Learn to Play the Guitar

If one is learning how to play the guitar, the basic 4/4 strumming technique is one of the first guitar playing techniques that he must be able to master. This is also usually used by beginners to hone their guitar skills and basically feel the instrument.

In learning the basic 4/4 guitar strumming, one must be knowledgeable with the different basic requirements for guitar playing:

Strokes

Guitar strumming is basically composed of two different strokes: the downward stroke and the upward stroke.

The downward stroke is done by drawing the picking hand (usually, this is the right hand) from the uppermost string down to the other side. The upward stroke is the opposite of the downward stroke.

Finger placing

In reading guitar instructional materials, the fingers are usually assigned with numbers. The left-hand fingers are numbered from 1 to 4. The index finger is numbered as 1, the middle finger is numbered as 2, the ring finger is number 3 and the little finger is 4. This numbering is important to remember because tablatures it guides a beginner how to form chords by placing the fingers right on the fret board.

The fingers of the left hand are supposed to be placed near the succeeding fret bar. This is to ensure that one gets quality sounding vibration from the strings. One must not also stress his fingers when pressing the frets.

4/4

If one is playing the guitar by reading notes, he can refer to the beat indicated near the clef sign to know if the song should be played with a 4/4 beat. It is what one would call the time signature. The time signature looks like a fraction when written in musical notation, the upper number tells one how many beats there are in one measure and the bottom number indicates what kind of note will receive one beat.

D-A-G-A

In learning the basic 4/4 guitar strumming, one can employ the different chord families in practicing. One of the most popular chord patterns which can be used in practicing this particular technique is the D-A-G-A chord pattern. It’s very popular because the chord patterns are easy to remember and very easy to do.

One must first memorize the placement of the fingers in the fret board to be able to do the chords. This can take some time but beginners should be patient. Learning the guitar takes time and dedication and cannot be done overnight.

When one is able to master the chords, he should practice doing the chords one after the other, and this is where the 4/4 strumming comes in. In strumming the guitar on a 4/4 rhythm, one is advised to count 1-2-3-4 repeatedly for each chord and shift to the next chord as he repeats the count. One can do downward strokes for each chord when he begins, he can then practice strumming the chords upwards and then downward-upwards.

A beginner will almost always find out that the left hand is left out when practicing strumming. This is due to the fact that the fingers are still adjusting to do the chords properly. It will take time and a lot of practice to do the 4/4 strumming technique but it will be worth it.

When the left hand is being left out, one must not stop the right hand and wait for the left hand to form the chord patterns. He must be consistent in his counting and strumming. This is to prevent the right hand to become slower and will train the left hand to be faster in forming the chord patterns.

When one can comfortable do the 4/4 strumming technique on the D-A-G-A chord pattern, he can then shift into doing other chord patterns such as C-Em-F-G or G-C-F-G. One can also opt to learn the different chords and familiarize his fingers in forming them. However, learning the chords and the strumming should be done simultaneously. This will allow one to be able to learn at a much faster rate and understand the mechanics behind playing the guitar.

One must remember that the guitar is an instrument of passion. One cannot be a guitar expert in one night. There are many things that one must learn about the guitar to truly appreciate the beauty of the instrument.

Next post - we’ll take on 3/4 rhythm strum.

Learning how to strum is one of the most basic steps in guitar playing. After a beginner learns how to do the basic 4/4 strumming, he can then move on into learning the ¾ strumming technique.

If one wants to play a 3/4 song using a guitar, he must first know what 3/4 means. 4/4, 3/4, 2/4 are what musicians call time signatures. In musical notation, the time signatures are usually placed right beside the clef sign. The upper number or the numerator indicates the number of beats per measure, the lower number or the denominator indicates what kind of note will receive one beat.

3/4Chord pattern

In playing a 3/4 guitar riff, one has to count 1-2-3 and use this count as a guide in strumming the guitar. In practicing the 3/4 guitar strumming, one can use the chord pattern: D- A7- G.

This is a variation of the 4/4 chord pattern D-A-G-A. Again, this pattern is recommended because of the playability of the chords. This allows the player to be able to concentrate on strumming and chord formation simultaneously without prioritizing one above the other.

The strokes in practicing the 3/4 strumming pattern can be varied, depending on the player’s preferences. He can practice the pattern using only downward strokes, or upwards strokes. He can then use both alternately to get the feel of the guitar.

The traditional song “Down in the Valley” can be used by beginners to be able to practice strumming the guitar on a 3/4 time measure. Another song which can also be used in 3/4 strumming is the song “Time is on my Side” by Jerry Ragovoy.
Chord Shifting

One of the most important thing that a beginner must learn in 4/4 strumming is chord shifting. This becomes an even harder thing to do in 3/4 strumming but it is not impossible to learn. It just takes time and patience. Don’t let frustration get into the learning process.

