Basic Guitar Lesson (2.Strumming)

Strumming.
Strumming is if not the, one of the most important features of guitar playing. Many people think guitar is great because of the awesome solo's some people do, all the quick, sharp, gentle sounds used by picking.

But what most people don't know is that a good guitar soloist must first become a good rythm player. If you can grasp the concept and style of strumming, and rythm, you can grow to be a GREAT soloist. Learning rythm first gives you a sense of beat and timing. As well as giving you an ear for good sounds. Eventually after playing rythm for a while, you will automatically know which chords go well together and which don't.

So lets start with the basics.

When strumming, you should use your whole arm from elbow to fingers. I have seen many times when someone picks up a guitar and strums using only their arm. Doing this makes a strum, sound like many picks of each string. It is also harder to strum using this style. you should use your whole arm, from elbow to fingers, all to generate a smooth flowing pattern.