Believe it or not, there are beginning and even intermediate guitarists who do something like this from time to time. It’ s not consistent, and it will cause problems with collaboration endeavors of any kind, and certainly in the recording studio. So what’ s the remedy? It’ s a super simple but essential solution: Keep your strumming hand moving. If your hand consistently goes down and up, similar to the movement of the pendulum of a clock, you have no choice but to stay in tempo. Problem solved. No hesitation. Better accuracy, better strumming, better grooves.
Ok, let’ s talk about MISTAKE # 3: CHUNKY STRUMMING. I’ ve heard this a LOT out there. Someone stays in tempo, but their grip on the pick and the tension in their wrist is so tight that it translates to some pretty“ harsh” sounds. If my grip and my wrist are tense, no matter how beautiful my chords are, it creates a bottleneck, and it actually sort of ruins the sound. What’ s the remedy? Loosen your grip, and loosen your wrist. This allows for a much more musical approach. Really, it’ s a simple thing, but ask yourself the question –“ Can I strum like this for the better part of 30 minutes and not get tired?” If the answer is“ no,” you’ re likely putting too much effort into it. It’ s not about laziness; it’ s about economy of movement, and more importantly, artistry.
MISTAKE # 4 IS USING THE WRONG GAUGE OF PICK. I’ m coming at today’ s discussion from the perspective of a guitarist who strums with a pick. It’ s good to experiment, but the remedy for using the wrong gauge of pick is this: Use a pick that’ s designed for your style. If you’ re a lead guitarist, you’ ll likely use a different gauge or shape than if you’ re a strummer. For me, the choice for over 20 years has been the Jim Dunlop Tortex. 60 millimeter pick.
I decided on these picks because I was recording an album about 20 years ago, and I was strumming with a heavy gauge pick. The engineer said it was really hard to balance the signal I was sending him through the mic because it was so intense, even when I tried to compensate by lightening the attack on the strings with my wrist. So that pick was too heavy for strumming. Now, by contrast, a much lighter gauge pick can also be too thin and can sound more like paper grazing the strings. Lighter gauge picks can also wear down faster. The engineer on that session recommended this medium gauge pick. I tried this one out, and I not only used it for that album – I used it for the next album, and the next concert, and the next worship leading opportunity, and then … I just kept using it. These picks don’ t really wear down, either. This. 60 millimeter
Tortex pick is my pick of choice. I’ ll link to these picks right here, and if you purchase them on this link, I get a small affiliate commission at no additional cost to you.
OK, MISTAKE # 5 IS STRUMMING THE SAME VOLUME THE WHOLE TIME. We may be consistent in this regard, but it’ s not necessarily musical. Dynamics can make a huge difference. Now here’ s an important question – can dynamics and intensity vary even within a groove? Absolutely. With solid dynamics, I not only play with more musicality because of the contrasts, I show my collaborators where I am in the groove, and I give them opportunities for their artistry to shine. So the remedy to strumming the same volume the whole time is: play with sensitivity and contrast.
I hope these 5 mistakes brought some areas of your playing to light that need these 5 remedies. Keep strumming skillfully for the Lord!
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David Harsh David Harsh is a nationally touring worship leader, songwriter and performing artist. He is passionate about equipping guitarists to discover their potential. Learn more and join now at www. GuitarSuccess4U. com February 2026 Subscribe for Free... 65