Strumming Advice

[Cypherus]

Could anyone give me some advice on strumming?
recently my strumming has become quite ... stacato if thats the word... its very 1 2 1 2 1 2 like a army marching ._.

and it seems i cant keep speed for long and my arm cramps up

would appreciate any advice thanks

[OOZMAN]

You're talking about a pick right? Because instead of holding the pick parallel with the strings, I actually hold it about 45-60 degrees (anti-clockwise) from the strings. I find it gives a sound in between that of plectrum picking and finger picking, and it doesn't mute the strings as much as normal. Maybe I'm just weird.

And how fast can you go until your arm cramps? Just curious..

[Cypherus]

Well I try to play with pick and my fingers alternating depending on the song :x

and well i can play kinda fast rock songs for like 5 minutes or go all out like resistance by muse for about 30-40 seconds XD

[Staccato]

Incorporate the following picking method...

Carol Kaye's method is preferred by some of us.

-John

[Cypherus]

Thx I'll check it out
But I need something for my finger strumming which is what I'm having troubles with :x

[OOZMAN]

Originally Posted by Stacatto

Incorporate the following picking method...

Carol Kaye's method is preferred by some of us.

-John

I'm not sure how helpful this link is to this thread, but I just read it and WOW that's the exact opposite of how I pick, I pick near the bridge, use heavy strings and a thin (guitar) pick. Interesting...

[OOZMAN]

Originally Posted by Cypherus

Well I try to play with pick and my fingers alternating depending on the song :x

and well i can play kinda fast rock songs for like 5 minutes or go all out like resistance by muse for about 30-40 seconds XD

May I suggest four finger picking for fast stuff? It takes ages to get all fingers sounding the same, but makes tremolo picking super easy.

[Cypherus]

The thing is say for a song Mr.Brightside - Killers
My strumming gets problematic such as said above when hopping from one string to another

[OOZMAN]

Do it slowly, like reeeeeeeeeeeally slowy at first to get the action of your fingers right, get faster and faster, repeat. I do that for every song - especially songs where its changing strings rapidly, it works.

In other words, PRACTICE. Good luck.

[MonkeyBass]

Are you talking like Les Claypool strumming? Like flamenco stuff?

In that case use your index and middle finger or your middle and ring finger and strum over the fingerboard a bit. The neck will keep you from digging in too hard to the string. And just remember to lightly graze the strings. Ideally your fingernails and finger pads should sound about the same.

Just practice slowly and work up.

[Cypherus]

Originally Posted by OOZMAN

Do it slowly, like reeeeeeeeeeeally slowy at first to get the action of your fingers right, get faster and faster, repeat. I do that for every song - especially songs where its changing strings rapidly, it works.

In other words, PRACTICE. Good luck.

Thanks man it really helped I'm starting to regain my form XD