I'm one of those who strummed too heavy until I started wearing 'Hearing Aids'. Then when I played I was like: "This is blasting my ear!, have I always been strumming this hard?" Now I know better and I strum much softer. Sounds so much better! I also now use a Fender 'Thin Pick'. 👏🏻😊👍. I strongly recommend Hearing Aids to anyone who thinks they might be having a hearing problem, or thinks others aren't enunciating their words. When I finally went to them I was like: "How come I waited so long?" They're Great!
@@Relaxandlearnguitar You wouldn’t believe the sounds that came out! High and Low pitch. Everyone should have their hearing checked! People can be missing out on so much. Even watching a TV is so much better. Promise!
It's my first time watching your video. I have been playing guitar for over 50 years and switched from strumming to finger picking because I found my strum too loud. Thanks to your video, I can now do both. Thank you. And you are so right... you're never too old to learn!
11:04 love Maggie, I'm 62 and haven't picked up a guitar since my freshman year in high-school. I'm starting from scratch and learning so much from watching your videos. I've already surpassed all I learned before! Thank you!
Excellent video, Kev! I quickly recognized that it’s more forgiving to use a softer pick. I will almost always use a harder pick for electric since I’m playing a little more percussively, and pretty much always a soft pick with acoustic since it makes everything sound more uniform.
Everything you said! Excellent!! I had a guitar when I was very young and just banged it w the pick to where my parents would shut my door 😂 So I started finger strumming and I had not touched a pick in 35 years! PARENTS😳😆 Then I bought a new Martin, last year, and I want to hear it, so I went to the music store and bought nearly every pick they had. Not a bad thing. My favorite, today very thin, .46, I use the mojo grip. Very nice for thin picks. Helps me hold onto it, bc I sorta strum like I did with my fingers. Ties into everything you said. I feel the strings with the pick, no more banging. What you say here confirms my technique, now I know what I’m doing. Thank you so much for the online lessons, you are a great teacher 👍👍🎸
Thanks for this! My go to was for full strumming songs to use a lighter pick. But I just tried this one with a heavier pick with one of those songs this really helped. When using the painting technique I used the leading edge of the pick on the down strums and the trailing edge on the up strums and that softened things up as well. Again thanks!
Very good video & I must say that I find that using a pick called URCO is very good because they have different weights & never break if you do happen to strum to hard & the cost about $1.30 each.
LOL-yes! this was me. Probably the the pressure of trying to get the fingers on the correct strings, pain involved with your fingers, and fumbling when changing from chord to chord. Add in frustration too. coulda used this advice 10 years ago! thanks Kevin
Kevin I may have missed a part …. Just started to learn but was told that a certain type of string makes it easier to press them…, could you talk about that?
There are so many different strings but in general lighter gauge strings are easier to play. There are also coated strings that can be easier on the fingers.
Hi Kevin - yeah I can see why not breathing would cause problems!! LOL too funny - loved it! I have problems keeping my wrist loose and my arm from not doing all the work. Will work on these - thanks for the tips.
I found I was breaking more strings using a lighter pick than a heavier one. The lighter pick gives way to the string more readily so my attack was harder than necessary when a louder sound was needed. Switching to a heavier pick allowed me to add more nuance to my strumming and picking by varying my attack strength. And I don't break strings anymore.
Great tips. Luckily I’m not a heavy strummer. This video is a nice complement to your video on dynamics. Thanks for showing pick angle..super helpful. 😊
good tips. I've seen some people recommend a stiff-wristed tik Tok from the elbow but you don't want the guitar to overwhelm the voice when singing (some guitars have a scooped EQ to help with this?) I use a dunlop nylon .38 and .46 for the most part. the only thing is that my strumming can sound sort of scrapey sometimes ...
Excellent lessons, question about my guitar, I have a yahama F310 for just about a year now,how come my strings haven't gone out of tune? I play at minimum 1hour a night,and I use guitar tuner. The one that came with the guitar sucks can't make it work anyway. ????
