GUITARHABITS

Basic Strumming Patterns for Beginners Part I

May 14, 2019 by Klaus Crow

There are two things you need when you want to learn to play songs on the guitar: chords and strumming patterns.

A chord is a set of notes played on the guitar that will give you a particular sound and color. Many popular songs consist of only three or four chords.

A strumming pattern is a preset pattern of down and up strokes played with your fingers or a pick against the strings. The strumming pattern will determine the rhythm for your music.

You can strum with either your fingers or with a pick.

Strumming with your fingers
There are several ways to strum with your fingers. Here is one that is commonly used: Place your thumb against your index finger and hold them like that. This gives you a decent support. Strum down with the nail of your index finger against all the strings and strum up with the nail of your thumb.

Strumming with a pick
Hold the pick between your thumb and index finger. Place the pick on the top side of your index finger and clamp your thumb down on top of it. Hold the pick firmly.

The essentials
There are a lot of variations for strumming patterns and different ones for each time signature (4/4, 3/4, 2/4 time). In these strumming episodes I will show you the few essential and common strumming patterns that will get you started and ready to play tons of songs.

Don’t forget to take your time for each strumming pattern and practice daily.

Enjoy!

In Part II I will show you five more indispensable strumming patterns to get you equipped with the appropriate tools to conquer the world.

Have a great workout!

Alternating Bass Fingerpicking Patterns Part II

By Klaus Crow 3 Comments

May 14, 2019 by Klaus Crow

Last week we started with Alternating bass fingerpicking patterns Part I. I hope you practiced well and are ready for a new challenge. Today I will show you two more beautiful patterns that will really uplift your playing.

Again follow the tips below when practicing these patterns:

Tips:
– First practice slowly.
– Memorize the pattern.
– Make sure all the notes sounds clean and clear.
– Gradually build up your speed.
– Play the pattern using the chord progression.
– Practice daily.
– Enjoy the moment.

Have a great day!

Alternating Bass Fingerpicking Pattern III

Alternating Bass Fingerpicking Pattern IV

Alternating Bass Fingerpicking Patterns Part I

By Klaus Crow 7 Comments

May 14, 2019 by Klaus Crow

Fingerpicking patterns make your chord progressions really come alive. It’s a beautiful musical element that can give a song just what it needs. The amount of fingerpicking patterns are infinite. If you are just starting out you might want to check out the 16 legendary fingerpicking patterns first. If you got the basics down and you’re ready to step up, check out the alternating bass fingerpicking patterns in this post.

With the alternating bass fingerpicking technique the thumb of your fingerpicking hand is constantly alternating between two or more bass notes while in between your fingers are playing the higher notes. It sounds like you’re playing two guitars at the same time.

Today I will show you two patterns that you can use for your own songs and apply to many popular songs.

Tips:
– Practice slowly in the beginning. Be patient and don’t rush at the start!
– Memorize the pattern for each chord.
– Make sure every notes sounds clean and clear.
– When you feel comfortable playing it slow, gradually build up your speed.
– Practice the pattern using the chord progression.
– Practice regurarly

Enjoy!

Alternating Bass Fingerpicking Pattern I

Alternating Bass Fingerpicking Pattern II

Next time (Part II) I will show you two more beautiful and challenging patterns. To be continued…

Top 6 Best Guitar Amps for Practice and Small Gigs 2021

By Klaus Crow 17 Comments

March 28, 2021 by Klaus Crow

Yes, it all starts with the right guitar. But in case of the electric guitar the amp has a major influence on your overall sound and how much fun you’re going to have playing, practicing and gigging. Next to the guitar the amp is going to be your best buddy.

For musicians who mostly play at home and have a small gig once in while, the combo amp is the perfect solution.

Guitar combo amps come in different shapes and sizes. The output power determines how many Watts the amp will deliver, how loud the amp is gonna be and for what purposes you can use the amp. The more Watts and bigger the amp, the higher the price tag. Also the type of amp, speaker type, size, amount of controls, fx and other features have an effect on the price.

There are valve, transistor and modeling amps. Each has it’s pros and cons. A lot of musicians prefer valve amps because of it’s warmth, wider dynamic range and more musical sounding distortions, but there is also more maintenance to a valve amp. On the other hand modeling amps are also getting better and better each year, often sound surprisingly good and are decent and reliable.

This post will show you the amps that are perfect for practicing at home, rehearsals, gigging in small pubs, performing as a duo or with a band without a loud drummer.

All these amps are beauties in their own way. They all have a unique character and sound that will suit particular styles of playing. Even though all these combos sound great, don’t underestimate the guitar you plug into the amp. The sound is determined by the combination of the two components. The third element is based on your personal taste and preferences.

Note: The output (power) of a 5 Watts Valve amp is comparable to a 30/40 Watt solid state modeling amp.

Note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Enjoy and good luck with your choice!Continue Reading

« Previous Page