Grateful Dead Music Forum

Hey im new here and ive only been playing guitar since mid feb and my main problem is figuring out rhythms I don't really struggle with playing the chords at all but just figuring out how the rhythms are any advice or websites that maybe helpful?

Guitar is always two part - left hand right hand.

Fortunately, there are websites dedicated for the fretting hand.

Sadly, I cannot think of any way to teach strumming in a written form.

Search and you'll find up stroke, down stroke and some people have used standard musical time notation but IMO you need to pick a song and practice right with the recording and just keep doing it and never give up.

Smoke a 'J' and play along with Jonny Cash

Hey all, I'm new to this site(my first post).
My suggestion is watch as many guitar players as you can. Check out DVDs. Jerry(check out the Shorline DVD) and Bobby both demonstrate unique styles of strumming...that's my 2 cents.

experiment

record yourself improvising and listen to what sounds cool to you afterward

add fills bass runs and pick out notes of the chords, add some arpeggios...

basicaly just do anything, youll come up with cool stuff...listen to bobby for inspiration

Listen, and play at the same time, then try to play it without the music

rhythem is still a pain for me, i found it easyier to listen and then repeat. watching never really helped for rythem

one thing you may want to try is making up a simple rythem and swich chords while trying to keep up that rythem, and then switch the rhythem up a lil, and keep makeing it more and more complex

Learning time is the first way to go, even something silly like learning to tap your foot in time whilst playing. Learn to keep the beat ticking over in your head till it becomes second nature. I'd really get those down first then worry about different strumming styles later.

when I began and still nowadays I find it somewhat easier to come up with unique, not down up down up strumming, by not using a pick, and just using my hand. the way I do it is down with my finger nails (non thumb) and up with my thumbnail. i find it easy to be more bobbyish that way.

My rhythm skills were forced to improve dramaticly when I started playing with other people. The thing about playing by yourself is that you can get away with rhythm mistakes and adjust with your vocals ect. However when you play with a group your rhythmic goof can lead to a full on train wreck. So you learn to focus on it a little more. Also having a good drummer with you helps.

Prospector wrote:when I began and still nowadays I find it somewhat easier to come up with unique, not down up down up strumming, by not using a pick, and just using my hand. the way I do it is down with my finger nails (non thumb) and up with my thumbnail. i find it easy to be more bobbyish that way.

I still feel more comfortable with out a pick, My playing is sloppier when i use one

Prospector wrote:the way I do it is down with my finger nails (non thumb) and up with my thumbnail.

This is exactly opposite of how I do it.

I wear a modified Herco thumbpick which is shaped like a regular pick and wraps around the thumb. Makes the transition to fingerpicking very easy.

mutant_dan wrote:

Prospector wrote:the way I do it is down with my finger nails (non thumb) and up with my thumbnail.

This is exactly opposite of how I do it.

I wear a modified Herco thumbpick which is shaped like a regular pick and wraps around the thumb. Makes the transition to fingerpicking very easy.

morale of the story, there isn't 1 or 2 or even 10 ways to strum. just pick out a rhythm that matches what a recording is doing and start there, with time and confidence your right wrist will loosen up and you will be fine.

My biggest problem is I always want to strum to the main melody/whats being sung. Sometimes thats the right thing to do but most of the time there's a repeating pattern going on that stays the same regardless of what's being sung. I find it very difficult to break out of this habit. Any suggestions?

There is a reason that Jerry, Trey, Dave Gilmour, Hendrix, and so many more guitarists are so good. It has to do with how much time they spent playing their guitars. Practicing. Actually working on improving. Listening. Excercisisng. Running Scales, Not getting frustrated. And enjoying the journey.

Just keep at it. The best advice I was ever given was "Just Play".