Thanks. Happy to help! Good strings will keep their tune. What you lose over time is tone. They are probably more dull and dirty from time I would guess. Record something now, change your strings and then record again to get idea of difference. Here is a video on changing strings ruclips.net/video/18DMtVP9kw4/видео.htmlsi=U37KfRYJTy3g5krU
I'm a new subscriber. Thanks so much for your tips & helpful lessons. BTW, what model Martin do you play in your videos? A good guitar goes a long way to a nice clear sound as well.
really appreciate your videos, I would like to know what martin are you using in this video and what is your preferred string brand and size for it? thanks
Good lesson. I've been using a thin pick and still get harsh sounds when strumming. It seems I have always been strumming from the elbow and keeping a stiff wrist. Trying to correct this and have to adjust the directionality of the pick in regards to the strings. With your good advise I hope to correct the problem I am having. Thanks.
@@Relaxandlearnguitar thanks but I mean tilt the pic forward also. I have heard others recommend not only the 45 degree slant but also a slight tilt forward so the side edge of the pic slides across the strings. Im not sure I am explaining correctly. Thanks for your thoughts!
I've tried holding the pick that way - two fingers - and the pick just spins around or falls. I feel like I don't have control of it with just two fingers. While I know it is probably a bad habit, I use three fingers which seems to work slightly better. Any advice on this?
@@deniseshaw3871 I see. Then I would stick with it a little bit each day and practice with that pick. You may want to check out this lesson next: ruclips.net/video/2pYqWOnxpgM/видео.html
It’s a rule that applies to all guitar playing. Single string, finger picking, everything. If you have a woman, she’ll not be singing beautiful songs, if you abuse her with heavy-handed behaviour. Any guitar teacher that tells you to “lean into it” -,I’d avoid
My apologies to Roberta Flack Strumming so softly on my strings Singing my life with some words Strumming them softly is so hard Strumming more softly is so hard Changing my sound with a light pick Strumming so softly, is not hard
Check out the lesson on choosing a guitar pick here:ruclips.net/video/SPBK35bQOMk/видео.html
Painting the fence is a perfect analogy 👌
I'm one of those who strummed too heavy until I started wearing 'Hearing Aids'. Then when I played I was like: "This is blasting my ear!, have I always been strumming this hard?" Now I know better and I strum much softer. Sounds so much better! I also now use a Fender 'Thin Pick'. 👏🏻😊👍.
I strongly recommend Hearing Aids to anyone who thinks they might be having a hearing problem, or thinks others aren't enunciating their words. When I finally went to them I was like: "How come I waited so long?" They're Great!
Great Advice! Thanks for sharing and keep on picking!
@@Relaxandlearnguitar You wouldn’t believe the sounds that came out! High and Low pitch. Everyone should have their hearing checked! People can be missing out on so much. Even watching a TV is so much better. Promise!
Absolutely brilliant lesson, thanks! My strumming didn’t sound terrible but it didn’t sound right and this was really helpful. Keep up the good work!
Glad it helped!
It's my first time watching your video. I have been playing guitar for over 50 years and switched from strumming to finger picking because I found my strum too loud. Thanks to your video, I can now do both. Thank you. And you are so right... you're never too old to learn!
Hey there! This comment made my day! Happy to help and keep on picking and strumming! Thanks for watching!
11:04 love Maggie, I'm 62 and haven't picked up a guitar since my freshman year in high-school. I'm starting from scratch and learning so much from watching your videos. I've already surpassed all I learned before! Thank you!
That's awesome!
You are the best tutor,very simple,easy to understand and learn....really appreciate...love and regards to you 💖💖💖🤗🤗🤗
Thank you so much! Happy to help!
Thank you sir
You are welcome! Thanks for watching!
great info and your wife helping is adorable 🥰
Thanks! We have a lot of fun!
This is the tip I needed, thank you for teaching me the correct way to strum my guitar.
Love your RUclips lessons.
You are most welcome. And we appreciate your support!
This was a helpful lesson. Thanks so much for uploading.
Glad it was helpful!
Helped immediately!! Thank you for posting
You are welcome. Happy to hear that!
