--- title: "Play Guitar Made Easy: Strumming Techniques (Videos)" description: "Play Guitar Made Easy: four videos with basic strumming techniques." image: https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/hs-fs/file-437789995-jpg/images/play_guitar_basics-strumming.jpg --- - [Home](https://info.flametreepublishing.com/blog) | - [ Contact & About Us](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/contact-us) T H E   F L A M E   T R E E   B L O G ![Hubspot-Header-readingandleeds-1](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Hubspot-Header-readingandleeds-1.png?width=980&height=200&name=Hubspot-Header-readingandleeds-1.png) # Music & Entertainment Blog # Play Guitar Made Easy: Strumming Techniques (Videos) Posted by [Jake Jackson](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/author/jake-jackson) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) **![play guitar, chord finder](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/hs-fs/file-437789995-jpg/images/play_guitar_basics-strumming.jpg?width=175&height=106&name=play_guitar_basics-strumming.jpg)****Good strumming** is a core skill for every guitarist, especially the acoustic specialist. Most people start with simple strokes up and down, so its worth **refining your methods** as soon as possible: it's all too easy to slip into bad habits! One of the great things about the guitar is that you can make a good sound very quickly with very little knowledge of chords, and no interest in notation: strumming will allow you to **get to grips** with the songs you like, or make up your own.  Strumming is one of the early steps in learning to play the guitar. This post is a companion to the **strumming technique** pages (Step 2, page 46 if you must know) in *Play the Guitar Made Easy*, [link here](http://www.flametreepublishing.com/Play-Guitar-Made-Easy.html)). You can also use our **[music website](http://www.flametreemusic.com) **to hear chords and scales. These short videos use a medium body **Morris acoustic guitar**, which has Fishman pick-up for live gigs. It's a robust guitar, it combines **bright tones** with a warm, reflective character: like a mini Martin (I wish!). ## Strumming Techniques 01: Right Hand Positions ## **** This first video shows the sound of strumming the guitar at different places - **at the bridge**, **at the end of the neck**, **over the sound hole**, each producing different qualities of sound. Playing close to the bridge creates a **tight, rockier feel**, but over the neck the sound is blousier.  ## Strumming Techniques 02: Rocky Strokes (Bass Strings) Strumming on the 6th and 5th bass strings, **close to the bridge** of the guitar, gives a nice rocky feel. Keep the wrist loose but hold the pick firm and try to **avoid too much movement** from the arm. This is a simple exercise based on **G major, A minor and E major,** played using barre chords (on the first two chords) to give a tight, solid sound.  ## Strumming Techniques 03: Upstrokes (Treble Strings)   Using **up-strokes** naturally strikes the trebles strings first to produce a **clear, bright sound**. This video plays the strokes slowly at first, then speeds up. Towards the end the **edge of the palm** is used to deaden the ring of the strings, creating a more percussive flow. The chords are all variations on **D major**.  This technique works well as a companion to **lower notes** sounded on another acoustic guitar, creating a **wider harmonic base** for melodic instruments or voices to move around. ## Strumming Techniques 04: Full Strokes (All Strings) There are **three types** of full stroke strumming here: **slow, full chords; faster full chords; fast and percussive**. The slower chords here ring out with a clear, natural reverb; the same chords played faster propel the song forward; the percussive final section allows for more **complex rhythms**, which would combine with other instruments, voices, or straightforward stamping of the feet! The chords here are **C major, A minor and G major**. ## There's More to Strumming Than Meets the Ear! An acoustic guitar can take the place of drums in a simple set-up, creating the engine room of a song. If more than one guitar is playing chords in the full-stroke style of strumming, one guitar should take the **first position chords** and the other use **second** or, preferably, **third position** to give some variety and width to the sound. ## Links - Our Flame Tree Music chord finder website with **sounds for each note**. [Here](http://flametreemusic.com/). Also now, **20 scales** for **each key**. - Take a look at [Flame Tree Rock](http://flametreerock.com/) for **inspiration**, **mixtapes** and free **downloads**. - More** video techniques** [here](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/chord-finder/bid/71853/Play-Guitar-Made-Easy-Left-Hand-Technique-01) and [here](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/chord-finder/bid/71128/Play-Guitar-Made-Easy-Right-Hand-Techniques). [![rock history, 60s music, 70s music, classic rock bands](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/293166/8a6de039-32d1-475c-ad72-d6f8395f97e4.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/293166/8a6de039-32d1-475c-ad72-d6f8395f97e4) Topics: [How to Play Guitar](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/how-to-play-guitar) ### Subscribe for email updates ### FREE Download [![FREE Digital Rock eBook](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/293166/84fddcda-9601-4729-a225-103dee1b81c6.png)](http://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/293166/84fddcda-9601-4729-a225-103dee1b81c6) Download a digital book, this special edition on **The Origins of Rock: The Fifties.