Thanks a lot. Looking forward to trying this out. I’ve been muting strings with my left thumb but it’s killing my left hand now I’ve switched to a guitar with a wider neck. I imagine this will really free up my left hand to move easily between chords too.
Hey man, I've been struggling with this for the longest time now and this video definitely looks promising but I'd like to clarify some few things. I'm much more of a visual learner so to have it written down, the patterns are as follows: 6 STRING CHORDS (E major) - 6 54321, 5 4321, 6 54321, 5 4321... 5 STRING CHORDS (A major) - 5 4321, 4 321, 5 4321, 4 321... 4 STRING CHORDS (D major) - 4 321, 5 4321, 4 321, 5 4321... where the space is that little pause between plucking and strumming the rest, right? Was kinda confused about the proper pattern for 4 string chords so want to clarify that specifically, since it is a bit hard to follow what you are doing just from the vid.
I've been playing for 30 years, and I still have issues strumming single strings. My pick either gets stuck, or I just hit the wrong string. I try to tilt my pick, so it's parallel to the string (since our guitars tend to be at an angle when strapped up). I play an Ampeg Dan Armstrong plexi, so the neck is tighter. But I have the same issue when I play my Fender Strat, so I guess it doesn't matter. Anyway, this has been my Achilles Heel for many years. I still haven't solved this issue.
When doing single strings you're not really strumming any more unless you mute all the other strings so that you only hear the one string you want to hear. If you're doing single string playing without muting your other strings, though, you really need to make your picking motion as small as you can and to angle your pick a bit so that just a single edge (not the flat part) is hitting the string as it crosses. That will allow it to graze across the string with less resistance and make it much easier.
@@SimpleGuitarDotCom Thank you so much for these pointers. I'm going to keep on practicing. I did try at times to angle the pick, but sometimes I end up with the grazing, scratching sound. So I guess I need to practice slower maybe. It's very tricky for me. But thank you again! Much obliged.
here is my follow up question. as an adult learner, have less time to learn as a kid....so i'm picking just 3 songs that i can do really well than 10 songs just ok. so, what core skills do i need around these songs? spider excercise obviously - but what else MUSt be learnt, without overload? thanks
That’s really going to depend on what the songs call for. I like having students start with drop D power chords playing real songs, then open power chords in standard tuning, then regular power chords, then open chords. With open chords we really dive into rhythm and strumming but also flat picking, alternating bass, and finger picking. Then, on the lead guitar side, I start people out with my Instant Rock Star scale before moving onto standard pentatonic scales and major scale modes.
@@SimpleGuitarDotCom wow. thank you for fetailed reply. look, im trying to do Misorolou (pulp fiction) - i believe there is a scale to go with it. would i need to learn it? also, if u got any tips on this song as a learner. thanks
@@hyllaf No problem at all! Miserlou uses an exotic scale that I've heard called many names. The best one is the Byzantine scale, but it's also called the Arabic scale or the Double harmonic Minor Scale. Either way, if you're playing a lot of popular music, it's not a super crucial scale to have down across the entire fretboard, but it is a great sounding scale and worth learning if it comes up in a real world song like Miserlou. You're just not going to run into in a lot of stuff (I guess unless you play a lot of surf rock, lol)
@@SimpleGuitarDotCom OK. I'm struggling a bit with this Pulp Fiction. But, if I learn Byzantine Scale, then this can be the basis of the song? Something I can hang my hat on? (have downloaded your 10 steps) thank you kind sir!
This is exactly the advice I was looking for - thank you! I love that you got straight to the point and the exercise is super practical
SO glad this helped you out!
Good lesson! I'm attempting to learn fast chord changes in AC/DC songs using this method. Wish me luck!
Thank you! If you're playing AC/DC stuff then you're going to love this video next! Check it out! ruclips.net/video/RLIHDVnuooQ/видео.html
Thanks a lot. Looking forward to trying this out. I’ve been muting strings with my left thumb but it’s killing my left hand now I’ve switched to a guitar with a wider neck. I imagine this will really free up my left hand to move easily between chords too.
