Basic Strumming Patterns - Lesson 3, 4 & 5

Well I suppose you have got enough time to practice for the techniques in lesson 1 & 2, let's proceed with 3 more strumming patterns. Here we go.....

Basic Strumming Patterns - Lesson 1 & 2

Now that you have learnt 6 basic plucking patterns, let me move on to strumming technique.

As we all know, in order to be able to enjoy playing guitar, especially in pop guitar, it is imperative to master both plucking as well as strumming skills.

In this coming up series of posts, I am going to share with you the most basic but practical guitar strumming patterns.

As I always say, "Think BIG, but Start Small..." let me introduce you the two most strumming patterns...By using these methods, you should be able to play simple songs like birthday song etc.

See below clips for the demo.

New Year Greeting With Simple Classical Sample

Happy new year to everyone!!! Sorry for being lazy for more than 2 months...

I am back in action now!!

Here is another simple but nice classical short clip to kick start my very new post in 2010!!

It is kind of a "sad" melody, but it is a pretty good sample for beginner..As usual, let me know if you are interested to get the TAB for this song..

Hope you enjoy it!!

How to Play Simple Classical Song

Playing acoustic guitar is much more easier compared to classical guitar, at least for beginner. This is because to play acoustic guitar, it can be only involve a few simple chords. Except for those with complicated arrangement...

Classical guitar on the other hands, tends to be more variably and dynamic in terms of finger arrangement. This lead to more challenging task and require more practice in order to master it.

Normally , classical guitars have nylon strings with wider necks that allow the strings to be farther apart to facilitate finger picking. But there is actually no big problem to play a classical song with an acoustic guitar. Before you can play a "sophisticated" song, you might want to start with something simple. Many song are being simplified for learning purpose. They can be manifested in a form called guitar tablature (TAB). You do not need to know anything about music to read the tab as it is just a mapping to your guitar frets.

To read tab, you need to understand certain conventional basic concepts:

Tab consist of 6 lines and each line to represent the 6 guitar strings. For example, the following diagrams will form a C- Am- F- G chord. The numbers on the string indicate which fret you should press. "0" means you should left the string free and "x" means "mute".

C

e--0----------------------------
B--1----------------------------
G--0----------------------------
D--2----------------------------
A--3----------------------------
E--X----------------------------

Am

e--0----------------------------
B--1----------------------------
G--2----------------------------
D--2----------------------------
A--0----------------------------
E--X----------------------------

F

e--1----------------------------
B--1----------------------------
G--2----------------------------
D--3----------------------------
A--0----------------------------
E--X----------------------------

G

e--3----------------------------
B--0----------------------------
G--0----------------------------
D--0----------------------------
A--2----------------------------
E--3----------------------------

This is the most basic knowledge in reading tab, to further understand some of the more advance techniques, check this out for some of the tablature symbols:

Symbol Name Description

h Hammer -on Rap your fingertip down to at the fret

b Bend Bend the string

p Puff off Pick the string while letting your finger

tip goes off the fret

S Slide Pick the string and slide your finger to

another fret

T Tab Tab the string with your finger

x Mute Touch the string with hand to mute it

v Vibrate Wiggle your hand to vary the pitch

slightly

These are the tips that I used to learn last time to pick up the tab reading skill, make more practice and as time goes by, you will be able to speed up your respond to interpret those lines on the paper....

Let me show you some simple but nice classical melody, I don't mind to share the tab, let me know if you are interested.

6 Basic Guitar plucking (Picking) Patterns

Before you can produces a mind-numbing sound that can vibrate in the ears for a long time...you must at least master a few basic plucking (Picking) techniques...

This post is designed to meet the needs of the beginner guitarist for a basic guide to the most common plucking patterns found in most of the songs. By mastering these, you will be able to apply them to many of your favorite songs. Check this out!!!