That angled pick movement is a game changer! Thanks very much, Love these videos, so chill and useful
Glad you liked it!
This is the best tutorial on strumming I have seen, I also like your style, you have a new subscriber.
That’s great! Thanks and happy you liked it.
Thank you this is something I have trying to figure out to the extent I don’t use a pick when I strum. I can now go a try a pick again.
Glad I could help!
These tips really make a difference when strumming. Thanks for sharing.
You are welcome!
So glad to have found your channel. All practical advise, no beating around the bush. And you are quite amusing, too. Keep it up.
Thanks for watching! Glad you like our channel!
Thanks.
Thank you!
This is a very practical and helpful lesson. Thank you Kevin and Vicky!
Thanks for your support!
Your audience will sure appreciate you playing softer too
Absolutley!
Thank you
Thank you for your support!
Excellent video, Kev! I quickly recognized that it’s more forgiving to use a softer pick. I will almost always use a harder pick for electric since I’m playing a little more percussively, and pretty much always a soft pick with acoustic since it makes everything sound more uniform.
Thanks so much! Happy to help
Helpful advise thanks
You're welcome
Thanks you for this.
My pleasure!
Absolutely love your classes! Tips and all. ❤
Thanks for watching!
Everything you said! Excellent!!
I had a guitar when I was very young and just banged it w the pick to where my parents would shut my door 😂
So I started finger strumming and I had not touched a pick in 35 years!
PARENTS😳😆
Then I bought a new Martin, last year, and I want to hear it, so I went to the music store and bought nearly every pick they had. Not a bad thing.
My favorite, today very thin, .46, I use the mojo grip. Very nice for thin picks. Helps me hold onto it, bc I sorta strum like I did with my fingers. Ties into everything you said. I feel the strings with the pick, no more banging.
What you say here confirms my technique, now I know what I’m doing.
Thank you so much for the online lessons, you are a great teacher 👍👍🎸
Thank you so much! Happy to hear this. Keep on picking!
The pic angle! Thank you!
No problem!
Can you please show how to play "I remember you " by skid row at least the strumming pattern the easiest way and the count? Thanks great lesson
You are welcome. I can add this one to the request list.
Thanks for the great lessons, very informative....ps, love the doggy, Maggie🌞
You are so welcome!
Thanks for this! My go to was for full strumming songs to use a lighter pick. But I just tried this one with a heavier pick with one of those songs this really helped. When using the painting technique I used the leading edge of the pick on the down strums and the trailing edge on the up strums and that softened things up as well. Again thanks!
You are most welcome. Happy to help!
This was very helpful ...subbed and thx .. 😊
Thank you!
Great video! Thanks.
Thank you too!
Name of the Channel makes sense to me "Relax & learn guitar".
Welcome!
Thank you for sharing this video ,for sure I will cherish your expertise in playing back my guitar as I am rusty.👍
You are welcome!
Perfect timing…I am really struggling with strumming…..your lesson is awesome
Happy to help! Keep on picking!
Very good video & I must say that I find that using a pick called URCO is very good because they have different weights & never break if you do happen to strum to hard & the cost about $1.30 each.
Thanks, I’ll look at those!
Thnx🤘
You are most welcome!
Good points
Thanks!
LOL-yes! this was me. Probably the the pressure of trying to get the fingers on the correct strings, pain involved with your fingers, and fumbling when changing from chord to chord. Add in frustration too. coulda used this advice 10 years ago! thanks Kevin
You are most welcome! Excellent points. Thank you for watching.
Thank you great advice
You are welcome. Thanks for watching.
Thanks for a great video - really explained strumming. Have subscribed as a thankyou. You and your wife are a great combo - thanks so much.
You are welcome and thanks for your support!
Thanks so much!
You are welcome!
Enjoyed your tip on pick playing, how about tips on finger style playing.
I play now but want to adventure into finger style?
Sounds like an upcoming video :)
Good job
Thank you!
Good tip, thank you Kevin
You are welcome!
Light strings or extra light? Thanks for great channel!
I am using extra light
Thanks!
You are welcome!
