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  • Strumming just two strings

    Posted by Jim C on November 12, 2025 at 9:03 am

    When playing the Blues Shuffle, I can manage the fretting but I have trouble hitting both strings with the pick, particularly in the A section and the D section. I very often am missing the fretted string. I am probably putting too much energy into the pick or I’m lifting off from the first string, or a bit of both. Any suggestions on how to overcome this tendency?

    Jim C replied 4 months, 1 week ago 4 Members · 6 Replies
  • 6 Replies
  • Skyman911

    Member
    November 12, 2025 at 10:12 am

    This is pretty common, and just takes practice. My only suggestion is to play as slow as you can.

    • Jim C

      Member
      November 13, 2025 at 1:47 pm

      Thanks!

  • petelanger

    Member
    November 12, 2025 at 11:39 am

    It’s awkward when you are starting out, you will get more and more comfortable as you hold and play the guitar in the coming years. It’s never too early to take it to the TV room with you. Even if you just hold it and fondle the strings a bit, but I take it and noodle with it while I’m watching my favorite shows. I’ll go through some of the challenges or parts thereof, play through some chord changes of songs I am working on, etc.
    Another thing you might try, this specifically to the problem mentioned: I think you are trying to play only the A and D strings, right? See if you can mute any string you are not wanting to play, such as the E string. If you can just rest a finger on it it will quietly thud and not ring.

    • Jim C

      Member
      November 13, 2025 at 1:46 pm

      Thanks for the insight.

  • jorgemac

    Member
    November 16, 2025 at 1:22 pm

    Like Pete says Take that darn guitar every, except the bath room.. Another way to play 2 adjacent strings is a by Hybrid picking them. If you are picking the A and d strings on the 2nd fret< or anywhere else you have two adjacent stings Place your pick the the A string 2nd fret and pick the D string 2nd fret with your middle finger ad the same time, You can also just use 2 finger, middle and ring to pick the note. Both of those ways of picking can also be used to pick strings that are 1 string or two apart. A C chord -D string 2nd fret and the B string 1st fret. My pick is striking the D string 2nd fret and my middle finger is picking the B string 1st fret at the same time. Or use the middle and ring finger instead of using the pick. Just different ways to shimmy up that tall pole…

  • Jim C

    Member
    November 16, 2025 at 6:18 pm

    Thanks.

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