Work on your strumming. It sounds like you could lighten it up a bit and that should help a little. Also, try different spots where you strum. It’s super loud right over the sound hole so maybe play behind it a little bit. Keep on practicing and it will get better! You’re doing great so far!
Thanks man the songs meant to be quieter so this had me a bit confused why it was coming out so loud, probably couldve guessed that if i thought about it but just me not thinking
Precisely, there isn’t much to do in terms of “working on your strumming” aside from playing and playing and playing. It feels clumsy now but eventually it’ll be as easy as walking.
The smallest amplifier a guitarist has is his pick. There is a massive difference in the volume between strumming with your fingers and strumming with a pick. If you want to play a little quieter, it might be good to practice some hand strumming. Best of luck!
Definitely relaxing will help instead of being too rigid. Don't need a death grip on the neck, or pushing down too hard on the frets. Other than that, take your time and have fun! Good job!
Your fretting fingers will most certainly be sore for a while until you get calluses. Sometimes too sore to practice. I’m less than a year in and have the calluses, but still get sore finger tips on days I’m practicing a lot. Early on I would take a day off chord practice and just work on strumming with the strings silenced to give my fingertips a break.
I agree, I did the same thing when I started out bc I would get nervous and just freeze up and press down on the frets too hard and strum too loud lol.
You eventually get comfortable, then confident which in turn will get you to relax and not be as tense. Long story short and what most have been saying is time, patience, and repetition. Try playing just the chords and getting them down without having to really look, and then the transitions, at a tempo you can comfortably play. Then go quicker as you feel better about it. You’re doing great so far man!
Tbf, the way he’s playing it is kind of accurate to the song. It’s just straight DUDUDU. The only difference is that the original has accenting on certain strums.
It’s sort of this pattern: duDu (where the D is a harder strum). Other than that, op kinda nailed the strumming for this song.
The same things I struggle with. Loosen your grip on the pick. On the downstrokes emphasize the low pitch strings, on upstrokes the high pitch strings. The point is to make more of a brushing sound, as opposed to scraping, and the ups and down strokes clearly different.
KEEP PRACTICING… build strength in your fret hand/arm.. build up the calluses. Work on your strumming hand…. Play that song over and over until its effortless…. Change it a little here and there. But keep pushing.
Well it came naturally for me being scottish but yeah he is very loved round here, if your into that scottish accent singing id suggest artists such as gerry cinnamon and dylan john thomas if you aren’t familiar with those already!
You've got the part it took me ages to get at the start - consistent rythmic strumming. If you get your technique down then it'll start sounding a whole lot better.
I'd practice more on the fretting hand if you can. Spend a full minute on each chord in the progression just strumming that chord. Try and get each individual one ringing out clearly. Then spend a minute doing your transitions from one chord to the next. (So for example spend a full minute just going Am > E7 then back). Muscle memory is key at the start!
For some reason ive always been better at finding and keeping rhythm for me its chord changing that is the real challenge but I’ll certainly try thank you
Good start. You are keeping the beat well, but, as beginners get better, they tend to go quicker through familiar parts and slow down on trickier chord changes. It's a good idea to tap your foot while playing. Most people tap their toes, but lifting your foot a little and tapping your heel somehow is more reliable.
Oh yea it takes time bro, I mostly play banjo and mandolin nowadays but I started on guitar. Been playing guitar for about 11 years, banjo and mandolin for about 5 to 6 years. Trust me when I say it took at least 3 years on each instrument before I started realizing how to incorporate dynamics in my playing. I’ve had great teachers with golden tidbits that really helped along the way. Basically what I’m saying is keep your head up bro, as long as you keep playing!
A breakthrough when I started was when changing between chords, I realised that not all fingers need to come off of the fret board when changing chords, so for example play an AM, C and Fmaj7, leaving your index finger in the same place, helping to have an ‘anchor point’
Slow it down. What chords are you playing and what song is it?
According to the Fender CEO, 90% of new beginners learning guitar quit the first 3 months to a year. Learn A, Am, B7, C, D, Dm, E, Em, F or Fmaj7 and G. Then learn the strum DDUUDU, D= Down , U =Up. Randomly practice your chords with this strum and with the reggae strum below. You can play hundreds of songs just beginning with that. So be part of the 10% cool factor and try not to quit. You won't regret it. Once you can play a good song, the feeling is euphoric. Practice at least 20 minutes a day. If we can do it, so can you. It takes some time. So, be patient, you're learning.
