
Free LessonSeries Details
Dennis Hodges
Learn a variety of essential techniques commonly used in the metal genre, including palm muting, string slides, and chord...
Free LessonSeries Details
Chris Liepe
Chris brings his ingenuity to this lesson on the American folk song called "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" Also known as...
Free LessonSeries DetailsAdditional Lesson Features Available to Members
While we have attempted to provide you with an accurate rendition of our video lesson experience, there are some features which
require a membership with us!
Custom Progress Reporting
At JamPlay, we give you the ability to monitor your own progress for any lesson! If you watch one of our lessons and feel as though you understand around half of it, mark your progress at 50%. This adds the lesson to your customized Progress Report, and gives you an incredible ability to document what you need to work on, and where you left off.
Progressive Bookmarking
With thousands of lessons at your fingertips, JamPlay can be a touch intimidating to a first-time user. With Progressive Bookmarking, we give you the ability to systematically bookmark sections of any lessons you are working on to quickly access later. After all, what is the point of all this content if it isn't easy to use?
Save Your Notes
JamPlay also gives you the ability to leave notes for yourself on any lesson. Just like in any educational system, taking your own notes while learning gives you the ability to highlight the instruction that is important to you. Leave your notes, and we store them in our database for you to reference each and everytime you come back to the lesson.
Join the Thousands of Members at JamPlay
Signup today to enjoy access to our entire database of video lessons, along with our exclusive set of learning tools and features.
Unlimited Lesson Viewing
A JamPlay membership gives you access to every lesson, from every teacher on our staff. Additionally, there is no restriction on how many times you watch a lesson. Watch as many times as you need.Live Lessons
Exclusive only to JamPlay, we currently broadcast 8-10 hours of steaming lesson services directly to you! Enjoy the benefits of in-person instructors and the conveniences of our community.Interactive Community
Create your own profile, manage your friends list, and contact users with your own JamPlay Mailbox. JamPlay also features live chat with teachers and members, and an active Forum.Chord Library
Each chord in our library contains a full chart, related tablature, and a photograph of how the chord is played. A comprehensive learning resource for any guitarist.Scale Library
Our software allows you to document your progress for any lesson, including notes and percent of the lesson completed. This gives you the ability to document what you need to work on, and where you left off.Custom Chord Sheets
At JamPlay, not only can you reference our Chord Library, but you can also select any variety of chords you need to work on, and generate your own printable chord sheet.Backing Tracks
Jam-along backing tracks give the guitarist a platform for improvising and soloing. Our backing tracks provide a wide variety of tracks from different genres of music, and serves as a great learning tool.Interactive Games
We have teachers covering beginner lessons, rock, classic rock, jazz, bluegrass, fingerstyle, slack key and more. Learn how to play the guitar from experienced players, in a casual environment.Beginners Welcome.. and Up
Unlike a lot of guitar websites and DVDs, we start our Beginner Lessons at the VERY start of the learning process, as if you just picked up a guitar for the first time.Our teaching is structured for all players.
Member Comments about this Lesson
Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.Mark Really, it is "OK." It's all "OK." I love the lessons, but the barrage of "OKs" sometimes drives me nuts. After a while, it's all I can hear. OK?
hi mark, new to Jamplay and loving it. I also have same query as larsmohrnielsen with regard to strumming pattern...you seem to take a slight break after the 2nd Up strum, so pattern becomes down, down, down, up...rather than down, down up down. cheers
can you tell me an easy way to play D chord.. im facing difficulties to get clear sound of D chords...
