Lauren, I’ve been playing acoustic guitar for 50 plus years. I’m a finger-style player. I never mastered or even learned proper strumming. In fact the only time I strum is when I’m combining bare finger strum patterns with finger picking. Anyway, You popped up on my feed and I decided to watch this vid. Thank you! Right away I realized that I was approaching the strumming with the wrong attitude. I hate flat picks because they always fly out of my hand mid song, but decided to try again using the suggestions you provide. Soft wrist, light pick, dynamic up and down all work for me. I have a long way to go for sure but it’s nice to know that my playing might be able to make a leap forward with some practice and discipline. I’ll always be a fingerstyle player but it’s nice to know I can pick up an occasional jam and not be embarrassed as I try to be heard with just my nails 😉 Thanks!
Randall this is fantastic! I love using a pick mainly because of the Dynamics you can get out of your strumming. Hard to do that with your fingers. Glad this helped you with your playing.
What a perfect way to start the day! Thank you Lauren for all the heart and time you put into sharing the gift of music. I’m just starting to play, and have come far through your lessons. Much love and respect from Alberta, Canada
Thank-you Lauren. Very helpful. Definitely felt my arm relaxing with the softer strum. I just recently bought several pics, mostly because they looked cool, but now see they have different thickness. A lightbulb moment 😀
I love the videos. I just started learning and have 8 chords down really well. Strumming and timing is the struggle now. I’ve found that a Dunlop grip 0.38 has helped with strumming and not having the pick fall out of my hand.
@@LaurenBateman It went really well....great exercise! I played Brown Eyed Girl after and found an improvement on the D chord crescendo already.....yaaayyyyyy 😁 Thanks Lauren 😊
This is so informative! I didn't realize just how much of a death-grip I had on my strumming hand. I have been using a super-light pick, a .38 nylon, but am just now starting to experiment with the .50. These tips will definitely help with the new pick. Thank you Lauren, for sharing this eye-opening lesson. Much appreciate you!
One thing you don’t mention but I will is that your posture is excellent. I hunch over my guitar and I’m not the only one. It’s not necessary and it will cause skeletal problems as one ages.
Wow! Ok, so since my earlier comment from a couple of days ago about my troubles with strumming, I've decided to check out your strumming technique videos and this one really helps me a lot! I'm actually getting better as we speak, so this is pretty amazing. I had no idea that it was all in your grip and arm tension. This is a huge breakthrough for me. But I really shouldn't be surprised. I've had a lot of those since finding your channel. 😁 Thanks again, Lauren. The only direction for me to go now is up!
I started some minor guitar playing when I was a teenager. Never liked using a pick, would just strum with my thumb. Now about 60 years later, I'm trying to pick it back up again. It's been so long, I'm basically starting from scratch....so to speak. I still have no affinity for using a pick so instead of buying one, I made one; cutting a pick shape out of a plastic tub lid. 😊 It's flexible so I've been working with that. I practice playing old PP&M songs and some of them have a definite strum pattern, ex. Stewball. I do have a loose hold on the pick and my wrist and arm seem pretty relaxed. But strumming still sounds too loud to me, even tho I have nylon strings. 😢 Guess I just need more practice. This video may help. 🤞
@@LaurenBateman -- I have run into an unusual problem. The calluses on my index and middle fingers have developed to the point they don't bother me when practicing. But the callous on my left ring finger still is very painful which is negatively affecting my chord changing. I can't figure out what the problem could be and it's REALLY frustrating! I hesitate making chord changes in anticipation of the pain -- not a good way to progress. 🥴🙄 Any advice?
Thank you Lauren for this lesson. I was using a medium pick and kept dropping it. I'm using a very thin Dunlop pick much easier to hold onto and has a softer sound. Still struggling with trying to get my wrist loose like yours though😊🎶
I learned fingerstyle and neglected strumming as (on the acoustic) I always associated it with all those really terrible campfire Kumbaya guitarists. The one thing that did vastly improve my strumming technique when I eventually got round to it though, was practicing religiously with a metronome.
