5 Strumming mistakes that RUIN your sound! Fix them in 13 minutes

[@first_fret]

👉 If you're struggling with changing chords on time and string buzzing, check out our new course here and fix these problems once and for all: 1-fret.com/course-how-to-play-without-buzzing/

[@garrybean4148]

V f

[@Angelync8]

I like but I don’t know how

[@carlprestwood5874]

What type of PICK DO YOU USE OR SUGGEST?

[@FrankoLamare]

💞💞💕💕💕💋💋💗💗😍🌹❣️♥️

[@carlosshishido2122]

Cuando rasgueo la púa se me desliza de los dedos 😮q puedo hacer ??

[@cherylfrain2592]

I was progressively getting worse and more frustrated as I was developing these habits. I can't tell you how much I appreciate this video. It instantly helped.

[@first_fret]

I'm glad It did! Thank you!

[@julieking4779]

Keep going you are learning like me. I get it then I am erratic. It was the same with myself l, with learning to drive years ago. My son says it all suddenly drops into place. Practice practice... that what's I'm doing...

[@rich9697]

Same for me i seemed to be getting worse! There aren't many tutorials on these details on KZbin

[@allenvayner4987]

Soon, there is going to be the rapture. It's when there will be trumpet sounds, and after the trumpet sounds, God will lift his people from here. Also, God said people should be living by the Bible. Amen, and God bless you. ❤Jesus loves you guys. Dont wait, please. He will welcome you with arms wide open.❤ ❤* John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have eternal life". ❤

[@angelocarbone6433]

I've been playing guitar for over 50 years, and I agree with everything you're saying. I often tell guitar players, who are often surprised to hear this, is that most mistakes/errors in your playing, (even for more advanced players), comes from your strumming/picking hand, not your fret hand.

[@cleangoblin2021]

Ive been playing since i was 15. 32 and still didnt know how to strum properly. I thought my guitar was terrible. It was my hands and habit all along. Thank you for this teacher. My playing suddenly improved so much

[@tecaccessories7550]

Dude, you just opened my eyes! I have been struggling with strumming with my (unfortunate) intermittent practice time and this has made a world of difference. Especially mistake #1. I never realized it until now. Thank you for this great lesson.

[@benbam6519]

For years I've been trying to figure out what's wrong with my guitar techniques, why it sounds different than others. And was in vain. Finally, you point that out. Thank you.

[@first_fret]

Thanks! Glad i helped!

[@emptyingmyballsinyomommymouth]

...how do you do knowingly do something wrong for years and not bother correcting it lol

[@benbam6519]

@@emptyingmyballsinyomommymouth Just like many guitar learners. You maybe one of them.

[@heinzarniaung2915]

What exactly was wrong with it?

[@jackblack142]

Same to you buddy 🤠

[@rickl6697]

Also, people who strum all 6 strings all the time. Should play the bass note and down. Good video.

[@first_fret]

Thank you, glad you’ve liked it

[@ronblaski2041]

0p]

[@diehardnygiantsfan6569]

That’s a habit of mine I have to break! I know that a D starts at the D or an A at the A but I’ll hit the A on a D or the low E on an A 🥲

[@geordiemack4143]

For D, just fret the F# with your thumb and if you hit it, it won't sound so bad. If you do this, you can also mute the E and the A with your thumb if you wish. The original comment is true though. I'd go further and say that when strumming you should never just aim to hit all 4/5/6 notes of the chord all the time and mix it up a bit, ie different groups of 4/3s or it will just end up sounding 'blocky'. Happy Playing!

[@101stairassault5]

True, but that’s debatable depending on your style and ability. Consider Dave Matthews style…where at times he’s muting 3-4 strings with his fret hand while still using a full strum…only making notes on the 2-3 strings he allows to ring.

[@wesleyAlan9179]

As someone with 25+ years of playing, I must say..this is a great video for beginners. I'm planning on teaching my nephew, he wants to learn, he's 13. So here I am, going through tutorials on KZbin to get better ideas on how to teach, so THANK YOU so much for this video! 🤟

[@first_fret]

Thank you! Hope it will be helpful for you

[@eddyhoughton6542]

Good luck with that. 13 years old and a family member... Still, at least it's not your son or daughter, that would be World War III! 🤣🤣🤣

[@wesleyAlan9179]

@@eddyhoughton6542 Funny you say that, because. My nephew has learned enough to where he doesn't need me anymore to practice. He does it on his own now. And..my15yr old was bugging me to teach him,so he's been practicing for about 2 weeks now and it's going great👍 He wanted to learn "Back in Black" as his first song. So I said ok let's do it, and he's about got it down pretty good to be a beginner! 🤟

[@eddyhoughton6542]

@@wesleyAlan9179 I am so jealous man! Kudos to you for inspiring your family. This is (or should be) a musical household. My kids grew up with music - wind and brass instruments. We all played in bands and there was a huge social side to it as well. Then the lockdown came, and everything went to pot. Both my kids have given up on music full stop. My daughter is left handed, so granted, playing a right-handed guitar for her is horrible. I re-strung one of my best acoustics for her to play "Jimi Hendrix" style but of course, the nut is for right-hand players, and the action's all out. It's just spent the last year hung up as an adornment in the hippie cave that passes for her bedroom. She doesn't know it but I ordered a leftie acoustic for her as a surprise. Basically, the minute I say to my kids, "hey, should we have a bash on the guitars?" I receive a brutal bombardment of recrimination and teenage angst. But all is not lost. My daughter finds reggaeton nauseating and worships at the shrine of Led Zeppelin, so at least there's hope!

