The fine art of strumming....

Squonk · 2011-07-11T08:05:11+00:00

Was in Ballito for the week of the Pro Ballito Surfing event. I saw lots of guitarists either performing on their own or in duos The one thing I noticed is that most of them could not strum and sounded awful at best, Even Elvis Blue had some kind of technique that at least sounded reasonable. I found it quite jarring even if the Vocals were good. I think strumming is not as easy as it's made out to be. I remember when I first started playing, and the advice I was given at the time, that anyone can strum but only the good ones can pick! Not quite true. If you listen to Darrell Scott(Plays with Robert Plant) he has a great strumming technique. Even listening to many strummers and pickers at TJ's, there is only a few that can really strum well.

aubs1

One of my early influences besides the ones already mentioned, and I think also probably quite under-rated guitarist was definitely Stephen Stills. Since Woodstock, an amazing "strummer" ...... remember the second part of this video "Suite Judy Blue Eyes" ?

racman

Joe Moore wrote ? strumming skillz right here... ☹.........Roy Clark

...sometimes known as "racman" .... ? ? ?

Malkav

An entry from the heavy field, don't know how this man does what he does. I assume he has titanium reinforced wrists...

AlanRatcliffe

Chad Adam Browne wrote An entry from the heavy field, don't know how this man does what he does. I assume he has titanium reinforced wrists...

Not seeing/hearing anything special. Bad example, maybe?

Bob-Dubery

+1. Hendrix was a fab rhythm player.

soren

On rhythm playing...and just trying to get a "groove" into your playing...

I was recently given a looper...and it's interesting to practice
with, but it quickly makes you realise how limited you are as a rhythm player. Even though it feels like cheating -- because now I can play 8/12 bars and then get it repeated without tiring out my own wrists...but...you need to get those 8/12 bars so that they don't drive you insane with "not quite on the beat" feel after a few minutes.

Warren

soren wrote On rhythm playing...and just trying to get a "groove" into your playing...

I was recently given a looper...and it's interesting to practice
with, but it quickly makes you realise how limited you are as a rhythm player. Even though it feels like cheating -- because now I can play 8/12 bars and then get it repeated without tiring out my own wrists...but...you need to get those 8/12 bars so that they don't drive you insane with "not quite on the beat" feel after a few minutes.

One really big benefit of playing in a band is that it gets your rhythm playing sorted: having to bang those chords away song after song is a different story to strumming a few chords here and there.

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