Lauren thanks for sharing learning a lot thanks one question do you work out your arms look like it everyone needs to I am 67 years old and live working out it great for you
Hi Lauren, was wondering if you could do a tutorial on " Killing the Blues" A wonderful ballad. Thank you so much. Love and blessings from the Kruger Park in South Africa. Take care and be safe sis.👍👍
Great advice Lauren, especially the whip analogy! I use a paintbrush analogy but may have to steal the whip 😂🤪 Pick choice is often overlooked but so simple and effective
I'm liking using my thumb to strum, I have Jim Dunlop 38mm and a 46mm picks. I use 46mm more but I don't like the sound of the plastic click strumming each string. Should I just get over and use the pick more I hardly ever use them I prefer the softer deeper tone when strumming with my thumb and the occasional finger pick with finger 123 and thumb. As a absolute beginner what do you recommend Lauren? Cheers mate.
Love channel! Great mix of music and methods. For October can you please do a quick video on spooky sounds on the guitar? I'd love to be able play some Halloween songs for the kids.
Lauren ,my issue with the strumming is not so much crescendo and what not ,that I’m good enough,but when play faster then the wrist starts to get stiff and here it goes the pick
My problem is I either strum way too hard or too soft: I use the Dunlop .88 green pick and I think I might need a softer pick as u recommended. Great lesson on strumming here hopefully this will help me find balance
Dunlop makes a white pick that is even softer. I used it when I was first learning and it really helped. I now use a .78 or .88 depending on what I’m playing. Great beginner lesson. Don’t quit folks! It’s worth the ride! 😎👍🏼
Hi Lauren, love your videos, I've been using a type of pick w/ rubber grip, I've been having a problem with the pick spinning in my fingers. I tend to grip tighter because of this, is this a bad pick to use?
Hmmm. Spinning picks are normal. I'm surprised with the rubber grip that it's still spinning. Usually super grippy picks are less likely to rotate. I would experiment maybe with the max grip picks. Tightening up on the strumming hand too much can make strumming slow down.
Some of my favorite down-stroke musicians do the whip-wrist. I'm guessing their arm would lose gas 1/2 way through a set otherwise. Seriously, thanks for the killer content!
@@LaurenBateman ya, and double stick tape, sanding a rough edge just can't hold a thin pick for more than a minute without loosening it always been that for over 30 years ,I do prefer a extra heavy pick so its not a big deal just stuck me funny that I have the opposite problem of what you said
When I strum loud, some strings touch my left hand fingers that are pressed down on the fret ,not during every single downstrums but on certain random down strums. Is it normal? Should I correct by left hand position? It's alright when I strum gently. Thanks in advance.
Been trying to learn how to strum with a pick but really not getting it on verge of giving up,I been trying to teach myself but its getting frustrating
It seems like I have problems keeping a consistent strum. To stay on time, you really need to have the same arc/distance from the strings. I'm all over the place. It's worse when I sing and play. Strumming always seems uncomfortable and stressful to stay on beat. When I watch good strummers, they are having fun.
Good advice.... the Wrist really controls the majority of the sound and dynamic of strumming.... also, experiment with the angle of the pick -- those two small aspects make HUGE differences in the sounds that come from the strings... Great video, as always Lauren
I was trying to find kind of video or teacher who can tell me that how to strum how to hit strings hold pick and movement of wrist finally my face got this 🙃
You should include the idea , that loud doesn't mean faster.. As I can people doing this... When going from soft to loud it should be at the same speed or pace ... The Frye Guy
It is wrong to strum with your elbow. Ever played at a 3 hour gig with elbow strumming? Strumming should be done with your wrists. Jus some pedagogical advice. No offence.
Grab my FREE Crash Course: www.laurrnbateman.com/crashcourse
the link here is misspelled so it doesn't work, just fyi
Lauren, I’ve been playing acoustic guitar for 50 plus years. I’m a finger-style player. I never mastered or even learned proper strumming. In fact the only time I strum is when I’m combining bare finger strum patterns with finger picking. Anyway, You popped up on my feed and I decided to watch this vid. Thank you! Right away I realized that I was approaching the strumming with the wrong attitude. I hate flat picks because they always fly out of my hand mid song, but decided to try again using the suggestions you provide. Soft wrist, light pick, dynamic up and down all work for me. I have a long way to go for sure but it’s nice to know that my playing might be able to make a leap forward with some practice and discipline. I’ll always be a fingerstyle player but it’s nice to know I can pick up an occasional jam and not be embarrassed as I try to be heard with just my nails 😉 Thanks!
Randall this is fantastic! I love using a pick mainly because of the Dynamics you can get out of your strumming. Hard to do that with your fingers. Glad this helped you with your playing.