[@wesleyAlan9179]

@@eddyhoughton6542 I hear ya man, I know where you're comin' from ...my daughter wanted to learn...well,that lasted all but a day. And when I'd mention practicing, I get excuses why she couldn't. That was when she was 15 or 16...she's 19 now. Maybe I'll try again with her. Lol But, my son I'm teaching never showed interest in music what so ever up until a month or so ago, so that's what's up,lol. My other son, he's 21 now...he was supposed to learn guitar, but he gave it up within the month of trying it out, he went to drums, got really good at it, then he quit them. Idk..maybe there's still hope for him too!😁

[@jb8199]

Dude, you totally nailed it… I’m a pretty confident rhythm guitarist and I’m guilty of #5 a lot. It’s almost like you get lazy or hypnotized half way through a song and you find yourself scraping. Thanks for this!

[@davidbryant9454]

Yeah it’s a part of being bored. Especially if your playing the same songs night in and out

[@theseustoo]

See my comment above... it's not always a bad thing! (Usually, yes... but not always!) :D

[@theseustoo]

@@davidbryant9454 The answer to boredom is new material! Now you youngsters have KZbin and the internet, there's absolutely no excuse for this... There are so many songs with chords and lyrics out there... if I want to learn a new song, I just type "Insert Song-Title Here chords and lyrics" into my search bar and at least 99 times out of a hundred I'll be taken straight to it! If I'd had access to the internet back in the day when I was making a living busking in Europe, I'd probably be a much richer man today! (Or maybe not... maybe I'd just have spent all my money just that much quicker!) ;) And if new material doesn't work... have you checked your guitar's tuning? Or maybe it's tone? Does something just not sound 'cool'? Maybe the answer is a new guitar! (But I'd use this remedy as a last resort as it can be expensive, unless you're a rich rock-star guitar collector!) :D

[@saskialombard5328]

Yes. It's not always boredom. It can be very hypnotic, especially when playing a slow paced song. There were a few times i played until my eye lids closed and then eventually until i just fell asleep.

[@theseustoo]

@@saskialombard5328 LOL! Been there... done that... Usually depended on what I'd been smoking, though, tbh... ;)

[@Bextrovert1]

I have played for 31 years and gave up on using a pick in the very beginning. I am certain it has held me back. I NEVER play my 12 string because I SUCK at using a pick. I will try this. Thank you. Liked and prescribed as a genuine thank you.

[@arigoldberg8212]

The suggestion about holding the pick lightly really helped me a lot. Thanks! I've been afraid to let go of it, but I definitely play better holding it loosely. Hopefully I'll find that sweet spot of just the right force to hold it lightly without losing it.

[@first_fret]

Good luck with that

[@RoanFair]

Essential viewing for anyone with an acoustic guitar. This is brilliant. This should be the very first lesson for anyone who's just bought an acoustic guitar. This is all about building quality and finesse into your playing from day one -- so it becomes second nature. Strongly recommended! 😃👍🎸

[@first_fret]

Thanks a lot for your kind words!

[@Thisisnttravis]

Practicing bad technique equals you getting better at the bad technique. So many things I wish I was more strict on early on but then again it would have taken the joy out of it and I might have dropped it

[@stephenbetz2009]

For a beginner, this is great information. Once you progress to an intermediate level, I'd encourage the player to be able to control some of these elements at will. Being able to control pick angle is very useful when playing single lines (as opposed to strumming), and slow strums can be good for landing chords (like rolling a chord on Piano) if used sparingly. Being able to deviate from natural strumming (down/up/down/up, etc.) is also very useful once you get to more advanced rhythms (for different accents, triplets, etc). But none of these things should be practiced until you've got the fundamentals down.

[@first_fret]

These are some wise words! Thanks for your comment

[@miltonperies1715]

๬

[@cirrus1964]

If your a beginner, the first thing is, start foot tapping! That will help much more!

[@bennajar3673]

I've always held the pick in many different positions depending on what sound I'm trying to create ,, good advice

[@JarrettMeyer]

#4 took me FOREVER. I played piano for 30 years before picking up a guitar. There is no equivalent motion, and it made no sense to me. I did have a teacher when I started. He told me my timing was excellent even though I was strumming wrong. He made me learning the technique, and it did wonders for my playing. So much more comfortable, tighter rhythm, and a much more consistent tone. Learn it!

[@first_fret]

Yea, this one is really important. Glad you overcame it!

[@nomore2226]

Learn the rules of music like a professional, so you can break them like an artist.

[@MikluOffiziell]

Niceeee

[@stuffbinaboxdos]

Sociopath your guitar technique from people who feel. Got it!

[@Vladle2099]

I been learning for 25 years and I’m still a beginner. Can’t concentrate. Mind flies away while trying to learn.

