when do you play guitar chords?

Question

i've used to play the guitar a few years ago, up to grade 3. i know how to play the actual chords, but when do you actually strike the chords, is it to a beat, or to the rhythm? do you play play it to the time signature, or it just when you want. and can you strike it with your thumb, or a pick...i'm so lost, when i should know this.

Answer 1

Every song must maintain tempo unless a tacet is in place.
Start forming rhythm by playing in four-four time and then in three-four time.

In four-four time, strike the fundamental tone of your chord first, which is beat one. Strum downward and that is beat two. Repeat that procedure once more and you will have played a complete measure in four-four time.

To play in three-quarter time, which is waltz time, strike the fundamental bass note of the chord first. That is beat one. Then, strum down or up twice, making beats two and three.

Speeding up those tempos will eventually increase your ability to play rhythm with your own songs and with others.

I've used thumbpicks since I began to play and keep my right-hand fingernails at the right length for fingerstyle playing. I first began playing four-four time by picking the bass tone of the chord with my thumb and then flicking downward with my forefinger to get the remaining chord notes.

That process eventully turned into using all my fingers in rhythm patterns and increasing my ability to play fingerstyle.

Go slow at the beginning and have patience during practice sessions.

Answer 2

Well, playing chords to a beat is the same as playing to the rhythm.

For most songs, you would strum or fingerpick chords in some kind of regular rhythmic accompaniment pattern while you (or someone else) sing the song. You can strum with a flatpick, or with your thumb, or use your thumb and fingers to pick individual strings in a regular pattern, whatever sounds good to you.

There are literally thousands of different rhythm patterns that you can strum or pick out to accompany various songs that you might sing. Get sheet music with chord symbols of songs that you like, then listen to a recording of the song. Play the chords along with the recording and see if you can pick up the underlying rhythmic groove of the song with your right hand to strum or pick along.

Answer 3

in case you're into fingerstyle playing, there is an easy thank you to be sure especially plenty any chord (see first link below). It gets trickier in case you elect to strum, besides the undeniable fact that it is nonetheless how chords are outfitted, finally. you additionally can choose to objective an open tuning (see ending of the 2d link for greater specifics), it is the least complicated thank you to play chords. the belief at the back of them is which you song your guitar to a chord, which makes issues great easy. different than that, your basically option is seek for a chord (A, C, D, E, G are the easy important chords, B7, Aminor, Eminor, E7, D7, Dminor, G7, are all especially easy too), and in line with probability attempt and how you're able to do barre chords (so so which you are able to use an identical shape to play in any key).

Answer 4

Striking the guitar strings is only a challenge of beat, when you want them to be. You have to be able to control the rhythm of your guitar, according to rhythm or beat that is being played. You can imitate the same rhythm, or play something accordable, as long as you dont sound weird. (actually I see no problem at all with sounding weird ;) )

But of course as a beginner, you have to start with trying to play some major songs. Yep, playing some cover songs should be the easiest way to get along with it.

You might wanna buy a picture book on general basics:
http://www.musicroom.com/se/ID_No/09704/details.html

Holding the pick:
http://www.electric-guitars-guide.com/how-to-play-electric-guitar-for-free.html

Answer 5

u can use a pick if u want. but usually its just whenever its best in a song like in red hot chili peppers songs they usually do the chords in the chorus i think. really just every soudns best and it could be to the rhythm. the time signature has nothing to do with chords it just tells u how many beat r in a measure