Why people put 👎comments, Laura is the best ever with full love to folks, don't watch her
Some people are mean.
@@LaurenBateman .... not me... Lauren Bateman
Another great lesson handling dynamics "crescendo, decrescendo ", thanks Lauren
You got it
What a perfect way to start the day!
Thank you Lauren for all the heart and time you put into sharing the gift of music. I’m just starting to play, and have come far through your lessons. Much love and respect from Alberta, Canada
You're so welcome Sarah. Hope it's not too cold up there in Canada
Thanks. I'm mostly a lead player trying to develop my rhythm skills. This was helpful. Cheers
Awesome. I'm not the greatest lead player
This is a valuable exercise. I recently purchased Dunlop .38 very thin pick and I'm noticing an improvement in my strumming
Great to hear!
Lately I've been having a stiff wrist,and using my arm more. It's like I forget, so I needed a refresher,thank you so much 😊
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for another great exercise and lesson 👍👍🎼
Glad you liked it!
A great strumming exercise; thanks Lauren. ❤
Exactly what I was looking for.
You are awesome ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Hope it helped!
I FINALLY discovered it too! 😁
Rock on!
thank you Lauen !
You're welcome!
Boy did I need this video.thanks Lauren it was very helpful
You're so welcome!!!
Thank-you Lauren. Very helpful. Definitely felt my arm relaxing with the softer strum. I just recently bought several pics, mostly because they looked cool, but now see they have different thickness. A lightbulb moment 😀
Awesome. Love those light bulb moments.
Thank you, excellent tutorial, I've been struggling with my strumming and now I know why. I need to relax my wrist.
Yes, relax!
Great exercise! I found the thinner pick to be perfect for this. It was harder for me to play real soft with the thicker pick.
Awesome. It’s what works best for YOU!
Thank you just starting out as a senior 👍🌟
You can do it!
Thank you, Laura. Will take your course soon. I appreciate your methodical, skilled and humble approach.
You're so welcome!
Congrats on your youtube award!
Thank you!
Thank you Lauren works good to play hard and soft on My guitar
That's great!
I love the videos. I just started learning and have 8 chords down really well. Strumming and timing is the struggle now. I’ve found that a Dunlop grip 0.38 has helped with strumming and not having the pick fall out of my hand.
Thank you great exercise
Glad you liked it!
super helpful!! Thank you.
You're welcome
Thank you 🥰
You're welcome
Hi Lauren excellent tuto there..thank you for this 💯
You're welcome
I use Dunlop nylon .46 for strumming and Dunlop Jazz 3 for soloing (electric guitar); will be trying these exercises. Thank you.
Yep, I use Medium sized Jazz III picks. 0.88 or 1.00
I love allllllll your videos. So perfect for my level
You're welcome again 😊
Great video and instructions learn something
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent advice and so brilliantly delivered. Going to try this tonight. Thank you for sharing your knowledge 😘
Please do and let me know how it goes.
@@LaurenBateman It went really well....great exercise! I played Brown Eyed Girl after and found an improvement on the D chord crescendo already.....yaaayyyyyy 😁
Thanks Lauren 😊
This is so informative! I didn't realize just how much of a death-grip I had on my strumming hand. I have been using a super-light pick, a .38 nylon, but am just now starting to experiment with the .50. These tips will definitely help with the new pick. Thank you Lauren, for sharing this eye-opening lesson. Much appreciate you!
You're so welcome!
One thing you don’t mention but I will is that your posture is excellent. I hunch over my guitar and I’m not the only one. It’s not necessary and it will cause skeletal problems as one ages.
Ah yes, thank you for pointing that out. Also VERY important.
Wow! Ok, so since my earlier comment from a couple of days ago about my troubles with strumming, I've decided to check out your strumming technique videos and this one really helps me a lot! I'm actually getting better as we speak, so this is pretty amazing. I had no idea that it was all in your grip and arm tension. This is a huge breakthrough for me. But I really shouldn't be surprised. I've had a lot of those since finding your channel. 😁 Thanks again, Lauren. The only direction for me to go now is up!
That is great to hear!
Another great lesson, Lauren! I use .88 for acoustic and 1.14 for electric. I may go a little lighter on the electric after your great tips!
I like .73-.88 for acoustic. Then Jazz III .88 or 1.0 on electric. 😎
👋 Nice Lesson
Soft Pick. 👍 Yep!