Hey Alijee! The only (and best) way I know to play the open D chord is to put the 1st finger on the G string second fret, the middle finger on the high E second fret and the ring finger on the B string 3rd fret. Does that help??? Mark
Being told that my strumming hand has to be constant and even mowing like one, and, two,and, three,and four, etc.. Your snap up strum and pausing after the up strum does not fit into my counting ??? what have I got wrong and whats is "the counting" ? :/
Sorry placed this reply wrong :(
Being told that my strumming hand has to be constant and even mowing like one, and, two,and, three,and four, etc.. Your snap up strum and pausing after the up strum does not fit into my counting ??? what have I got wrong and whats is "the counting" ? :/
Hey Lars how are you? Are you able to come into one of my live chats because then I could see exactly what you're doing and perhaps help to clarify some strum issues with you directly?...Mark
Hi Mark...I am wondering about two things. First off, I play the D major with my 1st finger on the high E and 2nd finger on the G...is that ok or should I switch them back? Secondly, on Exercise 1 (Em, C, G, D) are you strumming all strings? I am trying to not strum the high E on the C, etc. (like we were taught)....this right? Hope this isn't confusing....thanks :)
Ok..just read your reply to another member about playing all the strings ...got it. Still wondering about if playing the D chord the way I do is ok though...thanks!
Being told that my strumming hand has to be constant and even mowing like one, and, two,and, three,and four, etc.. Your snap up strum and pausing after the up strum does not fit into my counting ??? what have I got wrong and whats is "the counting" ? :/
Just a note: the chord diagram in the supplemental content has the Bminor at the 14th fret, which is not what I think you want. Thanks for the fantastic instructional videos. I do think you are excessive in the take home work. :^>
Hi new to the site.. I played sorta when i was young and your right it was soooo much easier. . I am getting very frustrated mostly because I have smaller hands and really have problems with the stretches. also I don't seem to be able to press the first string, firsts fret hard enough. I have made my first finger so sore and i have tried liquid bandages . The other fingers are fine ...slightly sore but not bad..any suggestions..maybe should try nylon strings?
You could switch to nylon strings but...I would probably just take a couple of days off and give your fingers a rest. Also, do you use antibacterial soap to wash dishes? That can take a toll on fingers as well. You can also switch to lighter strings on your guitar over the long haul, this might help to alleviate some of the stress on your fingertips but keep this in mind, over time you will form tougher callouses and this problem will go away:) Mark
Hey Jarls how are you? Sometimes the supplemental content and the lessons are slightly off and thanks for letting us know! As far as the "homework" is concerned, you can do as little or as much as you want depending upon your schedule, you won't be penalized lol!
Mark, I in remote area of Iowa and can only use books. The light bulb went off in lesson 4. I am trying to play every chord I cant lets without using my index finger... say A Minor. I can toggle back and forth from A to A minor instantly I also have my index finger for a trailing Major E and C. It also let's you bar... which I am now doing. Does it make sense to try playing as many notes as you can without your index finger?
Hey Golfer, in general it is good to build in that sort of flexibility that you're doing without the index finger, as long as you can play with the index as well lol. Keep it up! Mark
Hey mark im pretty sure i got my guitar tuned,AWESOME;)
Hey Mark i finally got good enough that i thought i could get to this lesson.Getting better progress.:)
Hi. Great lessons. I'm really struggling with the Bm & Cm chords (I watched the earlier lesson where Mark introduced them). The strings being held by the first finger always seem to sound wrong. Anyone found any other lessons that cover these 2 chords. Maybe it's just from being 40 ;-) but I still feel like I'm doing something basic wrong with how I'm holding the strings to the fretboard - probably related to stretching out for the 2nd & 3rd finger, but I can't seem to get it fixed. Anyone have any other variations to these 2 chords that are working for them?
Cm and Bm give me trouble too, but I think it's a matter of repeating them until your finger muscles get used to them. I changed the down down up down exercise to insert a Cm or Bm between every other note so that I learn to transition to them from any other chord. It's hard work!
Hey Betsy! I realize tht some of this can be hard work but after a while it gets easier and easier until finally you'll have that Eureka moment "I got it!" Mark
Hey mark, Great strumming exercise. I've started using my iphone to record my exercises, and even though the recording quality is not great it lets me hear if I'm strumming with my metronome, aswell as the quality of my strumming and chord transitions. Any tips for a student who needs to work on timing besides using a metronome?