[@tomcoon9038]

This was outstanding! I tried to learn guitar (for a short time) and it always sounded so completely awful I gave up and gave the guitar to a family member. I want it back now! I think I did everything wrong that you pointed out. He he, good thing I can laugh at myself! Anyway, this was incredible and not one single thing that was too technical that I didn't get it! Simple solutions.

[@first_fret]

Glad you enjoyed the video! Time to get that guitar back

[@jazzyboydc]

I have been playing guitar for 15 or 20 years. It was nice to know all these tips. I am self taught. But it was good to know some things I was already doing correctly. And Some things that I need to improve on. Good video

[@first_fret]

Thank you, im glad you found this vid useful

[@RyanProsser0]

This was fantastic video. I really agree with the 5 mistakes. I think I’m lucky enough to have not developed them as habits in my playing. But I’ve heard plenty of others playing with a sound I didn’t like, so hearing you break this down has identified WHY I didn’t like their sound. What a huge difference correcting these methods can make. Big thanks and please make more like this

[@first_fret]

Thank you! Yes, we're doing more

[@jjjtttggg]

This is a really great video… I’ve been playing guitar for more than 40 years, but I still can remember progressing past each of these. And I apologize if there is any possible way this next comment can possibly be misconstrued as anything other that a compliment, but for a non-native English speaker, your English is absolutely amazing!!! Many years ago I could communicate somewhat effectively in German, but I can’t even imagine developing your level of bilingual skill.

[@jasminemitchell9237]

Omg! I have been playing acoustic guitar for about 24 years and have NEVER been good with a pick. It has always sounded incredibly tiny, loud, harsh and I've just always felt like I couldn't help but hit every string individually! I figured it would just take practice but have never wanted to actually deal with such a crap sound for the length of time it would take to sound better... I feel so ridiculous now bc I just tried it using tip 2-5 (never had much of an issue with #1) and it's INSANE how much better it sounds! This video is a lifesaver! I'm so excited to continue playing with picks! Thank you so much!!

[@Chrisanthadenil]

I have been playing guitar for the last 25+ years and I have many lessons to learn from this video. Wonderfully simple. Thank you.

[@first_fret]

Thank you too! Glad you found It helpful

[@anthonymaillard4628]

Man this is so great. I've been playing guitar since 2 years now and I didn't know what was wrong in my playing. But now I figured out the subtil mistakes that makes my play "too rough"! Thanks a lot ! Now I have to work on this :)

[@first_fret]

Im glad this video was helpful! Good luck with practicing!

[@juliettsioras]

Great tips. I'm 3 years in and Ive just caught myself moving my elbow too much. Now I'm moving the wrist more and it makes a real difference. It's something I'd kinda noticed when watching people play but without your explanation of right and wrong way I hadn't really put it into practice. Thanks.

[@first_fret]

Thank you too! Glad this video helped you

[@clydehuling708]

Been playing for many years and never even thought about it. I would listen to songs and try to sound like the original. I knew the right way through watching others play. Thank you for bringing to lite the "five mistakes." Wish I knew them when I first started playing guitar.

[@Karamarie317]

Lolol I taught myself guitar some years ago but haven’t touched it in a while. Now I’m going to start over considering I did almost all of these and never knew why I couldn’t get it right. Thank you.

[@kenster865]

Excellent!! I've done some teaching over the years. I've never concentrated in getting my beginning students to strum better even though many need to do just that. I just try to make them work with a metronome and then focus more on learning chords and theory. What you present here is really important. I'm going to use your video as I couldn't have presented proper strumming better if I'd tried! Again, good job! 👍👍

[@first_fret]

I'm really humbled by your comment, thanks a lot! And good luck with your students

[@johnryan527]

You just better say let's concentrate on this strumming of yours now it's been saying I forgot all about it, CAPICHE

[@MarkPeotter]

Ken Sheldon #4 vexed many of my students. Keep the hand moving!

[@TheBanana93]

Zzzzz metronome

[@JeromyBranch]

Well said and i am guilty as well.

[@allgoodanimals6769]

Great lesson! I’ve been playing for about a year and a half and have figured out a lot of this on my own just by listening to how it sounds. I sure wish I had a guitar teacher like you. I’ve tried three different people but no luck.

[@first_fret]

Thank you for your comment! You made my day

[@ared18t]

Yeah unfortunately a lot of people who start teaching don't think that focusing on the most basic of basics is a good idea because they assume it will bore the student.

[@dougreed2257]

Iv played acoustic for years, but have to admit iv'e learned something here, much thanks😊👍

[@first_fret]

I'm glad you did! Thanks

[@quentinthejackrussell]

#4 is probably the most important for anyone learning from videos. I always closely watch guitarists and try to imitate their movements, but I never realized that every time the hand moves, it doesn’t necessarily strum. It was always SO confusing. Thank you again and again

[@theblindbandit6533]

I took piano for 4 years and tried self teaching myself guitar and I’ve been playing for years now and I don’t really get frustrated when I don’t get something it’s fun for me to work it out on my own and it’s a great feeling when I can see myself getting better and better and learning more and more of a song and fine tuning it until I’ve got it to a point I’m satisfied with.

