I need some help!

[martintaylor]

As the title suggests, I need some help with my guitar playing skills. As evidenced by my latest lounge room recording, https://soundcloud.com/martintaylor/lovely-is-love I am stuck at the basic strumming level. I have tried finger picking but it sounds like I have discovered notes that weren't even possible and they don't sound good. If anyone can point me in a direction that can improve my playing that would be great. I promise I will practice!

Thanks.

[Dekka]

Hi Martin
To start basic picking I would use just thumb and two fingers. Aim at a "Boom/chuck/chuck" 3/4 pattern; playing the bass note with the thumb and then two treble strings together in the chord. It will sound a bit "country & western" to begin with but it gets you in the habit of letting the bass note ring out as well as getting your right hand accustomed to where all six strings are. You will find your hand and fingers will come to rest automatically addressing the strings.
Also include some scale practice using the thumb alone and the two fingers alone. Once you've done that for as long as you can stand, introduce a third finger and mix up time signatures, rhythms, etc.
Explore tab charts that are available on the net which will show you note for note and digit by digit how to play your favourite picking tunes.

[DarwinStrings]

Lovely is love was lovely Martin. Like Derick said starting with pattern picks is a good place to get your muscle memory happening. I can't strum the way you do but I reckon if I put in the effort in the end I could get it.

Another thought is using what you have and adding, take that strum of yours and fill it with the odd little lick.

Here are two pattern picks in tab, they ain't much music but if you do them laboriously round in circles they are the type of stuff that can build that muscle memory (both thumb and two finger alternating bass patterns). If you can't work them out PM me and I will phone you and show you how they work.

patpick.jpg (72.19 KiB) Viewed 9960 times

Jim

[Eric Scheper]

You can get a fair bit of instruction on youtube, especially if not starting from scratch. Maybe check out Marty Schwartz

[Kamusur]

Great advice from the others Martin and like Eric said there are some really good vids on the tube just pick a tune.

Steve

[martintaylor]

Thanks everyone.

Dekka: I think I'm all thumbs at the moment but I will attempt your method.
Jim: Not sure what is going on there so I may PM you with my details
Eric: I'll check out Marty Schwartz. I need to start somewhere!
Steve: thanks

[auscab]

Hi Martin,

This is something I like to try sometimes , I like the way this guy explains it slowly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cj4SBVqsPIo

[martintaylor]

Thanks Rob.
He is more at my pace I think.