Strumming With Your THUMB

[@tort1569]

Great video! I'm still a beginner at playing the guitar and I find that strumming with my thumb sounds better and is more comfortable than with a pick, so this video really helped me

[@johnj.flanagan-hymnsoffaith]

Yes, I am with the thumb strummers by choice, but there are so many great guitarists who are superb at strumming with picks, and I guess some can do it well either with or without the pick.

[@TomasMichaud]

Well said John!

[@lesteubes-r1t]

Thank you so much. I’ve been learning for a year on an electric guitar, either unplugged or through a headphone amp. My family bought me a great Taylor mini GS kona (parlour size) for my birthday but it is way too loud with a pick. You have saved the day for all of us, plus I get to learn some new techniques. Cliff

[@tgl030]

Great video, I found using my thumb to be my best method at strumming. Glad to know it is a method and not just my madness. Lol

[@TomasMichaud]

I actually use my thumb and finger more than I use the pick. I still use the pick for playing lead (melody).

[@nancyposluszny6504]

I’m thinking of buying a parlor Guitar for playing country and folk music, just for my own enjoyment and a new retirement hobby. I found your video inspirational!

[@HealingQueen]

Excellent video ! Thank you for making this so clear and easy

[@SpaceMike3]

This is one of the most helpful strumming guides. Thank you

[@iZno85]

Thanks for the great content Tomas. Good to see content about something I've been struggling with for a while, strumming without a pick. Still getting my thumb "hitting" the first string, need more practice :)

[@TomasMichaud]

Happy to help!

[@sunnygal]

This changed the whole experience for me! Thank you so much, this video was very helpful and fun to play along with. :)

[@TomasMichaud]

You're so welcome Kenz!

[@benjamming5090_SlimJimJamming]

Hi from the uk ive been learning for last 8 month's with a pick n cant get used to it and nearly gave up but seeing this video has been really usefull and prefering the sound aswell,good and helpfull video nice one mate👍🏻

[@xdeadyoungx]

Im learning guitar and I find down strumming with my thumb far more easy than using a pick. I don't like up strumming either, im afraid im going to create bad habits early on

[@unofficialmate6805]

I agree the thumb is the best pick! It came naturally when I began playing guitar!

[@TomasMichaud]

Cool!

[@jackhache3]

thank you for this extremely helpful and high vibrational video! 💙

[@TomasMichaud]

You're so welcome!

[@24126RAYW]

Thanks for really useful, easy tutorial. Sounds good!

[@praveensharma3983]

excellent sir need fngerstyle strumming tips with bollywood songs if possible. or basics for that.

[@TomasMichaud]

Sorry. I don't know any Bollywood songs. I've only heard Bollywood when I watch Indian movie. It sounds like fun. Of course the dancing makes it exciting. But I haven't noticed guitar in the tracks.

[@laurensarg4727]

I love thumb strumming- that's how i learned, Does anyone get pain in the side of there thumb running down to the fatty part of the palm though? I ran into this after a few months of learning. And still can't figure it out.

[@waygone6657]

Interesting, this how I strum most of the time. I have a palsy in my right hand that restricts holding a pick. I do use a pick on some slow chord melodies but if I relax and just have fun and strum it is just my thumb 😊

[@TomasMichaud]

Interesting!

[@OldC00T]

Thank you. I subscribed today 😀

[@lucag3052]

Thank you so much your helping me a lot

[@TomasMichaud]

No problem!

[@phillipholt6005]

I use a flat thumb pick and I use down strumming to keep from using fretboard methods and use walk up and down for my melody! Does that make sense?

[@dederef1410]

Thank you so much! I learned a lot from You !

[@TomasMichaud]

You are so welcome Dede!

[@ChrisZemdegs]

Thanks!

[@TomasMichaud]

You bet!

[@4tun1]

I love thumb strumming because I play classical guitars. (I don't play classical music on them, they're just my preference.) I love the soft sound of nylon strings, and thumb strumming goes perfectly with that. But I've gotten a LOT of flack and grief from guitarists who try to tell me not to thumb strum. One of them was a guy who wrote a guitar book for the Dummies books, which I generally like. We got into an email battle when I told him I thumb strum. He said thumb strumming sounds terrible. I shot back "Would you have told Wes Montgomery that?" He shut up and I never heard from him again.😆

[@TomasMichaud]

Hah... got it.

[@lordeder9148]

Hey, I have started to play a song in my guitar but I realized that if I do the strumming with my thumb it becomes way smoother The thing is that the technique is way harder than I tought and when I Strumm I sometimes either miss some strings or i play some of them way to louder Any tip to improve the up down up down strumming beyond practicing? Thanks.

[@TomasMichaud]

Yes Lord Eder... It helps to watch more videos and if you can find a good teacher take lessons. Then... MORE practicing 😉

[@lordeder9148]

@@TomasMichaud Thanks!!! I appreciate that you answer the comments this late :)

[@XxGeorgewithaGxX]

Love this - I much prefer using my thumb 👍

[@TomasMichaud]

The thumb is cool :)

[@rightyryuu1045]

Thank god I found this video. I was struggling strumming with my thumb 😅

[@TomasMichaud]

Thanks for commenting, Righty Ryuu. Glad I could help.

[@warriorofnation2527]

Great one sir have learnt a lot from you ❤️🇳🇵

[@TomasMichaud]

Thanks, Warrior of Nation. I appreciate it.

[@louissmith4218]

Really neat

[@RishabhYadav-o6w]

Thanks

[@TomasMichaud]

Welcome

[@TomasMichaud]

Welcome

[@RevArunprakash78]

♥️

[@Mahzf]

Nice video, I wonder why do they all use that funny hat

[@sharwyn8696]

😎

[@TomasMichaud]

Thanks Sharwyn!

[@jmacsfuzzbunny]

"Down with the flesh and up with the nail" sounds like what a Roman soldier might've said as he was crucifying Jesus 😅 Violently Catholic jokes aside though, do you need a callus on your thumb to strum with it regularly? I tried it once, playing for 45 minutes and the next day I'd developed a blister 😥

[@TomasMichaud]

My thumb doesn't have a callous. Probably something you want to do a little at a time. I think you OD'd that once

[@oneein9183]

I just injured my thumb after playing for hours. This technique bad.