Learn to play guitar with weekly video lessons & print-friendly guides! Learn your favorite songs & techniques with step-by-step tutorials that actually explain how to get from here to there.
Strumming "Fast Car" – what makes it so tricky?
|
Hey there, friends! New lesson today where I return to Tracy Chapman's 1988 classic Fast Car — with a focus on the strumming and rhythm. I actually taught the main riff back in lesson #494, and since then I've received a ton of member emails asking about strumming the rest of the song. And with this new lesson, I trust all your questions shall be answered! In my video (above) I'll teach you three different ways so strum things — starting with something a bit more easy-going, and building it up from there. You can use these strumming patterns during the chorus only, or likewise just strum the entire thing.... you don't have to play that main riff if you prefer not to. Be sure to check out the strum-along practice track I made to accompany this new lesson... it's a great way to get some reps in when learning any of the three patterns I teach! I also have separate videos demonstrating each of these strumming patterns over this track. Interested in learning the Fast Car riff? If you missed my previous lesson teaching the iconic riff this song uses, check out lesson #494 linked below! It teaches things step-by-step, starting with the four basic chord shapes you'll need, and building things up from there. This is something you can play with a pick or fingerstyle, and you even have options for simplifying a few of the chords should you not want to venture up the neck. Thanks and enjoy! As ever I hope everyone finds these lessons helpful... especially the many of you who wrote in asking about strumming this fantastic song. Speaking of fast cars, I finally made it to see Formula 1 here in Austin this past weekend – and had an amazingly fun time. Coming off of Austin City Limits festival the weekend prior, I must say I am a bit wiped – but man did I have a good time! Such a fun month here in Austin. With that, I'm off – I'll see you in next week's entry! Until then ✌️ David
PS – thanks for being a premium member on my Song Notes website! For your convenience here's a few handy links for this latest lesson. Be sure to check out the lesson page for the video practice track. Thanks and enjoy!
|
Song Notes by David Pots
Learn to play guitar with weekly video lessons & print-friendly guides! Learn your favorite songs & techniques with step-by-step tutorials that actually explain how to get from here to there.
Hey there, my friends! I’ve been very busy the last two weeks with a ton of helpful updates to FretMonster, my interactive fretboard tool, which are finally ready to share. Let's start with a brand new video tour of FretMonster, which shows off all the new features: I also put together a free PDF handbook to give you a proper print-friendly introduction to the tool. This started as one page, then became two, and each of the last few mornings I woke up with additional content I wanted to add....
Reader — this week marks 10 years since my family and I moved from Maryland to Austin, Texas. In that time, I’ve discovered so much incredible music that grew out of the blossoming Austin scene in the 1970s. Willie, Jerry Jeff, Guy Clark, and so many others. With that in mind, here’s a brand-new lesson for one of my all-time favorites... and one of the anthems of Texas country. Don't miss the handful of other Austin-inspired lessons further below! Thanks and enjoy ✌️ // David LESSON #593...
Reader – if you're looking for a last minute Father's Day gift, I've got you covered! For the next 3 days, gifted memberships to Song Notes Premium are 20% off. This gives you, your dad, or whoever you send the gift to, a full year of membership for $79 instead of $99. Here's a quick video explaining how the gifting process works: A quick text summary: Click here and buy the gifted membership I'll email you a magic link. You share the magic link with the gift recipient. You can do this at...