5 Techniques to Get Better at Acoustic Guitar

Video Summary:

We all love to learn new acoustic guitar techniques. Whether you're a beginner guitarist or looking to take you playing to the next level, this video will show you how to make your playing more musical.

Tip #1: Change chords at the right time. If you ever feel like you're rushing to get to the next guitar chord, you should think about where you're beginning your chord change and ending it. You want your movements to be smooth so lifting up on the beat before your change and landing comfortably on the beat will really make a difference. See video for example.

Tip #2: Use more dynamics. Not all strumming is created equal. When it comes to strumming the acoustic guitar and dynamics, we tend to think more in song sections. We strum lighter on the verses and heavier on the choruses. While this is a great start, you can have different levels within the same measure. Swelling up and down throughout a pattern brings the song to life. Try out the volume knob exercise in the video pracitce this technique.

Tip #3: Play with the drums. Your playing will sit in the pocket so much better if you can play like a drummer. Where is the kick drum and where is the snare? Place the focus on your lower strings for kick patterns and strum harder on your snare beats. If you don't have a drummer, using this technique is even more valuable. Practice along with the example in the video.

Tip #4: Create picking patterns using arpeggios. When it comes to arpeggios, the general rules are to start on the root note and then pick in the same pattern you would strum. It's much harder to explain than to just see it so give that video a watch.

Tip #5: Change your bass notes around a common voicing. Rather than playing a D Bm G A progression. Try holding a D shape and then change just the bass note. Check out the example in the video.

Learn Guitar From The Ground Up

There's nothing more important than building a strong foundation for your guitar playing journey. Our Fundamentals of Acoustic Guitar course is the perfect resoure for developing strumming technique, playing perfect chords everytime and understanding chord charts. Save your time and money by building your foundation from the ground up. Learn more about Fundamentals of Acoustic Guitar.