Strum Pattern Help Needed!!!

[21zoe21]

Hi,

Ive had a guitar for a few months now but havent been practising much because Im finding it difficult to pick out the strum patterns for songs! I can play half the world away(oasis), hey there delilah(plain white t's) and bits of other songs so I know Im not totally incompetant but I really am struggling! Im desperate to learn to play and Im hoping that if I can learn a few songs then it will be easier to pick up the strum patterns for others. To start with I want to learn 'stay' by lisa loeb,'dont look back in anger' by oasis so if anyone can hint at the strum patterns I would be grateful! Or free guitar lessons(I wish)!

P.S Sorry for being a total div head but us girls just cant help it!! LOL

Thanks

Zoe

[kennyjammin]

Don't beat yourself up, I felt exactly the same, it takes time and confidence. I find, rather than trying to copy the guitarist, I try to follow the drummer and just keep up with them. Do you need to be exactly the same as Lisa or Noel? Nah, steal their song and make it your own. If you're looking to be able to play a couple of songs for your mates then precision isn't necessary; what's the odds they'll know any different?

[lespaulgb]

Originally Posted by kennyjammin

Don't beat yourself up, I felt exactly the same, it takes time and confidence. I find, rather than trying to copy the guitarist, I try to follow the drummer and just keep up with them. Do you need to be exactly the same as Lisa or Noel? Nah, steal their song and make it your own. If you're looking to be able to play a couple of songs for your mates then precision isn't necessary; what's the odds they'll know any different?

I agree the best way to learn is to get stuck in and try. With a bit of practice you'll be strumming like a good 'un in no time

[ZombyWoof]

Strumming is like a bottle of whiskey. It improves over time.

Practice practice practice.
I'm going to be next to useless here and suggest you think of your right arm as a metronome. If your arm is moving in time with the song, then strumming is just deciding when your pick is going to brush the strings and when its going to miss.
Those who have come to me asking for help with strumming do not do this.
Mostly, it's down on the strong beats, up on the weak beats. Most of the time, you'll be hitting the downs and some of the ups.
I should stop there - I'm beginnign to confuse myself - I'd already convinced myself that strumming could not be taught, and here I am trying to teach it.

[tensity1]

Along the lines of ZombyWoof, ("think of your right arm as a metronome. If your arm is moving in time with the song, then strumming is just deciding when your pick is going to brush the strings and when its going to miss"), practice your 16th-note strumming. Get the arm going up and down without stopping, and hit the strings when needed. Don't stop if you mess up or don't get quite the rhythm you want--eventually it'll lock in. Doing this will allow you to get all kinds of rhythms and beats. Add in damped strings for percussive hits and accents, and you can get anything from floaty rhythms to syncopated funky-fried chord stabs and upbeats and everything in between. Relax and let the rhythm flow. If you're not used to this, it may take a few tries to get the hang of coaxing out the rhythm you want, but you should pick it up fairly quickly. Hope that helps.