I notice as a newbie it take me a little while to get into a kind like zone. when strumming and changing chords. Any warm up exercises for fretting or strummings i could do.
:agree: Me too! Kills two birds with one stone......learn chords, warm up. To practice strums, I often mute the strings and practice while watching TV, during commercials, including fingerpicking. It has worked for me.
You need to stretch yourself for few minutes and run regularly for about 30 minutes.It will warm you up after which you can carryout your normal activities.
I tend to pick up any of my ukes,blast through either 'Ain't She Sweet'
or 'Five Foot Two' (Virtually the same chords anyway!) and I'm set to
play away.........