Now we are going to bring in some more eighth notes to make two very common progressions.

Video Lesson

 

RUST 4

Using some 8th notes to make a cool pattern.

 

Open String Ring

One very common thing that happens in the real world is that the open strings are played with the final up strum of the bar when you are changing chords. Don't be afraid of it - it's ok to have that - once you know about it you can hear it on many hit records and great songs and it doesn't make them sound bad at all!

I can choose when I do it or when I don't, but it's a great help for a beginner to have that little extra time to make the chord changes (not that we will be joining the chord sequences and the strumming patterns just yet!).

I know you might think that sometimes it's not going to sound good, and you would be right. Sometimes it sounds great and sometimes it doesn't - you have to use your ears... again... if it sounds good, it is good.

 

RUST 8

This is another common pattern, and important one, because we will be developing this pattern soon, so make sure that you give this plenty of practice. Really aim to make it feel natural and easy, so you don't have to think about it. Repetition will make that work for you!

 

Watching Your Hand

Many people about now start to get worried about watching the strumming hand. When they do the fretting hand starts to go wrong and they get freaked out... When you are learning something new or checking for mistakes it is fine to watch your strumming hand, but try not to let that become the main thing you look at. You should try and develop a feel for it - let your strumming hand develop it's own eyes and find it's way. It will, and it will happen a lot easier than you might expect but you must have the confidence to let it go, and sometimes it will make mistakes, and that is ok, as long as you learn from them.

So conclusion, it's ok to watch you hand if you have to while you learn, but don't do it all the time!

 

Let's now look at some songs and chord sequences: BC-147 • Easy Songs For Stage 4

 

HELP!!!!

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