The Skool of guitar excellence
In our right hand we should have hold of a plectrum or pick. Try to get a medium one to start, you can experiment with different types as you progress.
Hold the pick firmly (not too tight though) between the thumb and first finger of the right hand as shown with a small amount of the pick showing. It is this part that will actually strike the strings.
Using your wrist rather than your whole arm, strike the 6th string in a downward sweep, hitting all the strings as you go. This is known as strumming.
Take time to get used to this and experiment with different positions of the pick.
For example, if the strum sounds very hard and the strings are buzzing madly, then adjust the angle of the pick as it strikes the strings in order to produce a more gentle tone.
RockSkool: 4:Pick & Strum
Sweep the strings rather than stab or pluck them violently.
Practise your upstrokes too, sweeping from the 1st string up to the 6th until you can do both reasonably well.
Once you have got this far (and don’t rush ahead of yourself!) then we are ready to form some notes with the fingers of our left hand (or fretting hand) and git rockin…well, nearly.
Once you pass the exam for this stage you can progress to 1st year at Rock Skool!