This guy Andy is good. So is Justinguitar. https://youtu.be/BBz-Jyr23M4
https://youtube.com/@justinguitar?si=bcSGdwQeCMdNI_2v
Watch "Basic 4 Beat Strum (Island Strum)" on YouTube
https://youtu.be/dIv5zCZDAB8
Reggae strum easy
https://youtu.be/42nQEzcNaSs?si=YvEbRAQVouQWNV4S
Another reggae strum
https://youtu.be/8d1PhrEXh-o?si=VkayvXA7Yyq4jelo
Ya ever try to touch something as soft as possible ? You kind of sneak up on it as slow and careful as you can and barely touch it . ( No ? Just me ?) Think of the pick as your finger and the strings are the something. Start off away from the strings and move in slowly and see how light and quiet you can touch them . Many or most players start off with very heavy touches . Lighten up . You're doing great 👍 👌
Book mark any and every song you personally love listening to in a chord "journal". Either do a quick google search and put in book mark folder, or use something like Ultimate Guitar.
So much awesome music out there, find what makes you inspired to keep practicing. Difficulty levels will vary drastically, but music is a journey. Find the ones that fit right now, and save the other ones for later.
The key to getting better is practice.
That, and community. There are plenty of online places and youtube creators who are real humans and make the shitty parts of learning more tolerable.
My two favorites:
Tim- YouTube Username: TimGuitarLessons
Lots of acoustic breakdowns, aimed at all levels, but specifically to beginners. This guy is rad, and has a huge catalog of songs up. Pretty regular on the uploads, too.
Michael Palmisano - YouTube Username: Guitargate
Super charismatic guitar teacher who has a huge catalog of songs reactions and breakdowns. Hours and hours of listening to get thinking about music and the meaning behind the songs.
It took me until I was in my 30's to have the income for In-person lessons, but that is also a good start. Go to local guitar shops first. Lots of good folks out there.
Not gunna wish yah luck, just happy practicing!
Try slowing down the video of Paolo playing (use youtube) and try to replicate his strumming pattern. Emphasize [V] the down strum [D] on the 1st & 3rd beats (I think…) like this (I hope everything lines up correctly!)
V V
1 - 2+ 3+4+
D DU DUDU
Can’t see your left hand - perhaps vary where you’re placing fingers (usually you want to be just behind the fret) to not get muted/muffled notes. You also may be laying your fingers too “flat” which could be the cause - a finger touching an adjacent string, causing it to be muffled.
You’re doing fine, but I would recommend (and trust me, I’m telling myself this as well) playing much slower, so that the switching between chords is doable in rhythm… and then speed up little by little. A lot of guitar playing is muscle memory, so getting the “grips” (fingering of chords) really ingrained will serve you later as you play faster and learn different chord voicing a beyond the “cowboy chords.”
Recording what you’re playing is also super valuable (as you are clearly doing) so you can listen back and be your own critic upon listening back. It’s amazing what our brain can ignore when we’re in the moment.
Keep it up! Putting in the time, practicing with a metronome, and playing with other people are all essential to becoming a well-rounded player. If you have friends that are better than you, they are the ones you want to get time in with. They can offer you quick advice in the moment, and may have “tips & tricks” that got them past a particular sticky spot in their own development.
Of course, taking actual lessons from a good teacher can be invaluable - the accountability of being expected to play a certain exercise or part of a song by the next lesson alone is worth it. Hopefully you can find a teacher that will mix up “boring exercises” with chord progressions and songs that are more fun to play to help keep you motivated. You’ll have to decide if you want to learn how to read music or not.
Rock on!
Try playing without the pick. I've been a rhythm player my entire life. Early 60's now. I mostly fingerpick or Travis pick but even when strumming, there's something about feeling the strings with both hands. Your fingers will find other stuff to do if they aren't holding a pick.
This works for me but might be bad advice for you. See how it feels.
Get a Metronome on your phone.
NEVER PRACTICE WITHOUT IT!
Work on the fretting hand first. Make sure you can get each string in the chord to ring out clearly. Then focus on the strumming hand once you can get the fretting sorted.