Excellent class and Teacher,Yep!
Rock on!
Thank you for all the help, love your chanel, also love the Starsky and Hutch, Gran Torino. Cheers again 😊👍
Glad you like them!
Good 🌅 morning
How are you
👌 Am fine
Great Lessen
Excellent Teacher
Thank you!
I started some minor guitar playing when I was a teenager. Never liked using a pick, would just strum with my thumb. Now about 60 years later, I'm trying to pick it back up again. It's been so long, I'm basically starting from scratch....so to speak.
I still have no affinity for using a pick so instead of buying one, I made one; cutting a pick shape out of a plastic tub lid. 😊 It's flexible so I've been working with that.
I practice playing old PP&M songs and some of them have a definite strum pattern, ex. Stewball. I do have a loose hold on the pick and my wrist and arm seem pretty relaxed. But strumming still sounds too loud to me, even tho I have nylon strings. 😢 Guess I just need more practice. This video may help. 🤞
Oh wow!!! What a creative solution. Love it.
@@LaurenBateman -- I have run into an unusual problem. The calluses on my index and middle fingers have developed to the point they don't bother me when practicing. But the callous on my left ring finger still is very painful which is negatively affecting my chord changing. I can't figure out what the problem could be and it's REALLY frustrating! I hesitate making chord changes in anticipation of the pain -- not a good way to progress. 🥴🙄 Any advice?
Thank you Lauren for this lesson. I was using a medium pick and kept dropping it. I'm using a very thin Dunlop pick much easier to hold onto and has a softer sound. Still struggling with trying to get my wrist loose like yours though😊🎶
You're very welcome! Just take your time and keep on practicing and you will get it :D
I learned fingerstyle and neglected strumming as (on the acoustic) I always associated it with all those really terrible campfire Kumbaya guitarists. The one thing that did vastly improve my strumming technique when I eventually got round to it though, was practicing religiously with a metronome.
Yes. I get so my students on a metronome as soon as possible.
Lauren thanks for sharing learning a lot thanks one question do you work out your arms look like it everyone needs to I am 67 years old and live working out it great for you
Ha ha. I do workout yes!
@@LaurenBateman that’s great it’s great for your Heath thanks for answering me
I hit the thumbs up button before the video starts cause I just know it’s going to be good.
Aww thank you so much! Really helps a lot and means a lot to me.
Oh my gosh! I was going to write the same thing! I just know it will be good and I don’t want to forget to do it after the video.
Hi Lauren, was wondering if you could do a tutorial on " Killing the Blues"
A wonderful ballad.
Thank you so much. Love and blessings from the Kruger Park in South Africa. Take care and be safe sis.👍👍
Oh nice recommendation
Thanks 😊 🙂🙃😊😇🤗
You got it
Great advice Lauren, especially the whip analogy! I use a paintbrush analogy but may have to steal the whip 😂🤪
Pick choice is often overlooked but so simple and effective
If you use a whip, Joe Biden, will make you pay!🤣
Paintbrush analogy works too!
@@LaurenBateman yepper!
I'm liking using my thumb to strum, I have Jim Dunlop 38mm and a 46mm picks. I use 46mm more but I don't like the sound of the plastic click strumming each string. Should I just get over and use the pick more I hardly ever use them I prefer the softer deeper tone when strumming with my thumb and the occasional finger pick with finger 123 and thumb. As a absolute beginner what do you recommend Lauren? Cheers mate.
I mean I'd your comfortable, thumb is fine. Able to get a lot more Dynamics with the pic so I always recommend learning how to use both.
Love channel! Great mix of music and methods. For October can you please do a quick video on spooky sounds on the guitar? I'd love to be able play some Halloween songs for the kids.
Oooooo interesting idea. Let me see if there is a Halloween song I can come up with
Lauren ,my issue with the strumming is not so much crescendo and what not ,that I’m good enough,but when play faster then the wrist starts to get stiff and here it goes the pick
Yeah, don't forget to breathe and relax
My problem is I either strum way too hard or too soft: I use the Dunlop .88 green pick and I think I might need a softer pick as u recommended. Great lesson on strumming here hopefully this will help me find balance
Yeah maybe go down to the red or orange pick. 0.50 or .60
Dunlop makes a white pick that is even softer. I used it when I was first learning and it really helped. I now use a .78 or .88 depending on what I’m playing. Great beginner lesson. Don’t quit folks! It’s worth the ride! 😎👍🏼
@@WildBill1120 thanks for the tip: will look into that! :)
Hi Lauren, love your videos, I've been using a type of pick w/ rubber grip, I've been having a problem with the pick spinning in my fingers. I tend to grip tighter because of this, is this a bad pick to use?