Hey Gen how are you? Yes, I think using the I-phone is a great idea and another thing you can do to work on timing is to play along with songs that you're into. That way you have a built-in metronome as well as other guides within the song that can help you to develop good timing. Good luck! Mark
Hi Marc, enjoying your lessons so far just a question about your simplified chord strumming exercise. Are you paying all the other cords as open cords except for the D chord. A noob question I know but I am a noob :P
I think you mean all the other chords except for the B chord, right? Mark
sorry for the confusion what I meant was all the strings when playing the simplified cords or are some muted as they would be with the regular notes
No you usually will not be playing all six strings of the guitar unless you're playing an E or a G chord. You need to look at chord construction and how playing certain open strings that are not intrinsic to that chord can change the overall name and structure of that chord. For example, if you play a D chord and strum the low E string (accidentally or otherwise) you now have what you might call a "slash chord" and the chord would now be D/E. In other words,you added in a note not normally found in D major and thus changed the chord. Mark
Thanks Mark that makes complete sense
Am F Dm G will get you Mr.Jones counting crows just a heads up
Thanks Steve and Counting Crows....one of my most favorite bands! Good to hear from you...Mark
Hey Mark, great series. I just got my hands on a dreamy acoustic Crafter that has a big booming sound :) However I'm noticing when I do the open chords I get a lot of overtones and sympathetic vibration that bounces all over the place. Since I'm being good and not looking ahead, is this an issue that should be remedied by palm muting or LH muting? What lesson do you get into more muting? Thanks, David
Hi, loving the lessons, feel real improvement, thanks. A question, lesson 6, scene five - the chords you play are different to the chords in the supplementary content (AmFBMG). Any chance the right chords could go on, I've tried looking at you fingers but it's sometimes a little difficult to see. Cheers Richard
Hey Richard how are you? Yes, the chords I'm playing are Am F Bm and G regardless of what it says in the supplemental content. Is that what you wanted to know? Mark
'Thanks. Should my first finger be on both the B and high E string or just one? Cheers Richard
Hey Richard what's up? Your first finger should be playing the note (the tonic or root) that corresponds with the chord you're playing so if you're playing a B-chord then the low note or bass note you should be holding down should be a B or 2nd fret on the A-string, if you're playing an F# (for example) then your first finger should be holding down an F# note, or low E string 2nd fret. Does that make sense? Mark
Hey Mark I have really enjoyed your lessons so far. A question though. In lesson 6 scene three you say we are to use the down down up down strum but you are counting down down down up in the exercise. Am I miss counting the strum
Hey Bill how are you? Keep in mind the whole idea of phrasing and if you think about each set of d du d as one phrase or set of strums then you may also notice that the last down stroke in the 1st phrase can easily become mixed in with the beginning of the next phrase. Subsequently, the next phrase would become d d du. Is it possible that this is what's happening when you're strumming? Mark
Hi Mark! Strumming has always been a stumbling block for me these lessons are giving me much insight. Thanks
Thank you oh wise grey owl and I'm glad you're enjoying the lessons! Mark
hey mark. i've been in jamplay for almost a month. It has really taught me a lot. I have one question though. Are the tips of your fingers suppose to hurt a little in the beginning? Now my fingers are kinda hard at the tips and i think are starting to crack a little. Is this normal?
Hey Pat how are you? Yes it's perfectly normal to experience some discomfort on your fingertips when you play especially when you play a steel-string guitar. You might want to use some moisturizer though if you're getting cracking but make sure that you work it in thoroughly before you put your fingers back on the fingerboard. Thanks for writing! Mark
I see this lesson is back in the 2008 hehe,great lesson;I thank strumming is a lot of guitarist week point ,and this lesson will get you started ,thanks on the time you have taken to show use,I no strumming is my week piont .