[@moyosoreafinni]

These tips are so good in building the right technique. Been playing acoustic guitar and I didn't even take note of some of these mistakes I made and challenges I had to get past. This is an eye opener.

[@first_fret]

Glad It helped! Thank you for your comment

[@uffesommerlund6523]

was hoping you would like this guitar method drive.google.com/file/d/1LXVvF8898PjDqeHW0NW3fF_JuVrR_DMk/view?usp=sharing Let me know what you think

[@ericstoverink6579]

I feel like #5 is not necessarily a mistake, but more of a stylistic choice. Used well it can add a bit of percussion to what you;re playing. The same with #2. I found that pinching the pick a bit harder is a good, quick way to get that bit of extra volume when you need it.

[@first_fret]

Yeah, that's right. But not if that's the ONLY way guitarist strums

[@MiguelRiveraGuitar980]

As a beginner I've been struggling with awful strumming sounds. This video is really helpful since noticed i make all the mistakes. Thanks for the info and time on this so helpful video

[@first_fret]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@forbiddenEntity404]

DUDE! I've been getting so frustrated with strumming and your video has saved my guitar career 😂 thanks a ton

[@foetpics]

I was making all of the mistakes you pointed here. Thanks to you, my strumming just got 47,3% better!

[@amirra4397]

This was so very well put together video , i have been playing for 10 months now and was worried that my guitar wasn't sounding soft , but these techniques really helped me achieve the melody of an acoustic! Much appreciated ❤️✨

[@first_fret]

Glad It was helpful!

[@amirra4397]

@@first_fret Hey not sure if the previous reply went through, Can you possibly send your email address privately as I'm not able to text for the time being. Thanks ! ⚡

[@johnsonrojo3]

Thank you so much for these tips. I've been playing guitar for almost 2 years now but it's so annoying how there are days I'm so good with my strumming and some days I don't know what I'm doing. I am just so inconsistent. Thank you!

[@first_fret]

Glad i could help!

[@GPM116]

I spent way too much time fretting the left I fell behind with the Right hand work. My buddy in school taught me to Travis pick before strumming because my first song was " Dust in the Wind " so it's great to see this video. I will save and subscribe. When things start to get a bit cruddy, I always work back through my fundamentals. I like your drum stick attack visual to keep ahead of getting behind. Visual ques work well for me. You are good at that. I use my fingers to strum alot too. I think Mark Knophler talked about that idea. Thanks great lesson. Well explained.

[@first_fret]

Yeah, the right hand is where your sound is actually coming from! Glad this vid was helpful

[@Bevieevans8]

I play the ukulele without a pick, but your video still helped me understand strumming.

[@jaygravitygames]

Best tip i ever had for chord strumming, was strum in the same motion that you turn a doorknob. You use your wrist and twist 🤟 goodluck folks and good video buddy

[@jimmyers7124]

I'm over 70 and still can't play. Apparently, you have to practice. Tripped over this short video and actually found the advice quite helpful. Simple tricks for simple minds that make sense. Thanks for sharing.

[@GreggyAck]

You don’t need to practice. Find a dirt crossroad and sell your soul to the devil.

[@jeskeepinitreal]

Love the tips and love the "sounds really not groovy" description of improper stumming technique. Fun engaging and relatable. Very groovy. Thanks.!

[@jameskelly7886]

Ive played for 40 years. Still found a couple of these tips useful. Thanks Andrew.😊

[@bakerbrown6]

Wow that was SO helpful. I say this as someone who was practicing for hours at a time and it eventually turned to agony. My shoulder was so sore I had to stop for a few weeks. So i took a few lessons and the teacher said to avoid the shoulder damage I should lean my shoulder in and play from the elbow- the exact thing he says NOT to do here! Now I’m finally on track- just have to practice this technique a bit

[@danparongj8765]

That was very helpful, I do all these mistakes not knowing what was wrong with my strumming, I'm self-taught. I'll try to fix them. Great lesson thanks.

[@first_fret]

Thanks and good luck with that!

[@sophia.ciocca]

I've played guitar for ten years now, but this video still helped me, namely the tip about pick angle -- I generally finger pick and have always struggled with a pick, for exactly the reason you point out -- I've been trying to keep it perfectly horizontal! thank you, this is so much better!

[@first_fret]

I'm glad you sound better now! Makes me a happy teacher

[@shinjonmal8936]

From a beginner, finger picking is wayy harder than normal picking so I admire you

[@chrisnewbury3793]

Very good lesson. I play classical instead of flat-pick and as a drummer first, I think I learned a lot of this stuff early on. In fact I think all musicians should start on drums. Fundamentals.

[@quentinthejackrussell]

Omg, I even bought a new guitar and was disapointed thinking I'd need even more expensive one because the sound was still terrible... Thank you so much! I've watched so many videos for begginers but this one actually helped. Subscribed!

[@nopenopenope131]

Like others have said, I was also making these mistakes. I kept getting told I was too loud and my singing couldn't be heard over the guitar. Very helpful video!

[@richardrichardson8630]

First vid I've seen where you play while you explain. Like that. Thank you. I will use this😎

[@first_fret]

Good luck with that and thank you!

