The Ultimate Exercise For Strumming And Picking Chords

In this video, you learn the very best ways to master strumming and picking chords on guitar.
Many people struggle with fluency when playing chords on guitar whether strumming or picking them.
However, there is one particular approach that solves this issue, the problem is, that it feels wrong so many don’t do it.
In this lesson, I sit down with Beginner Guitar Specialist Maurice Richard to discuss and demonstrate the best exercises and drills for mastering strumming and picking on guitar.
The key is to maintain fluency at all costs.
Not to make sure you are forming your chords perfectly.
Sounds counter-intuitive, but it works great!
You also learn other drills and techniques for mastering the art of strumming and picking chords on guitar.
Learn how to seriously move the needle on your rhythm guitar playing with this free 5 Day Rhythm Guitar Mini-Course: acousticguitar...
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[@stuartarnold4495]

Good video and informative. Rhythm is the most important aspect so I’m told. Thanks Simon

[@acousticguitarlessons]

Thanks Stuart! Yes, without rhythm you are in trouble :)

[@michaelinnes992]

Early on one of my first teachers had me stand up with my strap on and play in front of a mirror. Kept your head up and made it easier to play without looking after the mirror was removed.

[@acousticguitarlessons]

Nice! :) Yes, not having to look at your hands for everything they do is important. Also important to hold the guitar correctly. Many sit with it on an angle so they can see what their hands are doing which is a big no no as it makes it much harder to play and increases tension etc.

[@hillers54]

Keep the strumming going - great advice 👌👌👌

[@acousticguitarlessons]

You are welcome Keith. Hope it helps :)

[@mason87104]

Keeping the rhythm steady is great advice, but I think you heged on that in the last few seconds when you argued for efficient picking that requires you thinking about the current note and the next note. Particularly when playing an unrehearsed pattern, such as in your Hotel California example, strict alternate picking can keep the rhythm going while mixing in single notes picks with multi-note strums. Yes the note definition will be sloppier, but this seems more in keeping with the theme of the video. So consider efficiency more when rehearsing picking patterns, but alternate picking is a good way to preserve the groove when improvising.

[@acousticguitarlessons]

Hi Jeff, Thanks for your input, it is much appreciated :) When working on anything, you need to approach it from several different angles, not just one. So when I talk about the continual motion exercise, this is important and beneficial, but alone it won't master the art of strumming and picking chords fluently and accurately on guitar. You also need to work on efficiency, which requires you to play free of time and very slowly. There are other things to do too, and the idea is you rotate through these approaches to master the thing you are working on. I break what I am talking about here down into detail in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWfCnWmNa6ihgKc So while the video covers the exercise for fluency, it also covers other techniques for developing great rhythm guitar skills. If I am misunderstanding what you are saying, do correct me :)

[@garrycollins1054]

Great advice Simon

[@acousticguitarlessons]

Glad you like the video Garry! :)

[@danbromberg]

Thanks for the tips. I'd like to see a video where you implement what you spoke about. For example, Phil Ochs (from way back in the folk era of the early 1960s) was a wonderful strummer and fortunately, there are some YT videos out there demonstrating his strum. I'd love to see an analysis of his style.

[@acousticguitarlessons]

Hi dan, I will check him out and see if I can create something around his style :)

[@danbromberg]

@@acousticguitarlessons That'd be great. I only mentioned Phil Ochs because of his driving rhythm on what I imagine to be basic first-position chords, but obviously, there are many other acoustic rhythm guitarists out there to choose from (Tony Rice, et al) so whoever you think appropriate as a model would be appreciatied. Thanks for your consideration, Simon.

[@lentas08]

Great beginner lesson, however tell people to watch Neil Young strumming, his hand never stops, even when his not fretting.

[@acousticguitarlessons]

@lentas08, you are welcome :) I will have to check out Neil Young's strumming :)