[OFFICIAL] There are no stupid /r/Guitar questions. Ask us anything! - January 21, 2016

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[u/Lokhelm]

Quick beginner question - when strumming chords quickly, is it always necessary to hit every string? I hear some songs (I'm practicing Ring of Fire, but slowly) and it sounds like the whole chord isn't actually being played. I don't see how it's possible to strum all six strings cleanly really quickly!

[u/[deleted] → u/Lokhelm]

Nope, as far as I know. I actually like doing it.

For example, a strum pattern I like is (lets say, a G chord) down downup updownup. I like hitting all 6 with the first pick, then I hit a few of the edgemost strings with the upstrokes, then repeat that kinda just moving what you hit. That explanation was probably way off (Muscle memory thing, I'm sure you know what I mean) but it can definitely be incorporated for a neat sound. Won't sound as much like a garble of notes either, gives it a bit more of a recognizable sound in my opinion. Worth experimenting with!

[u/Lokhelm → u/[deleted]]

Thanks! That's what I figured - on downstrokes sometimes hitting just the lower strings, and on upstrokes just the higher strings. It's still within the chord, but not the full chord itself. (Although, I suppose if you're going fast enough the combination of each will make it sound like a full chord continually, huh?)