Why Does Your Strumming Sound Stiff Even When You Know the Chords?
Most players hit every string on every strum and wonder why their rhythm sounds flat. In this lesson I show you two specific moves that changed how my strumming feels. The first is the "chug strum" (or half-strum), where you aim for just 2-3 strings from the root note instead of raking the full chord. The second is a gradual expansion across the bar, starting tight on the low strings and opening up to the full chord by the end. Together they add dynamics and drive without any extra theory.
In this lesson, you’ll learn:
- The chug strum technique: how to aim for just 2-3 strings from the root to tighten up your rhythm immediately
- Which strings to skip on Am, C, G, and D so your chords don't sound muddy
- How to use a thumb mute on the low E to clean up root-five chords like Am and C
- The gradual expansion move: building from a chug strum to a full strum across a single bar for natural dynamics