Newbie question about strumming

[benjordan06]

I just started playing, or trying to play

anyway, im better with my fingers instead of a pick in my opinion, but i cant strum upwards with my fingers, any tips?

Thanks!

[Tom S.]

Try using a thin pick with more flexibility. If you use your fingers, you have to reorient them on the upward strum so they don't catch.

[Scotto]

Originally Posted by benjordan06

I just started playing, or trying to play

anyway, im better with my fingers instead of a pick in my opinion, but i cant strum upwards with my fingers, any tips?

Thanks!

I rarely play with a pick. I use the backs of my fingernails to down strum and the back of my thumbnail to up strum. Seems to work for me

[SparkyMark]

Yeah Back of thr thumb for upstrokes is a common method when not using the pick. It should come with practice.

Scotto, post quick - you're on 666!!!!

Best

Sparky

[waynep]

I started using a thin pick. It flexs easy and allowed me to make mistakes orienting the pick. As I improve, I find that I can orient the pick better and like the sound of a medium pick. I am referring to std Fender picks that come in packs of 10 or 12.

wayne

[jastevens]

I was in the same boat several months ago (just started playing last year). I'm still more accurate with my bare fingers on most stuff, but I'm starting to get pretty good with the pick too now. Just takes time.

Now I switch around as much as I can: fingers, light pick, medium pick, celluloid pick, plastic pick. Sometimes when I'm playing with my fingers only I use my thumb nail for the up strum, sometimes just my fingertips... Really it's all good, it just depends on the sound you're after.

Stay with it.

[jazzinthebox]

A thumbpick can be held just like a flatpick on upstrokes.

[Bluepoet]

Originally Posted by benjordan06

I just started playing, or trying to play

anyway, im better with my fingers instead of a pick in my opinion, but i cant strum upwards with my fingers, any tips?

Thanks!

Try thinking of strumming with your hand and wrist, as well as your fingers--think shake hands, but with flex in wrist...also, try upstroke on just the bottom (smallest) three or four strings--bass strings are usually on the downstroke, and sound muddy on upstroke, anyway...one other, try upstroking with different fingers, like the smaller fingers--there's even a strumming that uses a circular motion for down/up stroking...my point? Just keep trying different things, to see what you come up with...I prefer fingers to picks myself, but I'm learning to use a flatpick just for a different sound once in a while...I still like the nuances of tone that fingers produce, though...good luck!!