Hey Gibson how are you? Yes, that lesson was filmed a little while back but I hope to be able to help you with your strumming as well. I know many people struggle with that but all it takes is a little practice! Mark
Hi Mark! Great lessons so far and i seem to be moving forward at a nice pace. Im getting a lil bit confused re the strumming pattern: D, D-U, D Or what you are calling the snap strumming. I've played drums on and off for years so am quite used to counting as i play. As a drummer we often count 1-2-3-4- for quarter note beats or 1-&-2-&-3-&-4-& for 8th note beats or 1e&a2e&a3e&a4e&a for 16th note beats and so on and so on. when it comes to the timing of the snap strum, how does it fit in to the above timing/counting methods Im sorry if this has been covered elsewhere but i have a tendency to be playing 1-2-3-4- or 1&2&3&4 with up and down strums after the lessons from steve eulberg and would just like a lil clarification for my overheating brain thx in advance] Nick
Hey Nick how are you? Please top off your brain coolant, we don't want you to melt down man! Keep in mind that often times when it comes to strumming one strum may likely last longer than another and subsequently you'll have an eighth note with a sixteenth note, or a quarter with an eighth note. This is the case as well with the snap-strum since you're not playing each strum the same amount of time. Does that make sense? Mark
great lesson
Mark I found the strumming patterns later on the lesson. Thanks
Hey Mark, thanks so much for your lessons. I was just trying to understand the difference between the strumming pattern in the first excercise and the strumming pattern in the third excercise. I played both clips back to back and they sound the same to me. Is there really a difference between the two and how can I differentiate when i'm playing. Thank you!
Hey Romeo how are you? I guess I'm a little confused as the first strum exercise is the down down-up down and the second is simply down-up....I'm not sure which you are confusing. Please clarify your question and I'll do my best to answer it for you. Thanx for the feedback! Mark
Chapter 5 only has black video...(but the audio is functioning) And a question: Ive been playing guitar for a while(only from tabs) but im definately learning from this. But one thing has accured to mee, me right hand(biceps) gets wery tired from the snap strum. Is this somthing that will fix it self in a while or am i doing somthing wrong with my technique?
Hey TD thanks for checking in with me. Many people over rely on their arms for strumming. Try using your wrist more when strumming the guitar. You may want to join me in one of my live Q and A's because we often talk at length about playing from the wrist and this might benefit you as well. Also, stretch out a little before playing this might help the fatigue in your arm as well. Good luck! Mark
Thanks for your hard work. Mark. I am really enjoying your video lessons.
Thanks for the great feedback HP much appreciated! Mark
Hi Mark, I am really enjoying your strumming lessons. Could I ask you how to hold the pick, because I was praticing with the pick between my thumb and index finger with both soft pads in contact with the pick. Then a friend told me that this was wrong and it should be held with the side of my index finger and with the soft pad of my thumb. I did try this but it feels very clumsy but it looks like you are holding it this way in your lessons. Can you give me some advice on the correct way before I pick up some bad habits......many thanks.
if your still confuse... http://www.guitarmetal.com/beginner-guitar-lessons/18-how-to-hold-a-guitar-pick spider
Hi Tundell thanks for writing in. I tend to hold my pick between the inside of my first finger and the flat portion of my thumb. That's the way that works for me best but I think that each person should find a place that feels comfortable to them AND where the pick is working correctly so....holding the pick firmly between thumb and first finger but loosely enough so that the pick can flow over the strings. If you don't allow the pick to flow over the strings gently it can produce a harsh grating which is usually undesirable both to the player and the audience-whoever that may be. Good luck and let me know how it works out! Mark
hi everybody, Mark is doing a good job for the beginners.... however, so he doesn't lose a bunch of people. I'll explain a little Music Theroy to you.... this way you understand it a little better. 1 quarter note = 1 beat. so for example, in Exercise 1. starting with the E -minor chord. Down, down,up,down. The 1st beat would be down, the 2 beat down, 3rd up,4th down. now onto eighth notes = 1/2 beat. eighth notes beamed together = 1 quarter note. in exercise 2 these are eighth notes. Starting with Am Only the beat will go like this... 1&2&3&4& so the srumming will go with the beat like this... Down,Up,down,up,down,up,down,up The & are the up. REMEMBER THAT. any questions just ask. Thanks for reading. Steve :)
My concern is the timing for the strums -they don't match with the scores. It'd be helpful to match the strums to a count to develop rhythm.
