How To Strum The Guitar - Beginner Guitar Lesson #7

Welcome to the seventh video in the Beginner Guitar Quick-Start Series. In this lesson Nate covers essential strumming hand techniques. He provides some guidance on how to find a comfortable grip for holding the pick, and then covers practical tips for staying loose and relaxed while you play the guitar.

Strumming is a foundational element of playing rhythm guitar. Not only will these tips help you establish a solid foundation for future playing, but they will also help you reduce the risk of injury or fatigue that can slow down your progress.

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[MusoraMedia]

Ready to level up your playing? Get personal coaching tips and structured lessons: enjoy your free 7-day trial to Guitareo!

[jeannegray]

Nate I am a 57 yr old grandmother and have always wanted to learn to play guitar.I just got my 1st for Christmas this year.Thankyou so much for providing these free lessons to someone like me on a tight income

[felicity]

Him:relax your wrist
Me: *drops pick inside guiatar*

[beaulester]

I was strumming about as stiff as the queens guards until I watched this video. The feather analogy helps. Thank you.

[vaporwavesoul]

I can't afford guitar lessons but I always had an itch to play one. I've finally got a guitar for myself and man, they're way beyond helpful. Thanks.

[ptgms]

I don’t know about anyone else but I think it sounds better when you use your finger and thumb. I would say it’s a richer and warmer sound.

[dimitris]

I am playing for about 7 months and you are the first person that actually learned me how to hold the pick and strum . Holding the pick natural with an angle as you said HELPED me allot . My pick is NOW not slipping thank you !!!!

[satya]

i am just a beginner. trually i dont know much about guitar. your guitar lessons are very helpful for me.

[RS-eelz]

hi.. I am from Syria and ur guitar lessons are very helpful to me.. thank you sooo much ☺☺

[Nghtly]

Ty, my stroke game just improved a lot

[jeannerushton]

I just wanted to thank you so, so much for sharing with us in a way that is so comfortable. I’m a gramma that has wanted to learn just the basics for years but never felt comfortable with the instructions until I came upon your site. It’s not because you aren’t charging. It’s because you are gentle and not rushing us through. I’ve started and stopped several times being so disappointed in myself for not being able to keep up. I don’t feel that way now and I thank you for that. Truly I do…

[adelaidefinch]

Thanks for posting these videos. Been in a bad depression for a long time. I usually draw, paint, sculpt, sing… but not so much anymore.

I have a desire to create art but can’t do it. I decided maybe to get back into geetar and it’s been so nice to get back into something and enjoying myself. Thank you for your help!

[nickwalther]

Thank you for this video! I literally didn't even know that you didn't hit all 6 strings on the upstroke... so much to learn!

[herozero]

Thanks for this video. My main problem is strumming & strumming patterns and really struggles to get good sound out when i use pick. I really need someones's help getting over these flaws.

[errr]

difficult to strum upstrokes....:(
having trouble..

[loneashstud]

This is super helpful I'm teaching myself guitar in quarantine and I recommend it, it's super fun and very relaxing :P

[vkpandey]

You are a very good teacher. I know nothing about Guitar other than that I can identify a Guitar by seeing it. And I have gone through your first six lessons in one go. Have my son's guitar lying in his room for last three years unused. I am going to take it out today and try my hands at it. Thank you.

[JoeDoe]

If I mute the strings while practicing strumming, I can't hear which strings I hit vs. which strings I avoided. So if I'm not holding down a chord, I just let the open strings ring and try to listen to which of the 6 notes sounded properly based on which strings I was trying to include. I hope that sounds like a proper strategy.

[johnstewart]

I love this series! Thank you. I'm 65 years old and a raw beginner. I'm practicing with a thumb pick, any thoughts or opinions?

[KidrauhlFanJB]

How do I know if I should use upstrokes or down strokes?