[@ItzChillzPlayz]

8:43 "so as you can see even when I'm not strumming my hand still keeps moving" 💀🥶

[@rickygrenadier6303]

Me who plays using my nails:

[@kvinporatkar2003]

😂

[@weeronnie100]

Me to mate and I'm very good at it 👍

[@kamleshelect1985]

Best video till date for strumming improvement. You don't know how much this help me. I am struggling for better sound since 2 years. Tried a new guitar, costlier strings, exotic picks, nothing worked. Thanks a lot.👍

[@billjoyce5525]

Thanks for posting this video. Today I was discussing with a fellow amateur player that I needed to work on my strumming technique…I was doing 4 out of 5!!! This will help! Thanks again

[@kathytr616]

Thank you sooo much Notes: - use wrist not elbows (elbows - too stiff and too much distance cannot play fast chords) - don't hold pick too tight. Relax. Sounds smoother. Keep balance, right enough so it doesn't fall but relaxed enough so that it's smooth -angle of pick. Don't strum face on (too loud), play at angle. Put pick on low E n push down and you'll get position of angle. - strum. Hand has to move according to count and rhythm. When not strumming, hands still motion according to rhythm - don't scrape. Aim for achieving one sound

[@andysmith6156]

Great lesson. So many intermediate players lack feel and want to strum every single part and its obnoxious. Could you give a lesson on dynamics and feel and how to blend in when playing with others. I think it would help us all.

[@first_fret]

Thank you, i'll think about it

[@mimialfonso6567]

Thank you so much for this lesson. Everything makes so much sense.

[@first_fret]

My pleasure. Thank you

[@sparkymularkey6970]

I'm a total beginner, just now learning the fretboard, and I feel a bit more optimistic now knowing that, on the long road ahead of me, I at least won't be making THESE mistakes. 😅 Thank you!

[@callaway5148]

You are amazingly good at demonstrating the bad techniques! That's pretty impressive. I've been playing 28 years and I'm glad to report I do not do any of these things. And people do enjoy hearing me play. But since I was self-taught, I'm always aware of the possibility that I may have an old bad habit lurking somewhere...

[@jonihartman697]

I have been playing guitar for over 50 years, and I think this is a great video! May be a little too much info for a beginner, but all great reminders for getting better sound and speed!

[@first_fret]

Thank you!

[@steveprudell9976]

Yep 😄 me too 55 year review

[@rksnj6797]

Thank you so much!!! This is what I've been looking for! I've stopped using a pick and started strumming with my fingers as I found it easier to stay on the correct strings. Now I can go back to the pick using this lesson.

[@first_fret]

Thank you! was glad to help!

[@rahafi7631]

This is such a great video and helpfull tips. I've always avoided using a pick because of how horrible and loud the guitar sounded whenever I used one. Now that I know what I was doing wrong (basically everything except the elbow mistake😅) I feel more comfortable playing with it. And I could already hear an improvement! so thank you for restoring my faith in picks.

[@first_fret]

Glad i did! Thank you

[@Stray1One]

Good man,

[@Carito_LIDU]

I've watched a thousand play guitar videos, and except for the first two points, I've never heard these tips. No wonder I gave up trying to learn. TY.

[@juditheverist4723]

Never give up keep trying

[@richardj5437]

Thank you, I've been working through Fender Play (I which I like a lot) for the last three months but I think I was making all the mistakes you have mentioned. After this video my playing feels much more natural and more enjoyable.

[@first_fret]

Awesome to hear that! Glad this lesson helped!

[@davidesalerno]

First of all, thank you very much for these really important tips. I'm a beginner and they helped me a lot to improve my strumming tecnique. I've got a question related to the up strumming phase: do we need to "invert" the angle we used in the down phase?

[@bobdrider3769]

Amazing man..just too good i fixed all my mistakes and now my guitar sounds so good... 🙏

[@first_fret]

Awesome to hear that, thanks!

[@testRobot_overlord]

Thank you so much! This video is absolute gold. I was seriously stuck with my strumming technique and despised the pick, after watching this the difference is like night and day

[@teachoc9482]

It seemed like a computer generated voice that didn't match the video, at first, but then I realized it was really good info, and the demo was showing exactly what was needed. I am just learning, and this was a great instructional video for me.

[@Tyty-zp3ip]

I'm surprised this video doesn't have more views, this helped me so much Thanks dude

[@first_fret]

Thank you, was glad to help!

[@josevillanueva9705]

The best tip I can give it to listen to all styles of music, and feel what the musician is making you feel. Then just put that into your music when you play your instrument. Your heart and your emotions and will guide your music. All of the musical tips won't make you play music you can feel. The more you think of how to play something, the less you'll actually play something. You play how you feel. Cheers and merry playing!

