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The next step after learning your basic chords (see
basic chords)
is to learn some strum patterns that can be used for accompaniment
in a song.
prerequisites:
an understanding of the following rhythms: quarter
notes, eighth notes and dotted eighth notes (see understanding
rhythms)
The following are some beginning 2 beat strum patterns. Each
should be played separately until the sight and sound become familiar.
Any chord can be used to play these patterns, but you might just
start out with an easy Em
chord.
= the symbol for strumming down
= the symbol for strumming up
pattern #1
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This is a simple pattern. Just strum down, up, down, up
and repeat.
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pattern #2
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In this pattern, you need to keep your right hand moving
down and up, as if you were playing all 8th notes (like
pattern #1). The only difference is that on the "&" of beat
1, you are going to miss the strings (go through the motion
of moving your hand up, just don't let your pick touch the
strings). It takes two 8th notes to equal a quarter note,
so you will be missing were the 2nd 8th note would be in
pattern #1. Your hand is moving down and up at the speed
of an 8th note.
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note: The counting that is in parentheses will be
where you miss the strings.
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pattern #3
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This pattern is just the opposite of #2. Miss the strings
on the "&" of beat 2.
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pattern #4
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In this strum pattern, just remember that your hand is
moving down and up at the speed of the 8th note. So when
you see a quarter note in this pattern, just miss the strings
right after it on beat 2. You are missing the strings as
you are strumming down in this pattern.
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pattern #5
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It takes three 8th notes to equal a dotted quarter note.
Therefore, in this strum pattern you want to miss the strings
on both the "&" of 1, and beat 2. An object in motion tends
to stay in motion, and an object at rest tends to stay at
rest. It takes more energy to stop your right hand than
it does to keep it moving down and up at the speed of the
8th note. Also keeping your hand moving gives you a physical
way of counting the rhythm.
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pattern #6
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This is just the opposite of strum #5. Miss the strings
on beat 2, and the "&" of 2.
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These 6 patterns will be the building blocks to many of the basic
accompaniment strums to follow.
Next move on to some basic 4/4
accompaniment patterns. This is where you can start to play
something that actually sounds like a song!
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