Kevin I may have missed a part …. Just started to learn but was told that a certain type of string makes it easier to press them…, could you talk about that?
There are so many different strings but in general lighter gauge strings are easier to play. There are also coated strings that can be easier on the fingers.
Hi Kevin - yeah I can see why not breathing would cause problems!! LOL too funny - loved it! I have problems keeping my wrist loose and my arm from not doing all the work. Will work on these - thanks for the tips.
You are welcome! Keep at it!
Excellent! Thanks.
Your welcome!
A very good lesson and you have an excellent voice 🙂
Thank you so much! Happy to help
I found I was breaking more strings using a lighter pick than a heavier one. The lighter pick gives way to the string more readily so my attack was harder than necessary when a louder sound was needed. Switching to a heavier pick allowed me to add more nuance to my strumming and picking by varying my attack strength. And I don't break strings anymore.
I always say if it sounds good it is good. Glad you found a solution. Thanks for watching.
Some really good tips here.How glad am I to have found this channel.I can already see an improvement in my playing,thank you
That is great! Stick with it and happy to help
Well done, I’m glad I found your channel
Thank you! We are too! Welcome and thank you for your support!
Very good teaching! Thanks!
Thank you! You are welcome!
Great tips. Luckily I’m not a heavy strummer. This video is a nice complement to your video on dynamics. Thanks for showing pick angle..super helpful. 😊
Hey there. Thanks so much. And that is exactly where this one lives in the members area with that dynamics lesson :)
good tips. I've seen some people recommend a stiff-wristed tik Tok from the elbow but you don't want the guitar to overwhelm the voice when singing (some guitars have a scooped EQ to help with this?) I use a dunlop nylon .38 and .46 for the most part. the only thing is that my strumming can sound sort of scrapey sometimes ...
Hey Bruce! Thanks. Yep. That scraping can be a trade off - you could experiment with a medium pick.
I really appreciate this
Happy to help!
@@Relaxandlearnguitar I noticed a HUGE difference today when I followed your instruction. You are heaven sent.
@@GigiTelevision that’s great!
Great stuff. Great timing for me. Many thanks.
You are welcome! Glad it helps!
thanks so much
Thank you!
First time watching. Enjoyed your laid back style of teaching. I learned a lot and will checkout your other videos. Liked and subscribed.👍👍
Great! Thanks for watching and subscribing!
Excellent lessons, question about my guitar, I have a yahama F310 for just about a year now,how come my strings haven't gone out of tune? I play at minimum 1hour a night,and I use guitar tuner. The one that came with the guitar sucks can't make it work anyway. ????
Thanks. Happy to help! Good strings will keep their tune. What you lose over time is tone. They are probably more dull and dirty from time I would guess. Record something now, change your strings and then record again to get idea of difference. Here is a video on changing strings ruclips.net/video/18DMtVP9kw4/видео.htmlsi=U37KfRYJTy3g5krU
I want to hear you play Malagueña with the guitar held out towards the camera like that! Good lesson, common problems for everyone.
Lol. Thanks man!
Will put that one on the list!😋
Cas Haley- Walking On the Moon
I have your request logged already. Thanks.
Absolute quality lesson, thanks
You are welcome & thanks for wat hung!
Killer guitbox, Dude!
Thanks!
Does this apply brighter acoustics like Taylors ? Or will the strumming not make much of a difference on those
I think it makes a difference on any guitar and worth experimenting. Thanks for tuning in!
I'm a new subscriber. Thanks so much for your tips & helpful lessons. BTW, what model Martin do you play in your videos? A good guitar goes a long way to a nice clear sound as well.
It’s a D1-R Martin, thanks for watching!
Great lesson, I'm subscribing!
Excellent! Thanks so much and happy to help!
Very nice share
Glad you like it!
really appreciate your videos, I would like to know what martin are you using in this video and what is your preferred string brand and size for it? thanks
I am playing a D1-R. My favorite. I use Daddario phosphor bronze light strings. You can check out my shop page here. www.relaxandlearnguitar.com/shop/
MY GUITAR WEEPS 😂
Very helpful !! Really enjoy ur videos
Thank you
You are welcome!