Hmmm. Spinning picks are normal. I'm surprised with the rubber grip that it's still spinning. Usually super grippy picks are less likely to rotate. I would experiment maybe with the max grip picks. Tightening up on the strumming hand too much can make strumming slow down.
@@LaurenBateman Thank you Lauren! Much appreciated,
Mike,
Is "Red River Valley " hard to play?
Oh gee. I don't know. Would have to listen to it.
Some of my favorite down-stroke musicians do the whip-wrist. I'm guessing their arm would lose gas 1/2 way through a set otherwise.
Seriously, thanks for the killer content!
Rock on!!!!
Weird what you said about the picks I can't hold on to a thin pick no matter how hard I pinch it, I never loose a heavy
Have you tried max grip picks?
@@LaurenBateman ya, and double stick tape, sanding a rough edge just can't hold a thin pick for more than a minute without loosening it always been that for over 30 years ,I do prefer a extra heavy pick so its not a big deal just stuck me funny that I have the opposite problem of what you said
I was trying to find kind of video or teacher who can tell me that how to strum how to hit strings hold pick finally my face got this 🙃
Thanks for watching!
When I strum loud, some strings touch my left hand fingers that are pressed down on the fret ,not during every single downstrums but on certain random down strums. Is it normal? Should I correct by left hand position? It's alright when I strum gently. Thanks in advance.
Yes completely normal, keep on playing and praticing!
sometimes i stuck while playing alternative pickups what to do
Focus on picking hand first without chords.
@@LaurenBateman tomorrow is my guitar audition in my college wish me luck maam i am little nervous
Been trying to learn how to strum with a pick but really not getting it on verge of giving up,I been trying to teach myself but its getting frustrating
It's one of those things that you have to work at. You will get there. Don't give up!
It seems like I have problems keeping a consistent strum. To stay on time, you really need to have the same arc/distance from the strings. I'm all over the place. It's worse when I sing and play. Strumming always seems uncomfortable and stressful to stay on beat. When I watch good strummers, they are having fun.
An incredible lesson. Just what I needed! Thanks Teach! 🤘🎸
You're welcome!!!!
Good advice.... the Wrist really controls the majority of the sound and dynamic of strumming.... also, experiment with the angle of the pick -- those two small aspects make HUGE differences in the sounds that come from the strings... Great video, as always Lauren
Thanks for sharing Dave 😃
I was trying to find kind of video or teacher who can tell me that how to strum how to hit strings hold pick and movement of wrist finally my face got this 🙃
Thanks for watching!
@@LaurenBateman thank you to you ma'am
Hey lauren another great vid as always .
So its gonna be a good day ..t.c.b ..🥰
Yes it is!!!
What if you dont use a pick
That's OK. Relaxing your hand is still very important.
You should include the idea , that loud doesn't mean faster.. As I can people doing this... When going from soft to loud it should be at the same speed or pace ... The Frye Guy
Great point!!!
Waw!
Yey!
How to inprove acoustic 🎸 guitar
Like 👍 👌 💛 LIKE,...
I have a hard time not having the pick fall out of my hand at times.
Dunlop Max Grip picks!
think INdiana Jones!!!
Just looking at all my picks. Most are snooth. Why are any even made this way. Shouldn't they all be rough to help grip.
It's a personal preference. Some people like the smooth feel
🙋👏
😎
superman never has a crumpled t-shirt.
He sure doesn't. But I think it was also spadex 🤔🤔🤔
Ok, trust you to reply with a really, really good point that flattens my point completely. 🥰
My problem. I simply have a beat but no Rythm. 🎸🎼❤️🤪😹
Ha ha. You got rhythm Jack 😎😉
😃😌😁😚😘
😃
Playing loud and tense. Your facial muscles even changed.
How to inprove Acostic Dinimic
Like,like😊
It is wrong to strum with your elbow. Ever played at a 3 hour gig with elbow strumming?
Strumming should be done with your wrists. Jus some pedagogical advice. No offence.
Well there is some action in the elbow but a lot comes from the wrist