Strumming technique

[stayorleave83]

I've been playing guitar for about a year and I am starting to get a better idea of how to play. I'm taking lessons to work on music theory and looking up tabs to learn popular songs.

The sticking point I am having is with strumming. I know it will come along with practice and that I have to be patient, but does anyone have any advice on how to get better at it and figure it out just based on listening to songs? How much does my elbow or wrist come into play?

[DavefaninNZ]

I've been playing guitar for about a year and I am starting to get a better idea of how to play. I'm taking lessons to work on music theory and looking up tabs to learn popular songs.

The sticking point I am having is with strumming. I know it will come along with practice and that I have to be patient, but does anyone have any advice on how to get better at it and figure it out just based on listening to songs? How much does my elbow or wrist come into play?

One thing I did to improve my strumming was I used an incredibly thin pick. Get a lotto scratch ticket and cut out a pick shape, and strum with that. You can easily get a feel of strumming motions and can pick up different patterns relatively quickly. Then as you get better or wear it out, double up the thickness, then work your way onto actual picks. That worked for me.

[VanHorneDog]

go slow and make sure you take full strokes up and down with the rhythm.

Like even if you dont play an up stroke or down stroke still do the motion just dont hit the strings, it will get your timing down.

[Voittaa]

Loosen up. Let that wrist do most of the work.

[ryangibson]

Keep practicing. The coordination is tough for some people, but take it slow and use your wrist like Viottaa said above. I rarely, if ever, use my elbow to strum. I used to, until I started strumming with my wrist.

[stayorleave83]

All great advice. I'm gonna keep at it. thanks guys.