Playing new songs...

[strubes]

I've been playing for about 4 months now and can play basic chords/scales and whatnot. The only songs i can learn are ones that you pick -- i understand the tab:
ex. ----0----2-----3-------
-3-------------------0---
---------------------------
---------------------------
---------------------------

When i trying to learn a song with strumming, it doesn't tell you how to strum (what rythm), it just tells you what chords. If this makes any sense i'd appreciate any help.

In response to cyberfret's list of easy songs to play; how can i learn how to play: horse with no name(america) or what i got(sublime).

Thanks

[cyberfret]

The tabs that you find on the Internet will not show you the strums for the most part. Even if your bought some published sheet music, many times it will still not show the strums. Published tablature will sometimes give you too much information, when all you really need on some songs are the chords and the strum. Many times songs will not just stick with one exact strum. The guitar player is strumming within the style and character of the song, and that is sometimes a hard idea to understand as a beginner. There are some very specific rhythms that you need to play in this song, and others that you can vary.

Try to listen for key rhythms that you are hearing, in the bass or drums. Sometimes you are not going to specifically hear the rhythms that the guitar player is playing. You are going to have to decide on a strum based on the overall feel of the song. Different strums can be equally correct for the same song (slight variations, not completely different), as long as you are playing in the same feel. How do you know what that feel is? There is the thing that is hard to teach...experiment a little. Find the basic speed that you think your right hand should be moving (usually 8th or 16th notes) and hit the strings when you want to hear something, and miss the strings when you don't. The general idea of strumming is that your right hand will be moving constantly down and up.

Learn as much as you can about rhythm. Understanding rhythms is the key to hearing them.

Here are some basic lesson on strumming that you may want to go through.

chord strumming 101 - an intro. to basic strumming patterns for guitar
http://www.cyberfret.com/techniques/strumming/101/index.htm

4/4 accompaniment strum patterns - Learn these basic guitar strums with some familiar song examples.
http://www.cyberfret.com/techniques/strumming/basic-44/index.htm


As for finding the music to specific songs, go the tablature section of Cybefret.com where you will find links to many tabs sites. I would always suggest finding a couple of different versions of a song. There A LOT of completely wrong tabs on the Internet.

Tablature section
http://www.cyberfret.com/tablature/index.php

--Shawn

[Sandman_96707]

Hmm, can't figure out the rhythm....have you considered LISTENING TO THE SONG????

[strubes]

i appreciate the help cyberfret