Each slash represent a strum. A single slash is equivalent to a crotchet, or a 'beat' if you like. Slashes that are joined with a single line represent quavers, or 'half beats', while those joined with a double line represent semi-quavers, or 'quarter beats'. The theory behind it is a purely mathematical concept - two quavers add up to a crotchet and two semi-quavers add up to a quaver. Every piece of music has what is called a 'time signature', which basically tells you how many beats in each bar. So if a piece of music is in 4/4 time (ie 4 beats to a bar), you may see 4 crotchets (4 single slashes), or 8 quavers (8 slashes joined by single lines, or 16 semi-quavers (16 slashes joined by double lines) in any bar. Or you may see a combination (eg 2 crotchets, and 4 quavers - as long as the total number of beats adds up to 4). It's a bit hard to explain without being able to show you. But here's the simple explanation for the notation: when you see single slashes, strum once on each beat. When you see slashes joined by single lines, strum twice for each beat, and when you see slashes joined by double lines, strum 4 times for each beat. Hope this makes some sense, but if it doesn't, maybe someone else can explain it better!!!
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