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Guitar Strumming Patterns
More advanced strumming patterns
This lesson we'll be expanding on the core guitar strumming patterns we
learned in the first two lessons of this series...
Part 1
- Guitar Strumming Basics
Part 2
- Essential Guitar Strumming Technique
We're
now going to look at some more advanced strumming patterns to
further develop our rhythm, timing and attack. Use the video, diagrams
and backing tracks to get your bearings and test your strumming
ability. Remember, always start slow using a metronome
(don't be impatient and jump ahead of your ability!).
Ok, let's get going...
Creating
more energetic strumming patterns
In
the previous lessons, our down-up strumming patterns have been
based around a constant and equal separation of beats. We discovered
that by "skipping" beats, we could make this constant drone more
interesting. However, using the same process, there's another type of
constant down-up strumming that immediately injects life into your
rhythms.
First, let's hear the difference, starting with the one we already
know...
Click to hear >
Now listen to the modification of this...
Click to hear >
Sounds
quite a bit different, doesn't it? Basically, the down strums are
spaced exactly the same as the first example, but the up strums
(hitting the treble/higher strings on your guitar) are pushed forward
slightly, so you get a "hiccup" effect:
So we're leaving that up strum to the very last moment,
followed immediately by a downstrum, with no breathing space like with
the first pattern. First, work on keeping
those down strums constant, in 4/4 time. Add in
the up strums, still focussing on the down strum marker points. It's
easy to lose the rhythm at first, so be patient and disciplined!
Now,
what's great about this particular rhythm is that it gives birth to so
many lively strumming patterns, using the "skipped
beat" technique we learned in the 2nd part. Obviously I can't show
you every single one, but let's
look at a couple of examples.
Click to hear slow example >
Remember, the red strums are the skipped
beats,
but maintain the down-up action with your strumming hand while you miss
the strings on those skipped beats. Keep that 4/4 meter ticking over in
your head (or tap your foot as you play, like a lot of guitarists -
that's one thing you don't have to be unique with!)
When you start to get more confident with these types of rhythms (metronome!)
you can try strumming patterns that compliment faster tempos, like this
one (I've left out the helpful aids this time as a little test!):
Click to hear slow example >
I think it's time to put these new strumming patterns to
practical use, with chord changes over a backing track.
Below is a jam track that uses the rhythm from above and changes chord
from D major to A major to E minor (although in the example,
I modify these chords to become Dmaj7, Amaj7 and
Em7 to make it more interesting).
More on chords in a separate lesson!
Listen to the example first >
Now try it yourself!
Download/play the backing track >
Onwards and upwards...
Muted
guitar strumming patterns
This
is where things get a little funkier! Muted strumming patterns add more
of a percussive element to your rhythm. By interrupting that constant
drone with sharp stops, you can add yet another dimension to your song
writing.
 First,
the basic concept behind muted strumming.
Muting
is where you stop a string/note from ringing out/resonating. The aim is
to be able to stop it in time with the rhythm you're playing.
Here's how to mute...
Pick
any chord and strum it once to ring out the notes. To mute the strings,
simply touch them using your strumming hand. The best part of your hand
to use for this is the meaty part below your pinky/4th finger.
Try the simple exercise below to test your timing using down strums and mutes.
Click to hear example >
If you're struggling, watching this video might help clear things up...
Once you have the basic muting technique nailed,
it's time to insert this
technique into the strumming patterns we have learned over the course
of this series (although, of course, we're by no means limited to those
patterns).
It's important to keep your up and down strumming action in the same
constant motion and literally add
in the mutes. Don't lose your momentum!
Let's start by adding some mutes
into the down-up strumming pattern we learned in part 2...
Click to hear slow example >
When
playing acoustic, I like to bring my muting hand down hard enough so
you get a tapping sound. It's a nice percussive touch.
Add in the skipped
beats we learned in part 2, and you can see how we're
simply adding layers to those foundation strumming patterns...
Click to hear slow example >
Don't feel like you must always use mutes and
skipped beats in your strumming
patterns. Use them only when you feel they compliment the kind of music
you're creating. For example, a slow and downbeat song won't
necessarily be complimented by the liveliness of skipped beats and
muted
patterns. Think about context!
Let's finish with a more complex muted pattern and a final backing
track.
Take a listen:
Click to hear slow example >
Now, let's work this strumming pattern through a few chord
changes, starting on Cmaj7, changing to D7
and then to Fmaj7.
Listen to the example first >
Download/play the backing track >
I hope you found this lesson useful. Obviously I can't show you every
possible strumming pattern there is, but I hope I've given you some
inspiration to try out your own rhythms using alternate rhythms and
muting - build upon it, develop it and most of all, enjoy it!
Go to Part 4 >
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