Picking
Well, I probably should have labled this as "Picking Individual Notes From A Chord", but "Picking" sounded better. To become a great player, as we metioned earlier, you must have rhythm. If so many great guitarists exist, then why don't you see them strumming all the time? Good question. This and the next few topics will answer it in detail. You don't HAVE to strum in order to keep perfect rhythm. For example, you can play individual notes from a chord. Remember those 4/4 exercises we did in the last section? Well, guess what...We get to do 'em again. But differently, of course. tee-hee!
Strum to the G chord again. Then, we'll make a progression up to C, and back down to G.

 

E|-----------------3-------3--------------------

B|--------3-----------3-------3-----------------

G|------------0---------0-------0---------------

D|------3-------3-------------------------------

A|----2-----------------------------------------

E|--3-------------------------------------------

----1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and

 

E|----------------3---------3--------|Repeat to G

B|--------3---------------3---3---3--|

G|------0-----0-----------------0----|

D|----2---------2--------------------|

A|--3--------------------------------|

E|-----------------------------------|

----1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and

Do you see where I'm goin' with the picking idea? You can still keep perfect rhythm, and not play all chords. How many drummers do you know that will play straight without any fills or rolls? I don't know any. It adds to the mood of the music.

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