To play a guitar chord, you need to strum multiple strings at the same time. However, to play some guitar chords, like D and C, you have to avoid playing certain strings. Because of this, some chords are easier to play than others. In addition to not playing all strings, you need t...
As a beginner, it’s always a good idea to try to experiment with thumb and index finger strumming. The thumb offers a warmer, more mellow tone and is easier to strum with when you are learning chords for songs. The index finger is usually a bit easier to control—for example, I almo...
There are some other things to be mindful of, such as which strings you’re strumming (i.e. you won’t always be strumming all six strings depending on the chords you’re using) or techniques you can use in connection with strumming, such as palm muting. But aside from that, it’s ...
and if you don’t know any chords yet, that’s okay. You can just mute the strings. Hold the pick in your hand with your preferred grip at the angle you prefer, and remember the analogy to use your wrist. Strum downwards through all six strings using downstrokes. Keep trying this ove...
Strum all six strings. Sorry to say, but there's just no escaping the barre chord version. Barre chords can be intimidating at first but once you've mastered them they are quite handy because of their movability. It never hurts to learn how to play the same chord in different ways. Th...
When played by itself, the A minor chord has a downbeat tone. It’s no surprise the chord finds its way into songs with an introspective edge. However, the Am chord also appears in some up-tempo songs, serving as an edgy contrast to major chords. Here are some examples: ...
This is an aimless, deliberately dreamy Barrett-inspired sequence. Strum the first four chords, giving each one bar. Then play another bar of B minor followed by a bar of A minor and two bars of G, making eight bars altogether. You could also add a little spice by shifting to the D ...
To play a clean D chord on the guitar, you need to be able to play the chord without any unwanted strings. If you find it difficult to avoid playing the two lowest strings (i.e., the E and A strings), there are some things you can try. Many guitarists prefer to strum chords wit...
Before you strum you need to make sure that the fleshy part of your palm is resting on the strings, lightly touching them. This means that you’ll need to get your hand in position just before you strum. Once your palm is in place you then strum as normal with your index finger. The...
How to properly tune, hold, and strum your ukulele The most essential "must-know" ukulele chords How to play 3 extremely versatile strumming patterns How to play "I've Been Working On the Railroad" To get a free copy of the digital lesson book delivered to your inbox, enter your email ...