Strumming & Arpeggiating Combos
It might not require you to learn anything new...
By combining two easy and common techniques...
Your rhythm guitar playing can sound better
We are going to talk about the practice of combining arpeggiated chords and strummed chords. An earlier video explains complex picking patterns that can be applied to chords to arpeggiate them. Feel free to refer back to that video to refresh your memory. This article describes how switching between arpeggiating and strumming in different combinations creates exciting sounds. The following are some simple examples of using this practice
Example One–Alternate arpeggiating & strumming on different chords:
- With two different chords, arpeggiate one of the chords and then strum the other chord. Alternate these two chords back and forth to see how that sounds. Become familiar and comfortable with the switch from arpeggiating to strumming.
Example Two–Arpeggiating & strumming on the same chord:
- With a single chord, try alternating arpeggiating and strumming without changing chords. Then, change chords and do the same.
Example Three–Arpeggiating & strumming different parts of a song:
- Here, you will take a whole section or part of a song’s chord progression. Start by arpeggiating that chord progression all by itself. Then, when going to the next section of the song, strum it. This technique creates an interesting and more musical sound.
If you are sitting on one chord for a long time, you can try arpeggiating and strumming the same chord, alternating between the two techniques several times before your chord changes.
Arpeggiating and strumming chords can be used in many different kinds of combinations. The examples outlined above are just a selection of a few. This is a fun and relatively easy exercise to play around with. Try the examples and then come up with your own variations!
Remember to always have fun with your guitar and I’ll see you next time…
If you are looking to learn another excellent rhythm guitar skill, you can check out my FREE lesson on how to weave lead guitar melody lines to your rhythm guitar playing here: https://rhythmguitarlessons.net/Pro
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About Mark Turko: Mark Turko is a professional guitar player and instructor with over 30 years of experience and teaches guitar lessons online.