Thanks man. I’m vision impaired and a beginner and I am glad to hear it’s just all about feel.
Yes! It’s all about becoming familiar with the feel of the strings just like we get super familiar with the feel of anything else we handle regularly.
Thank you!!! Subscribed!!
Welcome! Thanks for the sub!
Great teacher!
Thank you so much!
Hey man, I've been struggling with this for the longest time now and this video definitely looks promising but I'd like to clarify some few things. I'm much more of a visual learner so to have it written down, the patterns are as follows:
6 STRING CHORDS (E major) - 6 54321, 5 4321, 6 54321, 5 4321...
5 STRING CHORDS (A major) - 5 4321, 4 321, 5 4321, 4 321...
4 STRING CHORDS (D major) - 4 321, 5 4321, 4 321, 5 4321...
where the space is that little pause between plucking and strumming the rest, right? Was kinda confused about the proper pattern for 4 string chords so want to clarify that specifically, since it is a bit hard to follow what you are doing just from the vid.
I've been playing for 30 years, and I still have issues strumming single strings. My pick either gets stuck, or I just hit the wrong string. I try to tilt my pick, so it's parallel to the string (since our guitars tend to be at an angle when strapped up). I play an Ampeg Dan Armstrong plexi, so the neck is tighter. But I have the same issue when I play my Fender Strat, so I guess it doesn't matter. Anyway, this has been my Achilles Heel for many years. I still haven't solved this issue.
When doing single strings you're not really strumming any more unless you mute all the other strings so that you only hear the one string you want to hear. If you're doing single string playing without muting your other strings, though, you really need to make your picking motion as small as you can and to angle your pick a bit so that just a single edge (not the flat part) is hitting the string as it crosses. That will allow it to graze across the string with less resistance and make it much easier.
@@SimpleGuitarDotCom Thank you so much for these pointers. I'm going to keep on practicing. I did try at times to angle the pick, but sometimes I end up with the grazing, scratching sound. So I guess I need to practice slower maybe. It's very tricky for me. But thank you again! Much obliged.
here is my follow up question. as an adult learner, have less time to learn as a kid....so i'm picking just 3 songs that i can do really well than 10 songs just ok. so, what core skills do i need around these songs? spider excercise obviously - but what else MUSt be learnt, without overload? thanks
That’s really going to depend on what the songs call for. I like having students start with drop D power chords playing real songs, then open power chords in standard tuning, then regular power chords, then open chords. With open chords we really dive into rhythm and strumming but also flat picking, alternating bass, and finger picking. Then, on the lead guitar side, I start people out with my Instant Rock Star scale before moving onto standard pentatonic scales and major scale modes.
@@SimpleGuitarDotCom wow. thank you for fetailed reply. look, im trying to do Misorolou (pulp fiction) - i believe there is a scale to go with it. would i need to learn it? also, if u got any tips on this song as a learner. thanks
@@hyllaf No problem at all! Miserlou uses an exotic scale that I've heard called many names. The best one is the Byzantine scale, but it's also called the Arabic scale or the Double harmonic Minor Scale. Either way, if you're playing a lot of popular music, it's not a super crucial scale to have down across the entire fretboard, but it is a great sounding scale and worth learning if it comes up in a real world song like Miserlou. You're just not going to run into in a lot of stuff (I guess unless you play a lot of surf rock, lol)
@@SimpleGuitarDotCom OK. I'm struggling a bit with this Pulp Fiction. But, if I learn Byzantine Scale, then this can be the basis of the song? Something I can hang my hat on? (have downloaded your 10 steps) thank you kind sir!
@@hyllaf awesome! And thank you! For the byzantine scale, the key will be learning it really on a single string up and down!
i wish i was the real kiefer sutherland! thanks v much sir!
You’re welcome!
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