When learning to play a string instrument, particularly a guitar, you will most likely hear so many terms that may seem relatively new to you. Some of these common terms you will often hear in a guitar course are strumming and plucking. These two are the most common methods of vibrating a guitar’s strings in order to produce sound. To be able to play the guitar, you essentially need to master these basic methods.
Strumming and plucking vary in numerous ways. Some guitarists prefer strumming because it is relatively easier compared to plucking. For the more advanced players, on the other hand, plucking essentially offers a wider range of playing techniques they can explore. In this article, let us share with you some of the most important differences between strumming and plucking as methods of playing the guitar.
How does strumming work?
Strumming is considered the most classic way to play the guitar. A strum is basically a sweeping action in which your finger brushes over several strings of the guitar to produce sound. Some guitarists also use a plectrum to do a strum. A plectrum, which is also often called a “pick,” is a tiny, flat tool used by musicians to pluck or strum a string instrument.
When you strum the guitar, you basically stroke the strings of the instrument and touch several of them simultaneously. The combination of the strings you touch essentially makes up a chord. A chord is a combination of three or more different notes that sound together. When you are practicing the guitar, one of the first things that you need to learn is how to play simple chords.
What are the advantages of strumming?
Some musicians prefer strumming their guitars because it produces a more natural sound compared to plucking. When you strum your guitar with your fingers, you will most likely notice how easier it is to articulate the sound that you are aiming for. Even without the use of a plectrum, you can just strum your guitar with your fingers and still produce a beautiful tune.
Aside from generating natural sounds, strumming your guitar without a pick can also increase the richness of your music. When you simply play your chords with your fingers, you can make each note sound off quite individually. This will allow your chords to sound a lot richer and more resonant. Moreover, strumming with your fingers can also provide you with more freedom to experiment with how you play your guitar.
How does plucking work?
In comparison to strumming, which relies on the broad action of the fingers, plucking involves a more precise movement of individual fingers against individual strings. In most cases, a plectrum is also used to perform this guitar-playing method. The size and thickness of the plectrum are essential factors in determining how each string will sound when plucked.
Like strumming, plucking different strings together ultimately makes a chord. However, the major difference between the two is that instead of stroking, you usually pull individual strings separately or together when you pluck. For most beginners, plucking is harder than strumming because plucking more than one note at a time basically requires familiarity with the guitar and muscle memory.
What are the advantages of plucking?
The main advantage of plucking is that it makes it quite easy for many musicians to pull off several guitar techniques like palm mutes and tremolos. Aside from this, mastering how to pluck the strings of your guitar using a plectrum will also make it easy for you to vary the intensity of your plucks and add diversity to your music.
Contrary to what many beginners think, plucking is not actually that unfriendly to newbies. A beginner can absolutely learn how to pluck with enough learning and practice. As a matter of fact, practicing how to pluck can even make it easier for you to familiarise the fretboard of your guitar and help you get used to the up and down motions that every good guitar player is required to learn.
Conclusion
Both strumming and plucking have their own merits when it comes to playing the guitar. They are the most basic methods that you need to master if you want to be a full-fledged guitarist with a well-developed musical prowess. By knowing the differences between strumming and plucking, you can easily identify which of these fundamental methods is more suitable to use for every great song that you will play.
To enhance your guitar skills more quickly, it is highly recommended that you enroll in guitar classes in Singapore with Studio72. We offer some of the best guitar music lessons in Singapore that will help you achieve the level of musical mastery that you have been dreaming of. With our extensive and engaging lessons, you will indeed become the best guitarist that you can be in no time!