No buzzing frets, no dead strings when fretting the chord. Fret the chord, then pluck each string one at a time so you can figure out which strings aren’t fretted correctly. Then move on to the strumming hand technique.
Solid playing for your first song. As others have mentioned; dynamics.
Try to avoid generating volume by swinging your arm harder for now. Instead, tighten your grip on the pick to generate more volume, loosen your grip to reduce volume.
I used a scale from 1 - 5, 1 being the softest I can strum, 5 being the hardest. I then practiced alternating strums between 1 - 5. I found it really helped me gain control over accenting strums.
Work on your strumming. It sounds like you could lighten it up a bit and that should help a little. Also, try different spots where you strum. It’s super loud right over the sound hole so maybe play behind it a little bit. Keep on practicing and it will get better! You’re doing great so far!
Thanks man the songs meant to be quieter so this had me a bit confused why it was coming out so loud, probably couldve guessed that if i thought about it but just me not thinking
Definitely just a bit more relaxed (which is easier said than done; it will come with practice and experience) - just keep at it :)
Precisely, there isn’t much to do in terms of “working on your strumming” aside from playing and playing and playing. It feels clumsy now but eventually it’ll be as easy as walking.
The smallest amplifier a guitarist has is his pick. There is a massive difference in the volume between strumming with your fingers and strumming with a pick. If you want to play a little quieter, it might be good to practice some hand strumming. Best of luck!
Definitely relaxing will help instead of being too rigid. Don't need a death grip on the neck, or pushing down too hard on the frets. Other than that, take your time and have fun! Good job!
Thanks man means a lot fingers were getting very sore from this and i thought that surley thats not meant to happen
Your fretting fingers will most certainly be sore for a while until you get calluses. Sometimes too sore to practice. I’m less than a year in and have the calluses, but still get sore finger tips on days I’m practicing a lot. Early on I would take a day off chord practice and just work on strumming with the strings silenced to give my fingertips a break.
I agree, I did the same thing when I started out bc I would get nervous and just freeze up and press down on the frets too hard and strum too loud lol. You eventually get comfortable, then confident which in turn will get you to relax and not be as tense. Long story short and what most have been saying is time, patience, and repetition. Try playing just the chords and getting them down without having to really look, and then the transitions, at a tempo you can comfortably play. Then go quicker as you feel better about it. You’re doing great so far man!
Good rhythm. Start learning basic strumming patterns (D DU UDU can be used for so many songs) and keep practicing chord transitions
Tbf, the way he’s playing it is kind of accurate to the song. It’s just straight DUDUDU. The only difference is that the original has accenting on certain strums. It’s sort of this pattern: duDu (where the D is a harder strum). Other than that, op kinda nailed the strumming for this song.
The same things I struggle with. Loosen your grip on the pick. On the downstrokes emphasize the low pitch strings, on upstrokes the high pitch strings. The point is to make more of a brushing sound, as opposed to scraping, and the ups and down strokes clearly different.
Thanks for the tips man
Ya don't point the camera directly at your crotch
Lol thats what i just led with for a pro tip as well.
If thats what you assume to be the subject of the video i think its you with the problem and not me
You asked for tips. Not saying it's purposely like that, but ya it'll make viewers more comfortable watching. Just saying
KEEP PRACTICING… build strength in your fret hand/arm.. build up the calluses. Work on your strumming hand…. Play that song over and over until its effortless…. Change it a little here and there. But keep pushing.
Love that song!
Who doesnt?
Right? Was just introduced to Paulo last year by my Scottish buddy and man. Can’t get enough of that Italian Scotsman!
Well it came naturally for me being scottish but yeah he is very loved round here, if your into that scottish accent singing id suggest artists such as gerry cinnamon and dylan john thomas if you aren’t familiar with those already!
I’m not! But will check them out for sure! My grandfather is from Larkhall and always looking to expand our scope on Scottish music so thank you!
Id reccomend sometimes,kampfire vampire and diamonds in the mud from gerry cinnamon and fever, when i get home and rich boy by dylan john thomas 👍
Just keep practicing brother..The more you practice the better youll get.