[@first_fret]

Totally agree

[@stevie-ray2020]

Thank you as I've recently picked up my guitar after many years break (my work made my hands & arms very sore, then became quite unwell with a chronic illness, & back problems), but now after several spinal operations at least I'm functioning better despite not being well enough to work. Although I wasn't angling my pick quite enough, I struggled with keeping time as I was making the mistake of pausing my strokes, plus I'm also guilty of dragging rather than strumming as you've shown! Actually found very early on that strumming with my elbow was awfully tiring, especially with my larger flat-top. One thing that has helped my timing has been playing around on a 2008 Yamaha MM6 I purchased several years ago. It's a keyboard with basic synthesizer controls, but the same processor & voices as their more complex Motif-Series. As a young teenager 50yrs ago I began learning the piano but struggled with my smaller hands on a piano gifted to my parents which wouldn't stay in tune due to what was eventually found to be a cracked frame! One question though; How flexible a pick/plectrum should I use?

[@first_fret]

Hey there. Glad to know that you found this video helpful and you're feeling better. Really apprecite your comment Regarding your question, i like using thick 0,96mm - 1mm picks for bigger sound and louder bass notes. However, thin flexible pick may be really useful if your acoustic guitar is not the main instrument in the mix and you just want to play supporting background strumming.

[@junmonijunmo1139]

This lesson for me thnk God for bringing me here ,i was praying nd feel cry how to nd from where to learn this string plying ,i can recognize that something is not gud in my string playd so God Shown me this video thank you very much ur the bested sensible teacher 😊 we love yoy❤❤❤

[@roseklassenlewetz5125]

The history of Epiphone is very fascinating. Justin, you do a great job of explaining the differences between the guitars.

[@danboronico3011]

Great tips. Thank you

[@first_fret]

My pleasure!

[@lesliechow1974]

I played guitar for 15 years before I made myself learn to strum, I naturally started doing number 4 thinking I was crazy for moving my hand so much, and you're right I was using it as a pseudo metronome

[@first_fret]

Yea, thats the way to do it

[@varunkamal91]

Very good beginner lesson. Helpful!

[@first_fret]

I'm glad you found it helpful!

[@charlesmartin9592]

I appreciate the teaching. My first teacher was the lead guitarist of a famous rock band who stated the left thumb in this case over the fret board was incorrect technique.

[@rebeccaabraham8652]

I’m glad you specified that #5 isn’t actually wrong - in some cases it’s actually part of the desired sound!

[@first_fret]

For all that it works when you do it just sometimes but not every strumm 😀

[@aysantalezadeh1706]

How do you keep that guitar shining and clean like that??? Repaect man

[@first_fret]

Actually my wife made me clean it before recording this video, so all props to her!

[@chrisspinella]

Amazing video. This helped tons. Any chance you might do a finger picking lesson in the near future? You explain things so well

[@first_fret]

Thank you! I did a couple of fingerpicking lessons on this channel alrdy, but will definetely do more

[@leonardyokiel5038]

Great video. I've been playing rhythm guitar, and the string picking should improve after seeing this. THX and blessings. As I play for church and write my own stuff too

[@i-deni-i5138]

I just bought myself a guitar a few days ago as I'm starting to learn how to play, and this video totally showed me my mistakes I made while strumming. The single notes sound good, but when I strum the chords it just sounds so awful as if every note sounds the same. Thank you!

[@TheRealxVincent]

I'm not sure if it was mentioned in the video, but a thinner pick (like .6-.8mm) works much better for acoustic playing and strumming chords. Thicker picks work best for soloing and fast playing.

[@TaylorOBrien]

So helpful!! 🎸 ♥️

[@danielb5081]

