Strumming

scottquinton · #1 September 30th, 2006

So I'm trying to teach myself how to play since I have little time to work with someone. I'm using this site and I've borrowed books and I even pulled out chord sheets from church. The one thing I'm stuck with is strumming rhythm. How do you know what rhythm, is it just improvised? I'm getting the chords down and I feel I'm ready to start some songs but I don't know what to do? Thanks.

Hilch · #2 September 30th, 2006

I found tapping my foot along with my strumming has helped me heaps

I am only a beginner myself , hope that helps

Stratrat · #3 September 30th, 2006

I think you're talking about how exactly to strum to the song. It helps greatly if you've heard the song beforehand, so you have an idea of how it goes. Whenever I start learning a new song, I listen to the original version of it over and over as I work through the song (if it's not one that's 'burned into my head'), to pick up the rhythm, transitions and whatever else.

tomg123 · #4 October 1st, 2006

I've been playing just under 2 years so take this for whats its worth. Strumming was and still is the thing thats most mysterious to me. People talk about patterns for certain songs but its like the chicken or the egg thing, do you realize the pattern after you are strumming it, or do you try a pattern to fit something? either way you have pattern.

Another thing about strumming is techique, can you teach someone how to strum? does everyone strum the same way? I have to doubt it. I am finding my strumming is improving and I don't know why. I think its just practice and trying all different ways to get the sound you want then refining it. I can look at the way people strum who have been playing a long time that will help to give an idea, but you will not copy them exact. Another good thing to do is watch your self in a mirror to check out your motion and style

randomaire · #5 October 1st, 2006

It depends alot on what the beat of the song is.... 4 time 8 time etc etc.

some rythym is downstrum 4 times per beat, some is 8 etc.

It just depends.

Stratrat · #6 October 1st, 2006

You can find a good lesson about strumming on this site, right here: Strumming

Lcjones · #7 October 1st, 2006

Lets not confuse beat or rythym with tempo and speed.

There is "Beats Per Measure" and then "Beats Per Minute"

Beats Per Measure
For example, 4/4 timing would be 4 beats per measure. Remember x/4 = 1 measure. So 3/4 would be 3 beats per measure (as in a waltz). These two are the most common beats per measure you will find. There are many more.

Beats Per Minute
Then you have beats per minute (bpm). You can have a 4/4 beat per measure melody with 120 beats per minute. So, with 4/4 and 120 bpm, you would have 30 measures of 4 beats per measure to do in one minute. That's a fairly uptempo rhythm. Same thing with 3/4 and 120 bpm. Just 30 measures of 3 beats each. Ok, that's the math

....

You will want to utilize a metronome. Something like this to start. Just pick your "bpm" and do downward strums on each beat. Try different tempos or bpm. As you get comfortable with a particular downward rythym, add an Up-strum in between the down strums. Once you get the hang of down and up strums, your internal "rhythm" will start to kick in and.....and that's when it gets very cool

Hope this helped a bit ....

**
Les

Donovan · #8 October 2nd, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by lcjones

(...)
Beats Per Minute
Then you have beats per minute (bpm). You can have a 4/4 beat per measure melody with 120 beats per minute. So, with 4/4 and 120 bpm, you would have 30 measures of 4 beats per measure to do in one minute. That's a fairly uptempo rhythm. Same thing with 3/4 and 120 bpm. Just 30 measures of 3 beats each. Ok, that's the math

(...)

Great info Les, although I think that with 120 bpm it takes 40 measures of 3/4. Just a small detail. Oh, and for those struggling with strumming... Listening to various simple strumming patterns and learning to recognise them will help a lot. The Neilsonite lessons Stratrat suggested are pretty good. Also these strumming lessons used to be a great help to me way back. The examples use some recognizable tunes, so that helps a bit. The key is to learn to recognise the strumming patterns and practice 'm quite slow so you can comfortably get them engrained in your muscle memory. After that, it becomes auto-pilot stuff

krissovo · #9 October 2nd, 2006

The strumming rhythm was my biggest question and bugbear when I first started, at first I started trying to emulate perfectly any song I was learning by following a DDUDU pattern etc. I soon found that I was making a mess of things trying to concentrate to much on nailing the rhythm and lost the chords or the tempo.

After that frustration I then adapted a strumming pattern that I already knew to the song I was learning. I found that helped me loads and kept me interested, the only downside that it was not as perfect like the orginal but it was good enough for my ear.

Now I do not even concider the strum pattern when I look at a new song, I dont know why but within a minute or two of messing around I usually nail the pattern. I guess it is one of those things that happen with practice, it might not emulate the song perfectly but it works.

I think I now have between 5 and 8 4/4 time paterns and 3 or 4 3/4 time and even a 2/4 pattern that with a little adjustment fit most things I want to play.