Strumming Patterns

We have a lot to cover in today's lesson . We will be playing all of the chords that you have learned: A, D and G, and we will be trying new strumming patterns with these chords. By now you should be able to play and change between these three chords. If you followed the lessons carefully you should find these exercises a logical and easy progression from what you have previously done. It's great to have you with us.

In today's lesson we will be playing a specific rhythmical strum on the guitar. The first three lessons have challenged your fretting hand. This lesson is going to challenge your strumming hand. Being able to play particular strums and rhythms is an important and often under practiced part of playing the guitar. Many musicians get caught up in learning crazy chords or playing speedy scales. This can often lead to the neglect of rhythm which is the basis for all music.

Remember in the last lesson we talked about warming up and using the correct fingering. Before you start this lesson, just try another one of these warm up fingering drills.

Exercise 1

This following warm up exercise involves the 6th, 5th and 4th strings (three thickest strings). Do use correct fingering when you are playing this. Remember:

• Index finger is 1
• Middle finger is 2
• Ring finger is 3 and
• Pinky is 4
• Play in down strokes and
• Take your time

Try and make each note ring clear. It is always better to play slowly and accurately than to sound muddy and unclear.

Play the audio for this exercise above.

Exercise 2

Now that you're warmed up it's time to move onto the main part of the lesson - strumming. We will also explain some simple music theory to you. Don’t be intimidated by this as you will pick it up quickly.

You may have noticed that all of the exercises you have been playing have been in groups of 4s or numbers divisible by 4. When you are next listening to the radio, try counting in 4s and see how many songs you can do that for.

Previously when you were strumming down AND up you were playing HALF beats. Hence counting: "1 AND 2 AND 3 AND 4 AND", to split each beat in half and strum in eights. Just to recap, let's just try one of our previous exercises again.

Once again we are working with the G chord. Strum up and down in a constant rhythm. Keep it slow and accurate. As in lesson 3, count out, "1 AND 2 AND 3 AND 4 AND", with your strumming.

Play the audio for this exercise above.

Exercise 3

Ok, let's push those boundries a little...

Basically, we will skip a couple of beats. In terms of what you have been counting let's try skipping the ‘2’ and ‘4’ counts. Watch the video to see what you need to strum or give it a go and check if you counted correctly.

Play the audio for this exercise above.

Note: The hollow strumming symbols below the tab chart indicate the strums NOT to play. Listen to the count on the JAM track play along. This will feel a little awkward at first, but like everything, it is achievable. Keep working at it and you will be able to do it. The Jam Track is quite slow, to help you concentrate on getting the strum sounding great.

Exercise 4

Let's now use the same strum but work with the chord A.

Play the audio for this exercise above.

Exercise 5

By now you should be having no trouble keeping up with the video. Now we will try it one more time slowly with the chord D. If you are still having trouble, try doing the measure then stopping. After stopping, wait, reset yourself, and think about what you're doing and try again.

Play the audio for this exercise above or download Audio mp3 - Exercise 5
(right click on the link and select "save as")

Now we are going to do the exact same exercises in the same order but at a quicker pace. Learning to play a song slowly and then learning it again quickly is an excellent method of learning music. You will find that increasing the speed in small increments will allow to play more complex songs than you would otherwise be able to do.

Exercise:
Go back through the last three exercises and complete them at 72 bpm (beats per minute). Try the online metronome at www.metronomeonline.com

Exercise 6

Let's try varying your strum a little. Using the strum that we have been practicing, this time we are going to open it out a little.

Play the audio for this exercise above.

This is the longest exercise you have been asked to play. It involves two different types of strums and for this reason spend a little longer on this exercise. If you can master this piece you are a long way toward become a complete guitar player.

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End of Lesson

You are doing really well.

In the next lesson we will learn the 1st part of the song 'Midnight Special'. There are only 2 more lessons to go before you will be playing the whole song with the Jamorama Band.

Until next time!

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