Does this happen to you

I'm sure we can all relate to that feeling, mate. :D

I have a theory that it's to doing with the timing, strum pattern and general rhythm of songs. We spend so much time concentrating on the chords - writing them out even - that the right hand stuff gets overlooked.

You rarely see a strumming pattern written out with a song, and I've certainly never written anything down on any of my songs sheets. When it's 'fresh in the ear' our short term memory just picks up the pattern and follows it. But the next day, on our own, it's gone again... :cry:

It's happened to me many times. But now I know it happens, so I try and find some way of fixing it in my head. There are of course notes that you can make - DUDU D D, or whatever, for strums. 3/4 4/4 etc for timing, but I tend to vary the strums quite a bit anyway, so that doesn't always help. I even took a tape recorder along to one teacher, so that I could play it back the next day and help recall what the heck it was supposed to sound like!! :oops: I'm better at it now, but it used to be a big issue.

Cheers,

Chris

For me its the other way around. By myself I am good, with others I struggle to stay on beat.

When playing by myself I strum what feels right to me and me alone. I don't have to conform to the most famous recording of a song. Sometimes if someone steps in the room I might lock up in suprise trying to get the records pattern so they would recognize chord changes as actually being part of a song

I think a lot of good players over look the fact when they say play it how it feels; we don't understand how you can do that, It's a bit more complicated to us beginners.
So we are sitting there saying what do they mean by that, what im saying I guess if you don't have it in yea it's easier to forget

It helps to have the song. You can get it cheap on iTunes or you'll have to buy the CD. The reason you can't play it sounds like it's becuase you can't remember it, not because you can't physically play it.

I think everyone has that, I certainly do :)

I always have problems with strumming patterns, mainly because I don't see them the same as other people....DDuD? I know what it means, but I don't tend to strum rhythmically -- or robotically, all at the same speed....I might play that particular pattern with four downstrokes, and keep my hand still in between strokes....

But that doesn't really help does it....

I guess if you're playing and singing along with another guitarist, there isn't as much pressure on you to play the guitar well, and you can concentrate more on the singing....listeners tend to focus on the best part of a song anyway...

So if you're playing on your own, you've got to do both parts at once, and it's harder to get them both right - and here comes that p-word again, only practise is going to help....

When I'm learning a new song, it's the guitar part I'll learn first - and when I've got it down to my satisfaction, then - and only then - will I attempt to sing along with it.....

:D :D :D

Vic

hey Trev this aint just you mate it happens to me as well :)

Seriously though, perhaps it's not your playing technique that's the problem, maybe it's confidence?

I can see from your post that you obviously have a great respect for your teacher, and when you play together I bet you that respect induces confidence abut your playing, and therefore you play well, because you are confident and having fun. So try and translate that feeling into playing when you are alone, bring out the confidence you have in yourself.

Never underestimate the power of confidence!

I just play it how it feels ............ :lol: .......................... Sorry :oops:

Hang in there it will come and yes, get a recording of it. When I'm learning a new song, I get a copy of it and listen to it in my truck while driving to work, the store or running errands. You are not alone, everyone has to go through the same growing pains. One day you will get out your guitar and it will be there.

I always have problems with strumming patterns, mainly because I don't see them the same as other people....DDuD? I know what it means, but I don't tend to strum rhythmically -- or robotically, all at the same speed....I might play that particular pattern with four downstrokes, and keep my hand still in between strokes....
That's probably going to be a big hinderance to getting an even rhythm. It was a big hurdle for me, and I'm just helping (kicking more like!) a friend of mine over the same hurdle. The best advice I can give is to strum just a plain old DUDUDUDU for a good while, getting it as even as possible. Next move on to emphasising notes, so it's 'DuduDudu'. The next trick is to train keeping the movement of the strumming hand going even when you're not hitting the notes. The thing that worked for me was to just move my hand as if I was playing DUDUDUDU but only hitting one single note per bar. Doing that along with a metronome works really quickly :)

although i've technically been playing at the guitar for over 30 years i still think of myself as a beginner/intermediate.
i look at lessons by David, or some of the many tabs with stumming patterns that the generous members here have provided, and i cannot usually get the strumming at all for quite a long time.

usually i'll lose patience learning it that way and learn the chord pattern, maybe listen to the song once or twice, and then just try and mimic what i thought i heard.
that's what i think they mean when they say "feel" it.

Hi Trevor. I can really relate to you. It started in high school. I was 1st. chair trumpet and had solos to play. I told the band director that I'd play them but I wouldn't stand up. Sort of an ego maniac with an inferiority complex. With the guitar, as long as I was playing with other people everything was just fine. Then some wise guy would say "take it Denny", and it was as if I had never seem a guitar before. All I can say is that, in time, that passes(somewhat). Just keep at it and have fun.

The cool thing about chord progressions is that noone remembers them. So if people ask a song and you know the chords just play them with whatever strummingpattern you feel like. Just make sure the vocals and chord changes match up and all is well.

I always have problems with strumming patterns, mainly because I don't see them the same as other people....DDuD? I know what it means, but I don't tend to strum rhythmically -- or robotically, all at the same speed....I might play that particular pattern with four downstrokes, and keep my hand still in between strokes....
That's probably going to be a big hinderance to getting an even rhythm. It was a big hurdle for me, and I'm just helping (kicking more like!) a friend of mine over the same hurdle. The best advice I can give is to strum just a plain old DUDUDUDU for a good while, getting it as even as possible. Next move on to emphasising notes, so it's 'DuduDudu'. The next trick is to train keeping the movement of the strumming hand going even when you're not hitting the notes. The thing that worked for me was to just move my hand as if I was playing DUDUDUDU but only hitting one single note per bar. Doing that along with a metronome works really quickly :)

Actually, it's not a hindrance at all - I know what I'm doing, even if it'd take anyone else a while to work out.....

I play by FEEL, not by numbers.....I know, I know, I should learn to read music then I'd be able to play anything....but we'll save that for another thread - and to be honest, I don't really care if I sound a bit raggedy or a bit raw....even when I learn a song from tab, I'll still play it MY way.....

I think I've got a fairly original slant on guitar, the only problem I have is when recording - it's a bugger trying to put one of my strumming patterns to a new song and sing at the same time - kind of like scratching your head and rubbing your belly at the same time.....

:D :D :D

Vic

Thanks everyone I don't feel so bad now ...

It is very frustrating because I know I can play these darn songs ..Probably not as well as others but I am only learning the guitar for me ..I know I will never be a star or even play at the local hotel { pub } / { drinking hole } / { bar }

When I am by myseld every song goes D/U/DU/D/U/D NO darn change