117 - Fix Your Rhythm Playing Problems

House Keeping

• Office Hours: Wednesday 22nd Feb - 9 pm GMT / 4 pm est / 1 pm pst / 8 am Sydney

Main Content

1. Start counting
2. Tap your foot - internalise
3. Start by playing four beats per bar using down-strums
4. Divide the beat - different types of rhythms

• • Whole notes - Half notes - Quarter notes
  • Eighth notes
  • Rests
  • Tied Notes
  • Sixteenth Notes
  • Syncopated Notes
  • 3/4 & 6/8 time signatures
  • Triplets
  • Syncopated Sixteenth Notes
  • Dotted Notes

      5. Make it part of your practice routine

Three Technique Points

1. Pick size

   Use a thin pick - they are more flexible and easier to use! Thin picks are more forgiving in your early strumming practice!

   Keep loose - keeping your wrist nice and loose when you grip your pick tightly is tough. Holding your pick with a light grip allows it to glide over the strings effortlessly.

2. The angle of the pick

   If you hold your pick perpendicular to the ground, your strumming will sound too aggressive and awkward. You should angle the pick so the tip points toward your chest on down strums and toward your feet on up strums.

3. Strum from the wrist

   Many beginners think strumming is all in your elbow, but it’s not. If you move only your elbow and not your wrist, you’ll look and sound like a robot playing the guitar.

Episode Links

1. https://www.metronomeonline.com/
2. Pro metronome & Super Metronome
3. Korg Ma-2
4. The Seven Essential Guitar Skills Podcast Episode