To start with you have some great points and very well explained and demonstrated. I think that you using the word "throw" (11:42) when referring to the attacking the strings is a great way to explain it. I am 65 and have been playing guitar since I was 10 or so. I have NEVER been impressed with my own rhythm guitar playing till about 10 years ago when I took a serious look at it and analyzed what I was and was not doing properly. So all through this ongoing endeavor I figured out the problems you have covered here (and a few more). Now I do feel very comfortable with most of the songs I play. However I am still not impressed with my rhythm playing in songs with more complex rhythm guitar strumming. For example Ted Nugent's rhythm guitar part in Journey to the Center of Your Mind. With complex rhythms like that I struggle with keeping my right hand loose enough to strum the complex rhythms freely along with my fingers just tight enough to hold the pick. BTW, I hold the pick differently for chords vs. single note soloing which adds manipulating the pick back and forth to the mix. As Arthritis begins to overtake my hands (not to mention punching Makiwara boards in karate training for ~50 years) along with advancing carpal tunnel numbing out my left hand after about a half hour; it makes thing substantially more difficult. Muscle memory helps keep things on track when my left hand starts getting numb. However if I never played properly enough to program the correct technique then I can’t rely on muscle memory. I had carpal tunnel surgery on my right hand about ten years ago and it took about a year for the numbness to go away from my right hand finger tips. The pain and numbness was gone from my palm, wrist and knuckles but my fingers especially the tips that were NOT numb pre-surgery were numb 100% of the time till it slowly diminished over the following year. My sex life was nearly ruined for a few months . . . LOL. (think about that last line if you don’t see the humor at first) I won’t even start to get into how much of all of the left hand technique there is involved that helped me to drastically improve my rhythm guitar playing. However the one simple single thing is when I discovered how light a finger pressure I could get away with on my left hand chording and soloing for that matter. When I was a kid there were no ‘cheap’ or inexpensive guitars that had low enough string action (height) so that I wouldn’t need a left hand death grip while chording (or soloing for that matter). My first few guitars had the string height at ~.040 at the first fret. Add to that for me that tight left hand grip made me do the same thing with my right hand (and wrist). Hell I thought all guitars were like that until I played the first well-made Japanese Epiphone Strat clone I bought when I was around 17. I immediately took it to a local guitar shop to have it setup properly and customized a bit (a new nut, Leo Quan Baddass bridge and Pyramid pups). Now you can buy a new cheap well (enough) made imported guitar for a ~$100 that has low enough action (and a straight neck) and is very playable. Now it’s time for me to start ramble on with some less relevant (to the main subject) information, musings and reminiscing as old people are known to do . . . Hell, now there is KZbin and you can learn ANYTHING guitar relate vs. slowing down a 45 RPM record to 33 1/3rd or lower by putting your finger on the edge of the record to painstakingly figure out guitar solos. Until vinyl came back over the last few years for the current generation a whole previous generation didn’t even know what a record was. Personally I still have my old Technic turntable and about 500 (well cared for) LPs & 45s but I seldom play them as a USB thumb drive with hundreds of MP3s in my car stereo is the way to go. I still have some cassettes (and used to have 8 tracks) but tapes just degrade over time no matter how well you take care of them. Eight tracks (4 stereo tracks) were just crap from the beginning because of cross talk and tapes that just couldn’t play steady at the correct speed. I also got a two track machine and two 2 track tapes (Beatles HELP was one) to go with it for Christmas when I was about 14. Two tracks were a cross between cassettes (two tracks on the tape (stereo)) and 8 track style case but much smaller. The problem with 2 tracks along with being ‘self-degrading’ tape was they couldn’t fit a whole album so you ended up with only about 2/3 of the original number of songs on the album (what a fxxking ripoff). Not to mention that there was very little material out on these stupid 2 tracks and hardly any record shops sold them. Talk about planned obsolescence; 2 tracks were obsolete soon as they came out. I think the biggest reason for cassettes and 8 track was the ability to listen to albums (or anything other than commercial radio) in your car. And if you had a collection of 8 tracks and/or cassettes you might as well get a player for your home stereo and suffer the low quality in your home too. I should mention that back in the late 60s and early 70s FM stations were really great. Some of the FM disc jockeys in the Detroit area would play whole sides of albums before apologizing for having to do a commercial. . . . then FM went totally ‘commercial’ and everything went to hell. Just like Stevie Ray Vaughn saved us from disco music in the 80s; CDs saved us from cassette players in the cars in the 90s and they sounded great in the home too. Please please don’t any ‘vinyl nazies’ try to school me on superiority of vinyl over CDs or (high bit rate) MP3s. If you do first learn about the concept of dynamic range related to the ability to handle very large difference in low volume vs. high volume passages in any piece of music (especially classical music). LPs can’t even come close to the dynamic range of digitized music. PERIOD. Granted vinyl does sound 'warmer' and I still love my LPs. However about 99% of people would not be able to tell the difference between a high bit rate digital playback vs the best produced vinyl record in a blind test (unless they listened to classical music with very quiet and very loud parts). I am including a lot of the ‘audiophiles’ with speced out vacuum tube pre-amps and power-amps and the whole lot of gear that goes with it. That is an argument for another day. BTW back in the 80s and 90s as an electronic tech I used to spec out pre-amps for true audiophile customers. They loved my work and paid very well for it. Most of the vinyl nazies that I know don't even know what a vacuum tube pre-amp is let alone what the term 'spec out' means. It means replacing all of the resistors, capacitors with (tested) 1% tolerance of specified value along with using matched tubes that also meet the specified ('spec'd') values and frequency 'curves' etc. etc. etc. Similar to 'blue printing' an engine if you are a mechanic. So I wouldn’t be coming to the debate without any ammunition. Unfortunately at 65 after sitting front row at too many LOUD ass concerts my hearing is going so I no longer really give a shit about most of that anyway. I can’t believe I wasted all of this time writing and partially editing (till I realized the time) a comment in a youtube . . . I should have spent the time working on my chord strumming. LOL

[@nedcramdon1306]

I don't get out very much either!😛

[@Elvis-dw7ux]

Holy 905...LOL

[@andrewstirling6457]

I have a Fender CD60-CSE 6 string electro acoustic and a new Fender villager 12 string acoustic. I am just getting used to the 12 string as I had never played one before. I strum with my fingers most of the time and know how easy it is to miss a string sometimes even though I've been playing for years Just beginning to get the hang of it managed to play Bellyache by Billie eilish all the way through without any buzzing or missing notes sounds great on it. Anyway I enjoyed the video and will learn from it thanks😍😍🥰🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@XenFPV]

Hey we're guitar twins! 🤜

[@daljbining1049]

I'm a beginner and came across your video Brilliant, thankyou I am doing all these wrong ways so am now going to learn the right way I recorded myself playing last night it sounded bad, now I know why 🙏🏽

[@philmccrevis4493]

Excellent tutorial very well explained! I didn't pick-up on Mistake #5 because I thought you were doing that style on purpose....kinda like a House of the Rising Sun feel. When you explained it, it made sense.

