Single Alternating Downstroke and Upstroke Strumming

Since you've been introduced previously to a single stroke downward strumming, you have to practice it everyday for speedy gain and familiarization. You can try researching other simple guitar beginner songs and it usually will give the array of simple chords you've learned. Usually these songs comes in a three-chord or four-chord display. Be always on the watch not to mute the designated "O" or "open strings" in the chords. As a beginner guitarist, you must learn first to sound the strings sharply or as clear as possible before learning those muting techniques.

The second strumming method i will introduce to you is the simple alternating downward and upward stroke. Remember in the previous lesson, i made you to do a single downward strum only at the indicated numbers of the time signature. In this second strumming lesson, you will learn to insert an upward stroke between the indicated numbers and this you will do at the part "and" of the time signature.

For example in 3/4 time signature "1 and 2 and 3 and", the upward stroke is done at the word "and". In your first strumming move, begin your first strumming move at the first indicated number, that is "1".

Additonal Basic Chords

As we put into practice those first batch of fundamental chords, we now gradually add some new ones to learn. These new added chords puts you in a different finger stretching manner and its better that we grouped this chords as to types of execution for a more focused chord execution practicing.

As we can see in the C chord diagram the ring finger is at the 3rd fret (5th string), the middle finger is at the 2nd fret (4th string), the forefinger at the 1st fret (2nd string). The C chord needs extra finger stretching effort on your 3rd finger but eventually your finger will get used to it later with ease. Just practice it many times.

  

Here at the A chord diagram the ring finger is pressed on the 2nd string at 2nd fret while the middle finger at the 3rd string at 2nd fret and the forefinger at the 4th string 2nd fret also. In the diagram the 5th string indicates "O" which means "opens string" so this string is included in the play and the 6th string with an "X" sign which means "dead string" is not included in the play.

In the G chord your ring finger is in the 1st string (3rd fret), forefinger at the 5th string (2nd fret) and your middle finger at the 6th and largest string (3rd fret). Incline your guitar finger board in a little upward position towards you for a more easy chord executions. Always see to it that the open strings are not muted by the other fingers.


  

The B7 chord is also a useful chord in many fundamental songs to learn. Here your middle finger is pressed on the 5th string (2nd fret), forefinger at the 4th string (1st fret), ring finger at the 3rd string (2nd fret), leave open the 2nd string and your little finger at the 1st string (2nd fret).

Learning How to Strum Your First Song

For our first application of a downward stroke strumming by your thumb, lets take the song "Amazing Grace".  Whats amazing at this song is it gives the most basic movements of the strumming hand in executing the chords. Here you can just do a downward strum in a very natural movement. You will just follow your hand's instinct to move. This song is in a 3/4 time signature  which means you are going to count this way: "1 and 2 and 3 and" as one whole measure. You are going to do a single downward strum of the thumb only at every indicated number of the beat no matter how fast or slow your counting is.

When your left hand's chord execution speed still can't adapt when you try to play a song, don't worry just take your time but be able to continue doing as this scenario is just a natural stage you will pass by. You will feel some small pains on the tip of your fingers as your learning goes but it will later be gone as you focus on.

How to Prevent Unwanted Muffling of the Strings While Playing

As much as possible we should make each finger be perpendicular to the fretboard. When you hold the strings down as in applying extra pressure, the tendency of your finger is to curve and thus enable you not to mute the strings lying underneath that finger. Advanced players use to mute the strings by damping the palm of the right hand on the strings while enabling other strings to sound clearly, but this too can unintentionally happen in most of those beginners. Whether one is left handed or right handed player make sure that the palm of hand strumming the strings is suspended above the bridge and the strings.Its advised to hold the guitar in a perpendicular position so that the moment your hand execute some chords the fingerboard its not inclining in near position of the palm.Also for a more easy playing, make the guitar fret board a little inclined upward going near you so that the palm edge beneath your forefinger will not touch the lower strings that cause it to mute especially when you're playing an E, E7, Em, Am or C chord. When playing a simple A & D chords, always watch your third finger as its tendency is to touch the lower string beneath it causing that string not to sound clearly or not to sound at all. This part is often unintentionally done by beginners who usually think that upon achieving right finger position they will think that all strings are sounding but the truth is it don't. So always see to it that the lowest string is not being muted by the third finger. The third finger has always the unwanted  tendency to make a straight finger position thus muffling other strings in the process. Applying pressure on it enable the finger to curve thus keeping it from touching the string under it.