Let’s go back and review some of the important basic things one has to know in guitar strumming.

Playing position

When a beginner first holds the guitar and tries out some chords, he usually does these things in awkward looking positions. This is acceptable because beginners will always look at the fretboard; put their heads closer to the left hand, etc. But when one wants to get serious about learning further things about guitar playing, he needs to be able to play the instrument in the right position.

Here are some few tips on how to play the guitar in the right position:

-position the body, legs and arms in such a way that tension is avoided
-if tension is present, reassess the playing position
-tilt the neck of the guitar upwards and never tilt it downwards
-keep the body of the guitar as vertical as possible
-avoid slanting the top of the guitar so that you an see better

Holding the pick

If one is using a pick to strum the guitar strings, he must hold the pick in such a way that the hand is stress-free. One should not hold it too tight nor too loose. The pick should have good contact with the strings but this should be done in a moderate way.

Reading tablatures

When one is comfortable with playing some chords and chord patterns, he can then shift into reading guitar tablatures. Tablatures or tabs are great tools in learning how to play the guitar. They translate the musical notation into readable symbols that reflect the way how to play a musical piece using a guitar. The lines that are in guitar tabs represent the strings of the guitar. If one is to place the guitar adjacent to the tabs, he can see what this is all about. The numbers in the lines represent the fret number which is to be pressed by the player. This is basically all one has to know to be able to start reading tabs. Tabs, however, are comprised of symbols and signs other than lines and numbers. More advanced tabs also indicate the type of plucking or string bending technique that should be used for striking each note.

Learning how to play the guitar is an arduous process, but it’s also fun. One must take it step-by-step and should not rush in learning more techniques if he still can’t master the preceding technique. Have fun!

How to Get Going..

The reason why most people who try to play the guitar are not up to snuff is that they give up too easily. The problem with these people is that they tend to think that there is something wrong with them and that is why they simply cannot get the strings sound right.

In reality, falling short in learning to play the guitar is not based on the capability of the person but more on the kind of style he is using. So to speak, if he is trapped in a certain level of progress in guitar playing, it should likewise be blamed on the person but on the kind of approach that he used.

Hence, when things like these happen, the only way to get going is to change the style, and there will be remarkable results.

In fact, 8 out of the 10 people who were asked what made them continue learning to play the guitar, they answered that it was because they have used a wonderful technique that some people just take for granted. This approach is known as “feeling the beat.”

In fact, people who are considered as experts in playing the guitar insist that the only distinction that sets a good guitarist from a distinguished guitarist is based on how they apply the approach “feel the beat” to their tune using their instrument.

The basic argument here is that trying to get things going by simply feeling the beat while you play the guitar will absolutely change your style of learning and playing the guitar. This is because when people try to feel the beat as they play the instrument, they get to internalize the pulse of the music as it flows from the strings out to the audience.

This is probably the same reason why some people insist that music is the language of the soul. That is basically the main idea of using this kind of approach.

In fact, music experts assert that it is how the great composers and singers stand out from the rest. When musicians learn to feel the beat, they tend to put the notes into their system, letting every tone flow along with the beat of their heart.

Therefore, the question now is on how you start feeling the beat. Here are some tips to get it going:

1. Internalize the beat

When you want to learn how to play the guitar, it is best that you get your emotions ready. Try to feel the beat by listening to the music and bridge some connections between your feelings and the music.

The very core of this approach is to feel the beat of the music flowing into your system.

Once you get the beat connected to your system, take hold of your guitar, and start hitting those strings. Try not to play some song that you already know. The idea is to release the feeling and let the notes flow with what you feel.

2. Play by the ear

As soon as you learn how to feel the beat, you can already start playing by the ear. This is when you can easily play the song on your guitar just by listening to it over and over again.

In fact, historical reports show that some great musicians learn to play the instrument by using this kind of approach. This is because once they start to sense the pulse of the song; they gradually pluck the notes and begin to play the song as they continue to play.

Moreover, most of the people who play the guitar and write songs do not simply use those tabs and musical sheets. They just try to fathom the song by “playing by ear.”

The bottom line is that learning to play the guitar does not have to be rigid and strict. That is why guitar playing is not specifically exclusive for the talented in music. The instrument is open for everyone, young and old, big and small, boy and girls.

The idea is to take some time to learn the instrument. Trying to feel the beat does not happen in a snap. You have to allot adequate time to start putting the notes into your system.

The truth is that people who failed to learn guitar playing simply lack the time to do all these things. There is no way to become an expert overnight. Keep trying, make certain you are having fun and before you know it the melodies will come!