[schwieg]

I was wondering if anyone could give me tips or lead me to some lessons that would help to improve my strum and bass technique.

thanks

[billy16]

What exactly do you mean?

Strumming a chord and adding a bass note? Or something to that effect?

[wannalearn01]

I am assuming you mean how to have a bassline(or notes) that are apperent over the normal strumming...it would be what you keep a beat with...

First off, you will need to learn, like second nature, to tap your foot or some other way to keep timing...

What I do is:
1). Get a 4 beat going with your foot
--1 + 2 + 3 + 4<Where the numbers are you foot on the ground, and the "+" ' s are when your foot is in the air...after getting the tapping down, move on.

2). Now you are ready to strum. Act as though every time you get to the "1", that is telling you that it is the bass strum...I usually hit the top 2-3 strings...depending on the chord. You have to angle you pick different, or hold it tighter...I'll assume you can make the type of bassy chord you want, but your wondering how to make it sound better. Well everytime you get to the "1" position...hit that bassy chord, and then DON"T hit it again until you get back to the next one. Once you can do this for a while, you will be able to see how it is done...now this isn't the best sounding way, but it will give you SOME rhythm...which is what your going for I hope...if not then skip this post

It is tricky to get the basser chords to stand out, so what I usually do is flick my wrist more, flick it at those top strings when you go by them...at the bottom of the chord, flick your wrist a couple more times...you can do what ever you want until that next "1" comes up...now this isn't 100% right, but right enough until you can write music well...as in beats per measure, etc.

A really easy one to practice this at is:

G(320033)
C7?(x32033)
D(x00232)
C7?(x32033)
G(320033)

It'll be hard at first, but try for the "1" to do a slightly slower more diliberate strum.

Hopefully this will help someone,

T^roy

[schwieg]

I guessI should specify what I mean. I want to be able to play constant bass notes with my thumb while playing melodies on the treble strings with my fingers. Something along the lines of Robert Johnson or Blind Williw Johnson.

Hope the clarification helps
Thanks

[wannalearn01]

search for posts by DADFAD concering fingerpicking...he explains it best.

In short:

Practice a constant beat with your thumb until you can do it second nature...it isn't something you can just do, it takes a long time...it took me about a year of finger picking before I had full independent use of the thumb...not saying it would take you that long, but it isn't something that can be learned quick...

You can still the progression from above or this is a little lick I play:
B------------------------3------------------------1------3
G----------------0-----2--2--------------------0---0----
D--------0-----2----0-------0-------------0h2-------2--
A------2----3-----0------------0--2---3----------------3
E---3-----------------------------------------------------

Use your thumb for the top three and whatever else you want for the others...then you can always add a better melody line/more complex melody.

Search for DADFAD posts on fingerpicking...and you'll find what you need....and when asking a question make sure to be as specific as possible....the only bad question is the one asked wrong.

T^roy