Ep004 - Supercharged Strumming

GTRNRD: Music and Gear Tips for Guitar and Bass Players

In this episode of GTRNRD, Andy Schneider delves into the essential art of strumming, a fundamental skill that can transform your guitar playing by adding new sounds and rhythms. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced player, mastering strumming is crucial for shaping a song's energy and feel. Andy discusses the basics of down and up strumming, emphasizing the importance of maintaining consistent rhythm and volume. He also highlights the significance of even note volumes, clean rhythms, and smooth chord changes, offering practical tips to improve these areas.

For bass players, Andy introduces the concept of strumming on a bass guitar, encouraging experimentation with two-note strumming above the 12th fret for a unique rhythmic texture. He also shares advanced techniques for seasoned players, such as controlling dynamics, using fret hand mutes, and varying strumming targets to add interest and dimension to your music.

Andy invites listeners to explore these techniques and share their experiences on social media. He also recommends his book, "Acoustic Guitar for Adults - Book 1," for those looking to deepen their understanding of strumming. Join Andy next week for a discussion on practicing efficiently for big results. Keep experimenting with your strumming patterns and observe how other guitarists bring music to life.