** **![Origins of Rock, Classic Rock Bands](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/hs-fs/file-274821688-jpg/images/origins_of_rock_fifties_cover_final-resized-171.jpg) ** ### About Us We have some amazing books on classic rock bands, including the **brand new **books on** David Bowie, Pink Floyd **and [Rock, A Life Story](http://www.flametreepublishing.com/Rock-A-Life-Story.html): ![FLAME-TREE-Hubspot-Head.gif](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/hs-fs/hub/293166/file-398222920.gif?width=251&height=354&name=file-398222920.gif "FLAME-TREE-Hubspot-Head.gif") ### Follow us: [![flame tree music, chord finder, guitar scales, piano chords](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/293166/5d8b636d-f159-46fe-879a-01da634bf5ef.png)](http://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/293166/5d8b636d-f159-46fe-879a-01da634bf5ef) ### Subscribe to Email Updates ### Posts by Tag - [Flame Tree Music (24)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/flame-tree-music) - [Pop Music (24)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/pop-music) - [Rock Icons (22)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/rock-icons) - [Flame Tree Pro (18)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/flame-tree-pro) - [60s music (15)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/60s-music) - [Classic Guitars (14)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/classic-guitars) - [70s music (11)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/70s-music) - [Blues Guitar (10)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/blues-guitar) - [Jazz (10)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/jazz) - [Top 10 Jazz Albums (10)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/top-10-jazz-albums) - [Rock and Roll History (7)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/rock-and-roll-history) - [David Bowie (6)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/david-bowie) - [How to Play Guitar (5)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/how-to-play-guitar) - [50s music (4)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/50s-music) - [Flame Tree Pop (4)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/flame-tree-pop) - [Jimi Hendrix (4)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/jimi-hendrix) - [Rock Guitar (4)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/rock-guitar) - [The Who (4)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/the-who) - [Biography (3)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/biography) - [Country Music (3)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/country-music) - [Glastonbury (3)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/glastonbury) - [Pink Floyd (3)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/pink-floyd) - [Classical Music (2)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/classical-music) - [Elvis Presley (2)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/elvis-presley) - [Foo Fighters (2)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/foo-fighters) - [Great Guitarists (2)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/great-guitarists) - [How to Play Piano (2)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/how-to-play-piano) - [Johnny Cash (2)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/johnny-cash) - [Kurt Cobain (2)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/kurt-cobain) - [Led Zeppelin (2)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/led-zeppelin) - [Metallica (2)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/metallica) - [Nirvana (2)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/nirvana) - [Queen (2)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/queen) - [The Beatles (2)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/the-beatles) - [Alanis Morresette (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/alanis-morresette) - [Chuck Berry (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/chuck-berry) - [Dolly Parton (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/dolly-parton) - [Elton John (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/elton-john) - [Flamenco (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/flamenco) - [Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/goodbye-yellow-brick-road) - [Green Day (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/green-day) - [Guns N' Roses (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/guns-n-roses) - [Indie Music (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/indie-music) - [Jagged Little Pill (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/jagged-little-pill) - [Lauryn Hill (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/lauryn-hill) - [Paco de Lucia (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/paco-de-lucia) - [Radiohead (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/radiohead) - [Rocketman (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/rocketman) - [Scotty Moore (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/scotty-moore) - [hiphop (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/hiphop) - [miseducation (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/miseducation) - [rap music (1)](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/topic/rap-music) [See all](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands/bid/76027/Play-Guitar-Made-Easy-Strumming-Techniques-Videos#) - [Home](http://classic-migration-sandbox-293166.hs-sites.com/) | [Flame Tree Fiction](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/fantasy-gothic) | [Gift](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/art-of-fine-gifts) | [Podcast](https://lnk.bio/flametreepodcast) |  - [Music](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/classic-rock-bands) | -  [Lifestyle](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/simple-recipes) | -  [Links](https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/links/) © 2025 FLAME TREE PUBLISHING LTD. [flametreepublishing.com](https://flametreepublishing.com)