Really Useful Strumming Techniques DVD with Justin Sandercoe www.justinguitar.com

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Really Useful

Strumming Techniques

with Justin Sandercoe

Video © 2008 - Chocolate Cake Productions

Text © 2008 - Justin Sandercoe

All rights reserved. (v. 1.0)

Filmed and edited by Jed Wardley.

Produced by Justin and Jed. Filmed in London, September 2007.

Please do not copy and distribute our work.

The web site gives away a lot for free so please don’t abuse our generosity.

If you didn’t buy this - please don’t use it…Thanks.

Really Useful Strumming Techniques DVD with Justin Sandercoe www.justinguitar.com

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DVD Chapters / Booklet Contents

Please note that all of the strumming patterns are available at the end of the menu’s
on the dvd for you to practice along with!

1

• Start

2

• Introduction

3

• Plectrums

4

• Holding The Pick

5

• Posture

6

• Dynamics

7

• Theory Basic Principles

8

• Strumming Patterns 1-4

9

• Strumming Pattern 1

10 • Strumming Pattern 2
11 • Strumming Pattern 3
12 • Strumming Pattern 4

13 • Working With A Metronome
14 • Strumming Patterns 5-8
15 • Strumming Pattern 5
16 • Strumming Pattern 6

17 • Strumming Pattern 7
18 • Strumming Pattern 8
19 • Muting Unwanted Strings
20 • Chord Changing Trick

21 • Ties
22 • Strumming Patterns 9-12
23 • Strumming Pattern 9
24 • Strumming Pattern 10

25 • Strumming Pattern 11
26 • Strumming Pattern 12
27 • Extended Ties
28 • Strumming Patterns 13-15
29 • Strumming Pattern 13

30 • Strumming Pattern 14
31 • Strumming Pattern 15
32 • Picking The Bass
33 • Strumming Pattern 16

34 • Strumming Pattern 17
35 • Strumming Pattern 18
36 • Exploring Dynamics
37 • Percussive Playing

38 • Strumming Pattern 19
39 • Strumming Pattern 20
40 • 16

th

Notes in Brief

41 • Outro

Really Useful Strumming Techniques DVD with Justin Sandercoe www.justinguitar.com

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1. The start of the DVD

PLEASE NOTE - To preserve the quality of the music I have had to include them on

separate sheets. So please print these out and refer to them as you use the DVD. This
booklet is just a reminder for some of the most important points!

2. Intro

• Remember to get each stage correct before continuing

3. Picks

• We will be using a pick in all this DVD!

• Recommended Picks

For electric guitar - Jim Dunlop Jazz III

For acoustic Guitar - Dunlop Tortex .60mm and Dunlop Nylon .38mm

4. Holding Your Pick

• Make the pick come out the SIDE of your thumb.

• Not more than 1 cm of pick coming out from your thumb.

5. Posture

• If you strum with your right hand, put your guitar on your right leg!

• Try not to cover the sound hole.

• Use the guitar to support your arm, so it can relax.

• Listen to how the sound changes depending on where you pick.

• Keep your guitar at the same height if you sit or stand.

• Relax!!!

6. Dynamics

• Hold your pick as light as possible

7. Basic Principles

• 4 beats in bar (always for this DVD)

See RUST Pattern #1

8. Patterns 1-4

• Tap your foot with the down strum

• Tap your left foot if your guitar sits on your right leg!

9. Pattern 1

• Use an Open E Chord

• Play along with the pattern even when I stop!

• Keep it even - like a pendulum!

See RUST Pattern #1

Really Useful Strumming Techniques DVD with Justin Sandercoe www.justinguitar.com

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10. Pattern 2

• Brush the thin strings with your up stroke!

See RUST Pattern #2

11. Pattern 3

• Remember to keep going even when I stop!

See RUST Pattern #3

12. Pattern 4

See RUST Pattern #4

13. Working With A Metronome

• Metronome for these examples is 80 bpm (beats per minute)

• Make sure you can hear it.

• Justin uses a Korg MA-30.

• Try and play with the metronome, don’t wait for it!

• Start at a speed that you find easy.

• Only speed up when you are comfortable

• The metronome will be set at 70 bpm for the next few examples.

14. Patterns 5-8

• Just make sure you play along - even when I stop.

• Get your groove on people!!

15. Pattern 5

See RUST Pattern #5

16. Pattern 6

See RUST Pattern #6

17. Pattern 7

See RUST Pattern #7

18. Pattern 8

See RUST Pattern #8

Really Useful Strumming Techniques DVD with Justin Sandercoe www.justinguitar.com

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19. Muting Unwanted Strings

• For C Chord use the Thumb mute, 3

rd

finger mute or “old skool”.

• For A Chord use the Thumb mute.

• For G Chord needs no mute (but there a few ways to play it!).

• For E Chord needs no mute

• For D Chord use the Thumb mute.

• For F Chord use Thumb mute and 3

rd

finger mute (or barre it!).

20. The Chord Change Trick

“Change after 4”

1 2 3 + 4 change

• ALWAYS try and get your new chord good for beat 1.

• With barre chords, you just get a click as your hand moves position.

21. Ties

• Ties “tie” notes together (the second note is not played).

22. Strumming Patterns 9-12

• Revise Pattern 8

23. Pattern 9

See RUST Pattern #9

24. Pattern 10

See RUST Pattern #10

25. Pattern 11

See RUST Pattern #11

26. Pattern 12

See RUST Pattern #12

27. Extended ties

• You can tie many notes together - but keep your hand moving!

28. Strumming Patterns 13-15

29. Pattern 13

See RUST Pattern # 13

Really Useful Strumming Techniques DVD with Justin Sandercoe www.justinguitar.com

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30. Pattern 14

See RUST Pattern #14

31. Pattern 15

See RUST Pattern #15

32. Picking The Bass

33. Pattern 16

See RUST Pattern #16

• Root notes for open chords and barres

- For E chord - root is on 6

th

string

- For G chord - root is on 6

th

string

- For C chord - root is on 5

th

string

- For A chord - root is on 5

th

string

- For D chord - root is on 4

th

string

** Good practice pattern is to play one bar each of E, A, D, A

34. Pattern 17

• Root to Fifth movement in the bass.

- For E chord - root is on 6

th

string / Fifth is on 5

th

string

- For G chord - root is on 6

th

string / Fifth is on 4

th

string

- For C chord - root is on 5

th

string / Fifth is on 6

th

string

- For A chord - root is on 5

th

string / Fifth is on 6

th

string

- For D chord - root is on 4

th

string / Fifth is on 5

th

string

See RUST Pattern #17

35. Pattern 18

See RUST Pattern #18

• Put the bass note on beat 1 and play about with other rhythm patterns.

36. Exploring Dynamics

• Holding the pick lose for quiet and tight for louder!

*** Exercise - Really quiet to very loud to quiet. Explore and experiment!

*** Exercise - Try accenting the 2 and 4 (emulate snare drum).

*** Exercise - Thick or Thin String strum experiments.

Really Useful Strumming Techniques DVD with Justin Sandercoe www.justinguitar.com

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37. Percussive Playing

- There are two approaches (LH mute vs RH mute)

38. Pattern 19

See RUST Pattern #19

39. Pattern 20

See RUST Pattern #20

40. 16

th

Note strumming (in brief)

• 8

th

note strumming has 8 possible strums in the bar.

• 16

th

note strumming has 16 possible strums in a bar.

• 16

th

note strumming has more energy.

41. Outro

• Practice makes perfect - repetition is the key.

• Relax! This very, very important.

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