hi tadpole17, your not making yourself clear. However, i may be able to clear things up for you. 4/4 Top Number = how many beats in each Measure or Bar. Bottom Number = what kind of note gets the beat. "Qauter notes that Mark is putting there is a good example. each quarter note = 1 beat. anymore questions, just ask. Steve
Hey Steve, sorry about all of the confusion with some of this stuff. Between you and I, the reason why I list strum patterns instead of getting into the specifics and logistics is because there are beginner-beginners on the site and if I start talking with a lot of technical jargon then I know I'll lose a bunch of people. I am glad for folks like you though who are fielding questions for other members. Thanks for all of your help and insight! Mark.
hi Mark, Like the strumming Lessons your giving. However, i do have a question about the quarter notes that your using for this lessons. I was told quarter notes = 1 1/2 beat. I feel that the person that says his a teacher and know his theroy but i feel it's incorrect and i believe a qauter note = 1 beat. get back to me soon! Thanks again. Steve
Great teachings man.
Hi Mark, thanks for the reminder to relax & breathe. I forget to do that sometimes!
the exercises seem out of order than what is shown on the video.
Which ones do you see that are out of order? I just checked over them and they seem to be in the correct order as far as I can see. If you could let me know where the error is i will correct it ASAP.
I believe what happened was is he talked about Pattern #3 a bit, and then moved o n to the other exercise which still uses the "down up" pattern. Also keep in mind you can play any of these exercises using any strumming pattern, and this is actually probably a really good thing to do as it will make you better with your chords and strumming.
The first and second strumming on the suplemental comment seem to be incorrect.
Hi Mark, I really enjoy your strumming exercises, it's exactly what Ive been looking for (here comes the but), but I have noticed that on lesson 6 you give an exercise with the F chord, which is a really difficult chord for a novice but in your earlier chord lessons your F chord is the easy version which does not bar the b and e string. So it would be difficult for a beginner to do the dreaded f chord strumming exercise. Is it in a later lesson, so I can see how you teach the F chord barring the b and high e strings.
Hello! You can see a full listing of different F chords (including the one you describe) here :) http://www.jamplay.com/members/guitar/tools/chord-library/f-guitar-chord.html
Thanks for the reply, I have seen the chord via your link. It's just not an easy chord to play and it would be good if Mark showed us how to play such a difficult chord before giving us an exercise using that chord. It's just an observation and not a complaint as I really like Marks lessons.
Oh, I see Chacho, thanks for the clarification, it definitely is a hard chord, unfortunately I don't think there's too much that can be done for it because practicing. The chord is very dependent on hand strength, so if you are having issues with it the absolute best thing you could do is practice it. This one is even harder then other E shape barre chords because it is so close to the nut. One thing to also keep in mind is that if you are having excessive problems with full barre chords, the action on your guitar could be too high, so you may want to think about having your guitar setup if problems persist.
Hi Mark!! when you use down - up strumming, in the up motion, how many strings do you play for each chord? Please explain it, because when I use down - up strumming, on the up motion it´s seems I play E high string and B string. Thank you for your help.
Hey Felipe, nice to hear from you. The "up" strum should strum the same strings as the down strum but this is really not the most important facet of strumming. As long as you are keeping time and the basic structure of the song is remaining intact, you could strum one string or two or three.....that's why I call the down-up motion a snap strum because it should be in one motion. Does that make sense? Try it out strumming any of a number of strings on the way back up but keeping the timing in mind more than anything. Let me know what you think! Mark
it would be helpful to us rank beginners if you could repeat the strum pattern for maybe 1 or 2 minutes with the camera on your strumming hand. Then I can play along with you to try and learn the rhythm.
Hey Macc thanks for writing in. We'll try to give you "rank" beginners (geez don't be so hard on yourself!) more of a chance to see the strum patterns in the future. Are you becoming more familiar with the strum notation? These can also be a great help when learning new strums but I also learn better sometimes when things are visually accessible so I understand your plight. Keep at it and remember that we're all still learning the guitar, that's the beauty of it. Take it easy, Mark
Today i was trying to listen to the teachers and the video kept stopping and being interrupted I don"t know why? I am wondering if there is a streaming problem
try changing your quality setting to medium or low.
Keep the lessons coming Mark, I'm learning so much about stumming! Thanks dude! JamOn