I have always struggled with the pick. Loud and pick caught in the strings. So I use my thumb. What ways could I use with my thumb more softly?
Hmmm. I find just using my thumb is soft sounding Al enough. If it is not maybe use less pressure in your strum.
Good lesson. I've been using a thin pick and still get harsh sounds when strumming. It seems I have always been strumming from the elbow and keeping a stiff wrist. Trying to correct this and have to adjust the directionality of the pick in regards to the strings. With your good advise I hope to correct the problem I am having. Thanks.
You are most welcome. Happy to help. Stick with it- I have seen it make a big difference with many a member :)
is it common for guitar pick to be sliding off my hand when i strum?
Yep. Here is a video that can help ruclips.net/video/fBet_NYTwZQ/видео.html
Hi Vickie😊
Question...i get that the strum is at a 45 degree angel but should the pic also he tilted as well? Thoughts?
Yes, the pick tilts with your wrist.
@@Relaxandlearnguitar thanks but I mean tilt the pic forward also. I have heard others recommend not only the 45 degree slant but also a slight tilt forward so the side edge of the pic slides across the strings. Im not sure I am explaining correctly. Thanks for your thoughts!
@@thebossman60 Ahhhh. I see, it is worth a try, I will check it out.
Another great and useful video Kevin! I started using a .050 pick. Would you consider that medium or light?
Thanks! I would say that is a light pick
Great tips but why is it when i am strumming my hand moves away from the strings causing me to miss the strings. its very aggravating.
Without seeing you play it is difficult to answer. It could be wrist position. Strumming only from elbow or maybe the way you are holding guitar…..
I've tried holding the pick that way - two fingers - and the pick just spins around or falls. I feel like I don't have control of it with just two fingers. While I know it is probably a bad habit, I use three fingers which seems to work slightly better. Any advice on this?
That is unconventional. But if it sounds good it is good. I have some tips about that in this video ruclips.net/video/2pYqWOnxpgM/видео.html
@@Relaxandlearnguitar Thanks for the reply and the video, I'll give it a shot.
@@jeffcockerill18 my pleasure
Iv tried and tried but just either dig it too hard or drop it Im so usedto strumming with my fingers
I always say if it sounds good it is good :)
@@Relaxandlearnguitar dont think it sounds that great Im a beginner only played Ukulele before lol
@@deniseshaw3871 I see. Then I would stick with it a little bit each day and practice with that pick. You may want to check out this lesson next:
ruclips.net/video/2pYqWOnxpgM/видео.html
Love to Maggie may ❤😂
🐕
When he’s saying he’s playing bad is not that bad actually .😅
👍
I've just started playing the Guitar and i struggle strumming up .
Hey there. Brand new start with just strumming down. Then down up. It’s rare that you would only strum up on a song. Stick with it and welcome!
@@Relaxandlearnguitar what I meant was my strumming down is fine but when I strum down and up, on the up strokes I tend to catch the high E string.
@@daz147 got it. Be sure and rotate your wrist on the up strum so you are not strumming up with a horizontals pick.
@@Relaxandlearnguitar okay thank you, I'll keep practicing.
@@Relaxandlearnguitar also I can do it smooth if I go slow, will I get faster over time.
Nishu tiwari is the winner
It’s a rule that applies to all guitar playing. Single string, finger picking, everything. If you have a woman, she’ll not be singing beautiful songs, if you abuse her with heavy-handed behaviour. Any guitar teacher that tells you to “lean into it” -,I’d avoid
My apologies to Roberta Flack
Strumming so softly on my strings
Singing my life with some words
Strumming them softly is so hard
Strumming more softly is so hard
Changing my sound with a light pick
Strumming so softly, is not hard
Love this!
Im going to sing this to my friend 😂😂
@@laurameeks8653 LOL
@@laurameeks8653 channel your inner Weird Al Yankovic! Happens to me all the time 🙂
Kevin you are completely crazy.. 😅
Lol. Having a good time
Man, had a house to paint, but I'm free to watch you today!
Thanks for tuning in!