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Strumming Guitar and Developing Your Rhythm

Strumming is THE KEY element to sounding good on guitar. You could be making the best chord shapes in the world, but if your rhythm isn’t there, the song won’t sound good.

Think about it this way: if you press your fingers down on the chord shapes, does the guitar make a sound? Nope!

Your strumming arm ACTIVATES the guitar and makes the music happen – that’s why we strum with our dominant hand!

First let’s make sure you’re avoiding these common issues

8 Strumming Mistakes that will SABOTAGE your SOUND!
8 strumming mistakes that can ruin your sound
If your strumming sounds “off” it doesn’t matter how good your chord shapes are. There are some common mistakes that you may be making while strumming that can seriously harm your sound.

Getting a Good Strumming Sound: Pick or Fingers?

I recommend using a pick because it makes the whole process MUCH simpler – you just have to trust me on that…

The Best Way To Hold A Guitar Pick
Learn how to hold a guitar pick properly and how to use a guitar pick and get a better strumming sound. Now there are many ways to do it, but this is by far the most widely used method (for good reason)…

If you really don’t want to use a pick, I would still like to help you and make sure you are strumming properly…

Strumming Without A Pick – 3 Different Ways
A lot of people have noticed that I go between using a pick and not using a pick without really putting too much thought into it, and I’d like to share with you some strategies for strumming with fingers.
Guitar tips and tricks, guitar chords chart and more
Just Getting Started? Need Help With The Basics? Download My Free eBook for Strumming & Rhythm Guitar Guitar tips and tricks, guitar chords chart and more.
Get Your Free Copy Here!

Before You Go Off On Your Own And Learn A Bunch of Patterns…

I think you’d benefit from the concept taught in this lesson. It demonstrates the power of DYNAMICS – so you’re not just learning patterns, but the feeling behind them..

3 USEFUL Strumming Patterns from ONE Rhythm
To help my students develop their rhythm early on, I show them this strumming pattern, and two variations that’ll give them immediate access to a musical concept called “dynamics”
6 Strumming Patterns That Work For ANY Song
six strum patterns to play any song
These patterns have been carefully curated based on real data from approximately 350 song tutorials on my YouTube channel. So, get your guitar ready, and let’s dive into these essential strumming techniques!
The Most Common Strumming Pattern EVER!
This is the most common strumming pattern of all time and once you’ve gotten a hold of it, it will be the gateway to unlock all the other strumming patterns. It’s the most important pattern, hands down.
3 Strumming Patterns You NEED To Know!
We break down three essential strumming patterns that every guitarist should be able to play as well as general tips like how to strum a guitar, changing chords while keeping the strumming going and some tricks to improve your rhythm.

Need Help Developing Your Sense of Rhythm?

One SIMPLE CONCEPT will FIX Your Strumming and RHYTHM
The concept is simple: You wave your arm down and up – You make contact with or avoid the strings.
Learn How To Strum Guitar And Sing At The Same Time
From choosing the right song to breaking down strumming patterns, we’ve crafted a comprehensive guide to help you achieve the perfect blend of guitar and singing.
Go from Basic to ADVANCED strumming no matter your level
How to lock into the rhythm of a song - guitar lesson
Unlock your hidden strumming potential as I unveil a simple yet powerful trick that propels your skills from basic to advanced, regardless of your current level.
4 EASY Ways To Use A Metronome And Practice Guitar
4 EASY Ways To Use A Metronome And Practice Guitar
Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, utilizing a metronome will improve your guitar playing, enhance your timing, and bring consistency to your practice sessions.
Struggling With Strumming? Try This Quick Fix
Immediately Improve your strumming sound
Discover why isolating upstrokes is crucial for many guitar players and how it can be a game-changer for your playing.
Older beginner with rhythm trouble?
Older beginner with rhythm trouble? Try These 2 Strum Patterns
These 2 patterns can fix your strumming. By the end of this video, you’ll be equipped with the tools to enhance your strumming abilities and enjoy a more rhythmic and musical playing experience.
Unlock Your Inner Rhythm: Guitar Practice Beyond the Strings
Unlock Your Inner Rhythm: Guitar Practice Beyond the Strings
In this video, we’ll explore essential techniques for beginner rhythm development and strumming improvement on the guitar – WITHOUT using a guitar!

Strumming Patterns To Practice

Six Strumming Patterns on Guitar
Here are 6 incredibly common and useful strumming patterns, broken down in a way that will teach you how to count rhythm and feel it at a fundamental level.
3 Intermediate Strumming Patterns For Guitar
The FIRST 3 Intermediate Strumming Patterns You Should Learn on Guitar
These essential strumming patterns will ensure you can strum along to almost anything. Take your strumming to the next level and learn these fundamental intermediate patterns on guitar.

Want to spice up your strumming with some picking techniques?

There’s a lot more to it than simply playing downstrokes and upstrokes. Of course that’s where we all start, and making those essential motions helps us lock in to the rhythm. But once you’re feeling comfortable, you can add some picking and percussion techniques that’ll make your strumming sound next-level.

Unlock the Secrets of Johnny Cash’s Strumming Style
how to strum like johnny cash - boom chuck guitar lesson
Whether you’re a fan of Cash’s music or simply seeking to expand your strumming repertoire, this tutorial will guide you through the techniques that defined his unique playing style.
The Strum Slap – Add Some Guitar Percussion To Your Strumming
percussive strumming on guitar - strum slap technique
It’s a great way to add another dimension to your strumming and after a while it’ll become so natural to your playing, you won’t even notice when you’re doing it – but you’ll be grooving harder than ever!
How To Pick Individual Strings While Strumming
Easy Arpeggios For Guitar
We’ll guide you through a series of guitar picking and strumming exercises designed to improve your string separation in strumming and set you on the path to mastering string picking on guitar.
How To Eliminate Unwanted String Noise
how to eliminate unwanted string noise
Say goodbye to annoying string buzz, scratchy chords and unwanted notes. Watch now to learn how to mute unwanted notes when playing guitar and take your guitar playing to the next level!
Breathe New Life Into Familiar Chord Progressions
Easy strumming trick breathes new life into familiar chord progressions
With just a few adjustments to your technique, you’ll learn how to add depth and texture to any chord progression. Apply this technique to popular songs like “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day and “What I Got” by Sublime.

This 3-Part Series Will Teach You Some Simple Theory Behind Rhythm

Part 1 – How To Count Music
Any time a student of mine has a problem with rhythm, we go back to square one: counting… and building it up from there, we’re successful every single time.
Part 2 – The SECRET To Steady Strumming
Learn how to count quarter notes vs eighth notes, clap along to music, count to the beat and how to apply counting to our strumming to improve our overall sense of rhythm.
Part 3 – SIMPLE Trick To Conquer Long + Fast Strumming Patterns
Learn how to subdivide eight notes into 16th notes, and compare quarters versus eights versus sixteenths. You’ll realize that they’re all the same thing, just one level deeper!

Ready To Move Beyond Regular 4/4 Time Signatures?

Easy Strumming Patterns for 3/4, 6/8 and 12/8 Time Signatures
Most songs use the common time signature of 4/4, but that’s not always the case! I want to show you how to count and strum when you run into a song that uses the time signatures of 3/4, 6/8, or 12/8.
Before we can play rhythms, we need to be able to hear and feel them. This course will help you build your rhythm from the ground up. Learn to strum and sing at the same time, be able to create your own patterns for any song, and to feel the beat/groove like a “natural.”
Click Here To Learn More!
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