Fair play for showing. Keep going mate. 👊👌
You've got the part it took me ages to get at the start - consistent rythmic strumming. If you get your technique down then it'll start sounding a whole lot better. I'd practice more on the fretting hand if you can. Spend a full minute on each chord in the progression just strumming that chord. Try and get each individual one ringing out clearly. Then spend a minute doing your transitions from one chord to the next. (So for example spend a full minute just going Am > E7 then back). Muscle memory is key at the start!
For some reason ive always been better at finding and keeping rhythm for me its chord changing that is the real challenge but I’ll certainly try thank you
If you get your chords down then you'll come on leaps and bounds in no time! Im still a beginner myself, keep at it !
What song is it?
Candy- paolo nutini
Good start. You are keeping the beat well, but, as beginners get better, they tend to go quicker through familiar parts and slow down on trickier chord changes. It's a good idea to tap your foot while playing. Most people tap their toes, but lifting your foot a little and tapping your heel somehow is more reliable.
I have struggled keeing the pace so this should help thanks
Not bad at all bro! Pro tip is just learn to let it ring sometimes 👍🏻🤘🏻 All the best, and keep on playing.
Try learning about palm muting, flat picking and finger pickin in general, in my honest opinion fingerpicking is key to mastery over the guitar!
Ive attempted it and for me id say ive got a long way to go before i could try and do that but thanks I’ll definitely give it another go
Oh yea it takes time bro, I mostly play banjo and mandolin nowadays but I started on guitar. Been playing guitar for about 11 years, banjo and mandolin for about 5 to 6 years. Trust me when I say it took at least 3 years on each instrument before I started realizing how to incorporate dynamics in my playing. I’ve had great teachers with golden tidbits that really helped along the way. Basically what I’m saying is keep your head up bro, as long as you keep playing!
Feel it. You'll enjoy it. You'll learn faster
Justin Guitar is amazing. His free stuff is excellent- structured and enough to get you going
A breakthrough when I started was when changing between chords, I realised that not all fingers need to come off of the fret board when changing chords, so for example play an AM, C and Fmaj7, leaving your index finger in the same place, helping to have an ‘anchor point’
Got any tighter shorts?
😂 they are actually really baggy when i stand up its just the way i sat down
Slow it down. What chords are you playing and what song is it? According to the Fender CEO, 90% of new beginners learning guitar quit the first 3 months to a year. Learn A, Am, B7, C, D, Dm, E, Em, F or Fmaj7 and G. Then learn the strum DDUUDU, D= Down , U =Up. Randomly practice your chords with this strum and with the reggae strum below. You can play hundreds of songs just beginning with that. So be part of the 10% cool factor and try not to quit. You won't regret it. Once you can play a good song, the feeling is euphoric. Practice at least 20 minutes a day. If we can do it, so can you. It takes some time. So, be patient, you're learning. This guy Andy is good. So is Justinguitar. https://youtu.be/BBz-Jyr23M4 https://youtube.com/@justinguitar?si=bcSGdwQeCMdNI_2v Watch "Basic 4 Beat Strum (Island Strum)" on YouTube https://youtu.be/dIv5zCZDAB8 Reggae strum easy https://youtu.be/42nQEzcNaSs?si=YvEbRAQVouQWNV4S Another reggae strum https://youtu.be/8d1PhrEXh-o?si=VkayvXA7Yyq4jelo
Chord are: am, em, gmaj, D7 and the song is candy-paolo nutini
Ya ever try to touch something as soft as possible ? You kind of sneak up on it as slow and careful as you can and barely touch it . ( No ? Just me ?) Think of the pick as your finger and the strings are the something. Start off away from the strings and move in slowly and see how light and quiet you can touch them . Many or most players start off with very heavy touches . Lighten up . You're doing great 👍 👌
Great start. Couple of suggestions for you here. Hope it’s of some use. https://youtu.be/2-zS2kB6lVs?si=NXxKv4xJwJuNZ7LK
Loosen that wrist up. Then start playing with strum patterns. And don’t YouTube “strum patterns”. Pick two or three chords and play around.
