How to Strum a Guitar WITHOUT a Pick

🎸 In this lesson for beginners, you'll learn how to strum a guitar without a pick. We'll explore how to strum with your thumb, how to strum with your first finger, and the best way of strumming. #JustinGuitar #guitar #guitarforbeginners


👉 Video Chapters
00:00 Is it better to play guitar with a pick or fingers?
01:18 How to strum a guitar with your thumb?
05:25 Does your guitar sound bad when you strum?
07:25 How to strum with your first finger?
09:53 Cool way of strumming the guitar without a pick!
11:44 Playing the bass note with your thumb
13:30 Exploring the possibilities!

💬 Get In Touch!

[lilyrushton]

Me:copies his hand motions
His guitar: *lovely strum*
Mine: *racket*

[HealingPowPow]

Love how you're just sitting there casually explaining whilst your fingers are IN A CHORD :D my fingers would be dead

[LawrencRJUTube]

An extremely well done lesson. I have been playing guitar for almost 70 years and use my thumb alone far more fequently than I use a pick. I am (was) a classical guitar player and all my guitars use nylon strings and have a wide flat fret board. I find the pick a little too harsh and since I play mostly to entertain myself, I like the soft sound of the thumb and the thumb gives you far more dynamic range from softness to loudness than I am able to achieve with a pick. When I first was learning as a child I had steel string guitar with a crowned narrow neck and I used just a pick for a couple years and then used the pinch method you mentioned where the finger nail of my index finger served as a pick -- either because I had misplaced my pick or just didn't want to take the time to get it because I only had a very short time to practice. I found that "fake pick" (I call it) method gave me more accuracy that the real pick because it gave me tactile feedback that you don't get with a pick. Then I saw a fellow who was using just his thumb alone without the finger. By the time I got a new classical guitar in my early teens I had started using the thumb alone unless I was playing just chords in accompanying my singing in which case I used a pick. As I got better at integrating chords with the melody I found that i needed to use the thumb exclusively. I experimented some with the thumb and finger style of strumming and then learned finger picking using the thumb mostly for the base notes. About ten years or so ago I got ET (Essential Treemors which effected my fingers more than my thumb and changed my style of playing where I used just the down stroke stopping on the melody note. Then my left hand became arthritic and I could no longer play up the neck and for two years I gave up guiitar and even gave my guitar as a graduation present to a cousin's son. About two years ago I got another guitar and started playing again and got my callouses back. I am going to try the the thumb and finger method that you demonstrated for strumming whenI am singing. I am 82 but one is never too old to try something new.

[WarButler]

Your videos are looking and sounding fantastic these days, Justin. I've been playing for 12 years but I still check out your beginner videos to make sure the foundations of my playing remain solid. Thanks for the many years of amazing free lessons. You're the best teacher on the platform, by a lightyear :)

[michaelmiller]

I hope all your viewers fully understand the importance of this particular tutorial. Not only does it apply to players from beginner to advanced, but it can give hope to people recovering from hand and arm injuries. Until you have experienced a right arm nerve impingement, you can't possibly know how discouraging it is to find that after 30 years playing, suddenly you can't feel or hold a pick. That happened to my arm in 2004 (work injury). I stopped trying to play for almost 3 years. The doctor told me I might start to see improvement in 5 years or so. One day I picked up my Yairi and decided I would find a way to make music, and my whole musical world began to change. But, several years later I stumbled onto your videos and one day I was chasing rabbits looking up some ideas gleaned from your work, and found an interview of Stephen Stills. He described how he rarely uses a pick, but instead uses the thumb/index finger technique, which leaves 3 more fingers to do all kinds of other things. Watching Stills do Daylight Again, Suite Judy Blue Eyes, Treetop Flyer, and countless others, along with Neil Young on Love and War, Deadman's Theme, and others, have inspired me to find a way to play. As a side note, in the spring of 2018, the feeling started coming back in my right hand. The doctor told me it was because I continued to find a way to use it. Still can't hold a pick, but I have discovered a whole new way to play in the meantime.

[smkras]

I started playing guitar again after years of not touching one. Started again with an organization here in the States called Guitar For Veterans. They give Veterans 10 free classes and when you complete the course you are given a new guitar for free. My instructor recommended you to advance in my learning. I since have invested in your course and additional books. Thanks for making this available to beginners and advanced players.

[KaydenKircher]

Finger style strumming without a pick is hard... chords are bitching to strum. Thanks for letting me know what to do

[leocardenas]

uhh i literally zoned out and thought, "his voice sounds nice"

[CissyBrazil]

Although your list of beginning lessons were over a year ago, I found you. I’m 75 years old and was teaching myself. When I lost my husband, I stopped learning. Now I’m starting over and found you. Thank you! I’m continuing your lessons now.

[aellisnola]

At 15:13, it sounds like you say, "to thumberize" instead of "to summarize", which is great considering so much of the lesson is about thumb use. Freudian pun?

Great lesson! Super-interesting stuff.

[jimm]

That was some of the best 17 minutes of guitar tutorial I’ve ever watched. A lot more sound information than just about not using a pick, too. I never use a pick, much to the dismay of couple of guys I jam around with. This is sort of vindication, lol. Thanks!

[paisaoang]

Ha ha, i was playing guitar more than 20 yrs by just fingers and now trying an electric guitar with a pick. i know there will be endless learning even the day i die and that´s why i love this man.

[johnsuggs]

I've always strummed like how he's doing it at 09:55
In fact almost all of the time when I'm playing an acoustic guitar, I'll play using this method.
I don't move my whole arm, but rather do a pivot twist at the rist to creat my up and down strumming motions.
I'm also able to do 16th or even 32th beat strums using this method as it gives me more speed

[dangriffiths]

Another great lesson perfectly explained. 4 months ago I had never picked up a guitar. With the help of your beginner lessons and 2 hours every day without fail, it's starting to come together! Thank you Justin!

[ArjaysJourney]

Hi Justin! 🙋🏻‍♂️ I learned from your beginner course. I started when I was 9. I’m 11yo now. It was challenging but you made it fun. Thanks! Check out how I’m doing!

[rosesize]

Used other online teachers & now have my own but I always come back to Justin when I want to know the in depth technique & context, many thanks 😊

[raithrover]

I first ditched the pick when i started performing at the open mic sessions at my local pub and found that, due to my relatively quiet signing voice, the guitar would drown out my vocals if I used a pick. Using my thumb resulted in a much better balance between guitar and vocals and saved me or the host having to twiddle around with volume levels. I've never bothered with a pick since.

[tallvision]

Find your own way, your own path, in the musical journey.. Thanks for the inspiration Justin

[AtahanSelekoglu]

been losing my mind about how to strum with or without a pick until i came across index finger strumming and being able to combine that with the thumb and picking in general made it a no-brainer for me to use.

ontop of that, it felt the most natural one to do and got me strumming my first song finally.

many thanks justin :)

[ishubisht]

Justin Sir, Thank you for your service to the world. May God bless you with great health! !


Love from India!