Tears in Heaven - Eric Clapton

Cover,by Spytunestunes


E||--------------------|-----------------------------|
B||--------------------|--------2h3p2----5-----5--2--|
G||--------------------|-----2--------2--4-----4--2--|
D||--------------------|-----------------------------|
A||--------------------|--0--------------------------|
E||----------------0h2-|-----------------4--4--4--2--|

-------------------------|-------------------------|
-------2-----2-----2-----|--3-----3-----3-----3----|
-------2-----2-----2-----|--2-----2-----2-----1----|
-------------------------|-------------------------|
-------------------------|-------------------------|
----2-----2--0--0-----0--|--2--2-----2--0--0--0----|


Substitute this for the "A" at
the Begining of each verse
-------------------------|
--------------2h3p2------|
-----------2--------2----|
-------------------------|
--------0----------------|
--0h2--------------------|



-------------------------------
-CHORDS-
A 002220
D 000232
E 022100
E7 000454
Fm 133111
F#m 244222
G 320003
---------------------------

(verse)

A E7 A E G
Would you know my name

D A E A
If I saw you in heaven?

A E7 A E G
Would it be the same

D A E
If I saw you in heaven?


(chorus)


F#m Fm F#m E
I must be strong to carry on,

E A D A E G
'Cause I know I don't belong...

Here in heaven.


A E7 A E G
D A E A
A E7 A E G
D A E
(same as verse, accept no singing)


A E7 A E G
Would you hold my hand

D A E A
If I saw you in heaven?

A E7 A E G
Would you help me stand

D A E A
If I saw you in heaven?


F#m F F#m E
I'll find my way Through night and day,

E A D A G
'Cause I know I just can't stay

Here in heaven.


A E7 A E G
D D D D A
(chord version of the intro)



(bridge)


G D A D G
Time can bring you down, Time can bend your knees.

G D A D G
Time can break your heart, Have you begging please,

D
begging please.


(solo)...

or alternatively A E7 A E G
play the verse D A E A
A E7 A E G
D A E


(chorus)
Beyond the door,There's peace I'm sure,
And I know there'll be no more
Tears in heaven.

(verse)
Would you know my name
If I saw you in heaven?
Would it be the same
If I saw you in heaven?


(chorus)

F#m F F#m E
I must be strong to carry on,

E A D A E G
'Cause I know I don't belong...


A E7 A E
Here in heaven.

E A D A E G
'Cause I know I don't belong... Here in heaven

(replay intro then end with an "A" chord)

Angels - Robbie Williams

Cover,by Spytunestunes


Intro:
E


Verse:
E A C#m
I sit and wait. Does an angel contemplate my fate.
B E A C#m
And do they know the places were we go when we're grey and old.
B A C#m A
Cuz I have been told that salvation lets their wings unfold.
D
So when I'm lying in my bed,
A
Thoughts running through my head,
E
And I feel that love is dead.
D A E
I'm loving angels instead.

Chorus:
B C#m
And through it all she offers me protection,
A E
A lot love and affection, whether I'm right or wrong.
B C#m
And down the waterfall wherever it may take me,
A
I know that life won't break me.
G#m F#m
When I come to call, she won't forsake me.
D A E
I'm loving angels instead.

Verse:
E A C#m
When I'm feeling weak and my pain walks down a one way street.
B E A C#m
I look above and I know I'll always be blessed with love.
B D
And as the feeling grows
A
she breathes flesh to my bones
E
And when love is dead,
D A E
I'm loving angels instead.
Solo:

Bm A E
e|-------------------------------------------------------
B|--9--7h9------------9--7h9------------9--7h9------0----
G|-----------9-9/11------------9-9/11------------9-------
D|-------------------------------------------------------
A|-------------------------------------------------------
E|-------------------------------------------------------


This solo 4 times. The last note (the 0) can also be played as a B on the D string (a 9) you'll have to see for yourself what's best.
You can even play the 11 on the G string as a 7 on the B string. You don't have to use the slide but it doesn't sound as good as the slide.

Playing order:

Verse one
Chorus
Verse two (drums enter)
Chorus
Solo
Chorus