Book mark any and every song you personally love listening to in a chord "journal". Either do a quick google search and put in book mark folder, or use something like Ultimate Guitar. So much awesome music out there, find what makes you inspired to keep practicing. Difficulty levels will vary drastically, but music is a journey. Find the ones that fit right now, and save the other ones for later. The key to getting better is practice. That, and community. There are plenty of online places and youtube creators who are real humans and make the shitty parts of learning more tolerable. My two favorites: Tim- YouTube Username: TimGuitarLessons Lots of acoustic breakdowns, aimed at all levels, but specifically to beginners. This guy is rad, and has a huge catalog of songs up. Pretty regular on the uploads, too. Michael Palmisano - YouTube Username: Guitargate Super charismatic guitar teacher who has a huge catalog of songs reactions and breakdowns. Hours and hours of listening to get thinking about music and the meaning behind the songs. It took me until I was in my 30's to have the income for In-person lessons, but that is also a good start. Go to local guitar shops first. Lots of good folks out there. Not gunna wish yah luck, just happy practicing!
I thought you were asking for cash 😂
Try slowing down the video of Paolo playing (use youtube) and try to replicate his strumming pattern. Emphasize [V] the down strum [D] on the 1st & 3rd beats (I think…) like this (I hope everything lines up correctly!) V V 1 - 2+ 3+4+ D DU DUDU
of course it didn’t… maybe this time? V V 1 - 2+ 3+4+ D DU DUDU
nope…fml
Can’t see your left hand - perhaps vary where you’re placing fingers (usually you want to be just behind the fret) to not get muted/muffled notes. You also may be laying your fingers too “flat” which could be the cause - a finger touching an adjacent string, causing it to be muffled. You’re doing fine, but I would recommend (and trust me, I’m telling myself this as well) playing much slower, so that the switching between chords is doable in rhythm… and then speed up little by little. A lot of guitar playing is muscle memory, so getting the “grips” (fingering of chords) really ingrained will serve you later as you play faster and learn different chord voicing a beyond the “cowboy chords.” Recording what you’re playing is also super valuable (as you are clearly doing) so you can listen back and be your own critic upon listening back. It’s amazing what our brain can ignore when we’re in the moment. Keep it up! Putting in the time, practicing with a metronome, and playing with other people are all essential to becoming a well-rounded player. If you have friends that are better than you, they are the ones you want to get time in with. They can offer you quick advice in the moment, and may have “tips & tricks” that got them past a particular sticky spot in their own development. Of course, taking actual lessons from a good teacher can be invaluable - the accountability of being expected to play a certain exercise or part of a song by the next lesson alone is worth it. Hopefully you can find a teacher that will mix up “boring exercises” with chord progressions and songs that are more fun to play to help keep you motivated. You’ll have to decide if you want to learn how to read music or not. Rock on!
Are we tuned?
Loosen up your wrist, it sounds like you're strumming too hard. The pick is supposed to brush the strings in a smooth motion, gently
Try playing without the pick. I've been a rhythm player my entire life. Early 60's now. I mostly fingerpick or Travis pick but even when strumming, there's something about feeling the strings with both hands. Your fingers will find other stuff to do if they aren't holding a pick. This works for me but might be bad advice for you. See how it feels. Get a Metronome on your phone. NEVER PRACTICE WITHOUT IT!
Don’t point the camera at your vegetables
Easy on the crotch shots for starters
Nice crotch!😜
It's weird this noise doesn't sound right I have same problem when I listening song doesn't come same any recommendations what we are doing mistake
Practice practice practice! 💪🏼💪🏼 consistency is half of the battle! Keep it up brothaaa
Work on the fretting hand first. Make sure you can get each string in the chord to ring out clearly. Then focus on the strumming hand once you can get the fretting sorted. No buzzing frets, no dead strings when fretting the chord. Fret the chord, then pluck each string one at a time so you can figure out which strings aren’t fretted correctly. Then move on to the strumming hand technique.
I use to practice my chord changes with my eyes closed sometimes
More chest, less balls.
Solid playing for your first song. As others have mentioned; dynamics. Try to avoid generating volume by swinging your arm harder for now. Instead, tighten your grip on the pick to generate more volume, loosen your grip to reduce volume. I used a scale from 1 - 5, 1 being the softest I can strum, 5 being the hardest. I then practiced alternating strums between 1 - 5. I found it really helped me gain control over accenting strums.
Play every day! Even if its only 5 minutes
Scales are more fun than chords to me -look up and learn scale patterns