BaTM help: How do you strum?

**ES942** · Joined: 02 Mar 2006 Posts: 3445 Location: Snalbans

when i strum, i do my best to strum down on the downbeat and up on the offbeat. it helps me alot.

**emptyset** · Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2006 5:29 am Post subject:

^^ Agreed. This may sound obvious, but it's helpful to make extra sure your fingers are in place on the frets a split-second ahead of time. Also, even, rhythmic strumming > fast strumming. Slowing things down a little works wonders.
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**dspoonrt** · Joined: 20 Feb 2006 Posts: 2449 Location: Columbus, OH

I don't want to be a dick and support any bad habits, but I five-starred the song down-strumming only, so it's definitely possible. I don't know if I'd recommend it as it's probably not feasible for everyone. But it works great for me.

It is probably is a good idea to learn how to alternate strum, though, as you will need it on The Breaking Wheel (and possibly Cowboys From Hell).

But don't give up on down-strumming if you're really crazy about it.
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Check out my songs on GHTunes for GH:WT (Xbox 360):

"Power Surge," "Funk You," "Grindsaw Groove," and "DisorderlyConduct"
- all charted by dspoonrt

**silentlassassin** · Joined: 13 May 2006 Posts: 47

**MLafer** · Joined: 26 Mar 2006 Posts: 464 Location: Canton, MI

I know Tapion013 has 5-starred the Breaking Wheel with only downstrumming (at least, he claimed to do so on GameFAQs). Dspoonrt, do you downstrum every song other than TBW and CFH? This is the case with me and I would be interested to know any other people ranked above me in expert who only use downstrumming.
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**dspoonrt** · Joined: 20 Feb 2006 Posts: 2449 Location: Columbus, OH

Yeah, I down-strum every song but those two. It gets tiresome on songs like Higher Ground and BATM, but I feel like I'm more accurate doing so.

And I only altenate-strum the main riff of Cowboys. I even get the YBYRRYBYRR about a third of the time down-strumming.
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Check out my songs on GHTunes for GH:WT (Xbox 360):

"Power Surge," "Funk You," "Grindsaw Groove," and "DisorderlyConduct"
- all charted by dspoonrt

**DrOid** · Joined: 19 Apr 2006 Posts: 132 Location: Houston, TX

**GibsonGuy100** · Joined: 04 Jul 2006 Posts: 86

But I've beaten BATM on Hard using only down strumming although. Atnd reached 92% on Expert.

**Maelstrom** · Joined: 28 Jun 2006 Posts: 30

I almost always downstrum too

Especially on Bark at the Moon. But after a few run throughs my arm is quite tired. It's all in the elbow man

I probably wouldn't be able to if it wasn't for my little stint of loving the crap out of black metal a few years ago haha. Those were the days.

**rammy** · Joined: 12 May 2006 Posts: 59

Ok on the subject, I cannot strum the main riff at all. I got no problem at all with every other sections of songs (chorus, fast riff in middle of chorus (yeah all in one), solos) it is just the damn main riff. I have noticed there is a gap just before every 3 green buttons each time and that fucks me a lot. I tried to just nail the green notes and to not touch the yellow and blue and no chance. If I could get that riff, I would be able to 5 stars it on Hard (one of the four remaining songs). My alternate strum I think is always either too fast, too slow or just off-beat. That sucks a lot.

edit: And to make things worst, I can play it fine on the guitar...
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**dspoonrt** · Joined: 20 Feb 2006 Posts: 2449 Location: Columbus, OH

**Virux** · Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2006 10:03 am Post subject: How To Strum

I strum the main riff as follows. D=DOWN U=UP

D D DUD D DUD D DUD D DUD D DUDUD D DUD D DUD D DD D D D D D D D D

Sorry thats a horrible way to show how i strum but basically i strum all down except for the 3 and 5 note riffs. After awhile of practicing you get a feel for it and it becomes a basic pattern. After practice I do the whole riff without missing one note. The riff is plain hard sometimes and you can't always blame how you do it. Sometimes the drums throw you off or you loose track of timing. Just takes practice and skill.

**metsabbth10965** · Joined: 28 Jun 2006 Posts: 39

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJIzXCVEcY4

**dspoonrt** · Joined: 20 Feb 2006 Posts: 2449 Location: Columbus, OH

**metsabbth10965** · Joined: 28 Jun 2006 Posts: 39