Guitar strumming patterns

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Strumming is just that - Gliding the pick or fingers across the strings in the rhythm of the song you are playing.

This sounds simple but the rhythm patterns are different for each song and strumming can be a study all to itself. Complexity or simplicity of your strumming pattern makes the song.

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Alternate Picking technique

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Alternate picking is an up down picking motion on the strings to increase your speed and smoothness. Alternate picking exercises are worth including as a regular part of your guitar practice routine.

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Finger Picking or fingerstyle

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When I think of finger picking I think of country music. Each note is played by an individual finger. Alternating bass can be combined with the melody.

Combined with left-hand techniques, finger style is one of the most impressive techniques you can master.

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Guitar vibrato

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Vibrato is used to give feel and emotion to your playing. That is when it works best. Use emotion to put your strings in motion.

You produce vibrato by using your wrist and fingers to wiggle the string and make the pitch wobble.

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Hammer-ons

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A hammer on is a legato technique that is produced when you sound a note by striking down on the string with your finger. The vibration comes from the force of your finger hitting the string and it helps to turn up the amp if you are using it as an electric guitar technique.

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Pull-offs

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A guitar pull off is a left-hand legato technique on the fretboard. One note is held down on a fret above on the same string. The note is sounded with a plucking motion with the finger below the other. So that one note is sounded with the pluck and then you hear the note above it.

This is a cool technique to combine with hammer-ons, slides etc.

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Palm muting techniques

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Palm muting is a very important method of laying your picking hand lightly across the strings to mute or partially mute some or all of the strings.

This makes your guitar more of a percussion instrument. Used in all styles either as an acoustic or electric guitar technique