[@first_fret]

Thank you, glad this video helped

[@xall5289]

This is how you shouldn't play "proceed to play better than me"

[@dJBlacklabelNH]

😂 same

[@OoSpellheartOo]

😂 yes ... Same

[@MaloneHazell]

Fr

[@jasonwhite2050]

Same. Lol

[@chummarkrony9777]

😂😂😂so true

[@robh9352]

This is really good content - concise and organized with good examples. I’m definitely gonna follow you. Thank you. Btw, You also remind me of my favorite Grandmaster Chess player, Alex Yermolinski. Keep up the great work!

[@first_fret]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it

[@CATNAPPERBAND]

I’ve been playing for 3 years and caught me high E and b strings far to much , I’ve just learned that I was holding my plec wrong after watching this , this has completely fixed my issue 🎉❤

[@jezreel9866]

Wowwwwww. Thank you so much. I’ve had a guitar all my life and have always been frustrated to the point of putting the guitar up, because of mistake #1. I have never had the strumming by the wrist explained to me. Great lesson.

[@glennsprigg2378]

Hi... First time I've seen your channel, and you explain things well !! (I've been playing for many years). I agree with the vast majority of what you were saying & demonstrating. I for one, DON'T 'always' keep my wrist/elbow moving (like a metronome!), even when not hitting strings, though. I understand why you are saying that, but sometimes, (to get away from being too 'robotic'), I will sometimes go so far as to be deliberately 'fractionally' out of 'rhythmic' sync, depending on the 'mood', and to add certain feelings ?? Also, (you didn't mention this, as it aimed at beginners), for example playing say 2 beats to the Bar, and Strumming in 'Syncopation'... but you are only putting 'emphasis' on the 2nd (last) beat in the bar. Hence, it is Chopped, and seems like it's out of sync!! ?? All I'm saying, is that there are often cross-variations to the desired sound. Keep up the great work here!! v Glenn.

[@first_fret]

Thank you for your comment! And yes, i agree with what youre saying, but i think that you should pay attention to these things only when you're comfortable with basic stuff

[@first_fret]

And what mistake were you making for a long time but did not notice?

[@victoriuhh4563]

The only real mistake I made for a long time was the angle of the pic. In fact, I probably would play like that to this day if not for giving up the pic and just using my nails. I've found it much easier to strum out "groovy" rhythms that way.

[@user-xx6lo5yz7y]

Great video, it helps a-lot. I’m just starting my journey, working on chords. One very helpful thing I picked up watching is how on a C chord you have your thumb mute the E string. I struggle with the 5 string chords and this may be the pearl that will help me.

[@JohnDoeJohnboy]

Thanks I'm no beginner I'm intermediate n noticed things reversed from when I started decades ago, my right strumming hand was stronger or seemed so n fret hand didn't know much. Now it's the opposite my knowledge n playing fretboard is fine now my strumming hand is weak thanks I needed something this👍 also I tend to strumming better without a pick 😮

[@barrypotter5751]

I've been playing for thirty years there's no right way or wrong every guitarist has their own style

[@first_fret]

Well, i showed the obvious downsides of "wrong" techniques, but If someone still enjoys playing that way or can figure it out - who am i to judge?

[@JM-5150]

@@first_fret then why make a video. Eddie Van Halen did everything you said was wrong. There are no rules.

[@bricehatcher8391]

@@JM-5150 with your logic why have a teacher? Eddie van Halen was a trailblazer and a prodigy of sorts. The average person playing guitar should learn good technique.

[@johanjof5613]

I always find very odd, when I see videos of people trying to teach THE right way of using a pick. Please, stop spreading misconception. There is NO right way to use a pick. This is easily proved by the fact that there are so many different pick use from numerous famous guitarists. On my side, I am a professional recording studio guitarist, and I do not use my pick and wrist and arm like you do at all, it does not prevent me from being hired by artists for their records. Please stop. The way to use a pick for each of us depends on our body, just play how you feel comfortable with, period.

[@abhishekjain6452]

Odd question. But I don't position the pick in a way that has the pointy end hitting the strings. I tuck the pointy end between the index and thumb and face the rounded corner towards the string. I just find that to be comfortable. I have only started learning playing guitar past 2 months and I don't know if it's wrong to do that. Any advice here will be appreciated.

[@charliemason4480]

@@abhishekjain6452Many professionals hold the pick the way you do.

[@scottsuvoski9574]

Totally agree. It's a totally personal decision.l up pick, had a jazz teacher try to break me out of it, couldn't do it! Then I watched Carlos Santana in a video upicking! I rest my case.

[@F20ization]

​@@scottsuvoski9574 I think it depends of music genre that you play

[@osricen]

Dude, thanks for this. KZbin videos ended up confusing me more than helping. I have a question, please: when I hard strum with my thumb, my strings tend to buzz too much. Any advice? Strumming with my thumb allows me to strum lightly for my voice to not be lost behind the guitar sound when singing softly, but then BOOM, I strum hard for those screaming parts and buzzzzz... My action is high already. Maybe I'm strumming the wrong way?

[@kevinbirmingham8629]

It takes him nearly two minutes to finally get to the point because he spends too much repeating himself. Skip ahead to 1:47