How To Strum Electric Guitar
In most cases, students learn how to strum electric guitar using an acoustic model first.
It's fair to say that acoustic guitars are generally less expensive than electric models and so they represent an easier and more affordable point of entry into the world of playing guitar.
In essence, there is little difference in the strumming techniques involved and that is great news for anyone making the transition from acoustic to electric guitar.
While most guitar chords played on acoustic are classed either as 'open' or 'barre', on electric models we also have 'power chords'.
If you are performing all down-strokes with your strumming then you only need to hit the 2 or 3 strings you are actually holding to produce the power chord itself.
If you are strumming up and down across all six strings however you must employ something known as muting.
This can be a tricky technique at first for most beginners to master but it is an essential one to learn.
The challenge is that although the chord is made up of only 2 or 3 strings, you want to strum all six strings and mute everything from sounding except the power chord.
Most guitar players will generally block the 6th string from sounding with the use of their thumb while the lower strings below the power chord will be muted using the 1st finger.
This is a delicate task but if you want to be able to play the kinds of songs you hear on Nirvana or Green Day records it's an essential strumming technique to master.
If you aren't able to do it in your first attempts don't give up...
it's like that for everyone, even people with a lot of natural talent for guitar find it challenging.
After a few weeks of daily practice you'll be surprised at just how well you can strum electric guitar and you'll be immediately rewarded with a whole host of new songs you can play.
It's fair to say that acoustic guitars are generally less expensive than electric models and so they represent an easier and more affordable point of entry into the world of playing guitar.
In essence, there is little difference in the strumming techniques involved and that is great news for anyone making the transition from acoustic to electric guitar.
While most guitar chords played on acoustic are classed either as 'open' or 'barre', on electric models we also have 'power chords'.
If you are performing all down-strokes with your strumming then you only need to hit the 2 or 3 strings you are actually holding to produce the power chord itself.
If you are strumming up and down across all six strings however you must employ something known as muting.
This can be a tricky technique at first for most beginners to master but it is an essential one to learn.
The challenge is that although the chord is made up of only 2 or 3 strings, you want to strum all six strings and mute everything from sounding except the power chord.
Most guitar players will generally block the 6th string from sounding with the use of their thumb while the lower strings below the power chord will be muted using the 1st finger.
This is a delicate task but if you want to be able to play the kinds of songs you hear on Nirvana or Green Day records it's an essential strumming technique to master.
If you aren't able to do it in your first attempts don't give up...
it's like that for everyone, even people with a lot of natural talent for guitar find it challenging.
After a few weeks of daily practice you'll be surprised at just how well you can strum electric guitar and you'll be immediately rewarded with a whole host of new songs you can play.
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