There are few more enjoyable activities for a person than to interpret and create music by playing an instrument. And by far, the most popular instrument that people want to start to learn is the guitar. The guitar can be heard in practically any popular and rock music recordings, and nearly all people are aware of. It is an instrument that can be carried anywhere, and can be played for many kinds of music and songs. Whether you play the guitar with a band, a small instrumental group, or accompany yourself while singing, the instrument always delivers musical enjoyment.
After learning the rudimentary chords on the fretboard, the aspiring guitarist always starts to learn strumming so that he can carry a tune or song. Strumming is one of the most difficult parts of guitar playing for the beginner. Many people still believe that the key to playing depends on learning to keep the strumming hand comfortable, flexible and moving fluidly. However, how the fretboard hand is used is just as important in strumming.
Included in this article is a very short lesson to illustrate and study different 1-bar strumming patterns that can be adapted and applied to songs that the beginning guitarist would like to play.
When playing the guitar in the example, or in any tune, it is very important to remember the following things:
-Do not tighten the muscles of your strumming hand, keep them very loose;
-When strumming, always use an up and down motion, (as one would when shaking hands), from the wrist up and down to loosen it up;
-When playing sheet or tablature music, and you encounter a muted chord (shown as notes or tabs with an "x" crossed over them), take the pressure off the strings that you are pressing, and strum the chord. You should hear just a deep scratch of the strings, with no notes ringing;
-If the chord includes open strings, you might have to block them out by very lightly pressing on them with your non-fretting fingers. You can also just take the side of your fretting hand and lay it lightly across all 6 strings, and strum the guitar.
-The muted chord is one of the most important aspects of strumming. In addition to stressing the rhythm of the song, the muted chord when strummed can aid a guitar player simulate a percussion instrument together with the regular guitar strumming.
First, let’s pick three simple chords that you can interchange to practice strumming. These three chords have a structural relationship to each other and are usually found used together in one song. Simple songs, such as pop or folk songs, are examples of songs that use these major chords frequently. The E major chord can be played with the open 1st, 2nd and 6th strings. The 1st fret of the 3rd string and 2nd frets of the 4th and 5th strings are pressed to complete the chord. The A major chord is played with the 1st, 5th and 6th strings open. The 2nd frets of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th strings are pressed to complete the chord. The D major chord is played by the 1st 4 strings, and the 4th string open. The 2nd fret of the 1st string, 3rd fret of the 2nd string and 2nd fret of the 3rd string are pressed to play the chord.
Prepare by trying to get familiar with fretting just one particular chord (for instance, the A major chord). Practicing getting both strumming and resting hands in place for muted chords and then comfortably switching them back into the next position to play a chord. By practicing a few times, you can do this faster with the fretboard hand. Soon you can alternate muted chords while continuously moving the strumming hand up and down at the same time. This will make your guitar strumming sound a lot better.
In the short sample below, the timing is in 4/4 measure, meaning there are 4 beats to a bar. Down arrows mean a down strumming stroke, up means and upstroke and an “x” denotes a muted chord. Start slowly and complete the bars, then work up to a faster tempo when you are comfortable. Try to change the patterns and chords to develop your own practice sequence. Afterwards, apply this to chords and bars of a song you know, and you are on your way to playing songs on the guitar. The pattern is: ? ? X ? ? ? X ?
A guitar can be an easy and fun instrument to play. Start by learning the correct method of handling the instrument. Here’s how:
Your body and posture:
You must be comfortably seated, resting your back adjacent to the backrest of your chair making sure that your legs are in front and feet flat on the ground. This position is now your "footing" or support that your guitar is going to rest upon.
Picking up the guitar, held it close to your chest or stomach ensuring that the back of the guitar’s body touches your chest and the neck’s bottom is parallel to the ground. The guitars thickest string must be directed close to the face and the thinnest string must be directed close to the ground.
Generally, a right-handed individual holds the guitar so that the “headstock” is pointing towards the left, while a left-handed individual holds the guitar so that the headstock is pointing to the right.
To play the guitar in a seated position, the guitar’s body should be resting on either one of your thighs. The instrument should be resting upon a leg that is farthest from “the headstock”; meaning, a right handed individual handling a guitar will naturally rest the instrument on his right leg, and a lefty will rest the instrument on his left leg.
Your right arm and hand:
Using the correct hand position is crucial in guitar playing. You will face many problems should your hand be in an incorrect position; your hands will easily tire, it will be difficult for you to play particular chords and you could even hurt or injure your hand if you continue playing using the wrong hand position.
The right hand will be used to "strum" the guitar’s strings in order to produce the varying chord sounds. Rest your right hand and arm over your guitar. The bicep must rest on the topmost part of the guitar’s body and the hand must be properly placed directly on top of your guitar’s sound hole (where sound will be produced). Insure that your position is comfortable.
A left handed individual has two alternatives. The first is to purchase a guitar that is right-handed then re-string it (reversing the sequence of the guitar’s strings), and the other option is to purchase a guitar that is specially made for people who are left-handed.
Focus on your "fretting hand" or the hand that is near the guitar’s neck, when seated in proper guitar position. Your fretting hand’s thumb must be resting at the back of the guitar’s neck, having your fingers positioned in a slightly curled manner, balanced on top of the strings. Keeping these particular fingers with a slight curl at your knuckles is very important.
Your fingers:
Your fingers of your left hand should be bent as well as and should be pressed down onto the guitar’s strings that are located on the “fret board”. The neck’s back should be curved, in order that the hand is molded into the neck’s shape.
Remember that it is alright for you to press or push the thumb at the back of the neck when creating your chords. This is common when one is “playing scales”. Test certain thumb positions so you will know which one you are most comfortable with.
Do not worry too much about the strings that the fingers of your left hand are pushing down at this time as you are just in the process of acquainting yourself with your instrument.
Never worry either, when you can not play a good tune at this early stage. There are still many things to be learned, many stages to go through, and practices to do before you to get the right tones and the right notes to play. You are just beginning, so be patient.
The important factor here, is that you can comfortably hold the guitar and be at ease with it. The rest of techniques still to be learned will just automatically flow, at your fingertips!