How to Play the Right Strumming Pattern
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- Опубліковано 7 вер 2024
- For more information from the source site of this video please visit: www.secretguit...
This is a sample video from the Secret Guitar Teacher website (see link above). It's from the Intermediate Acoustic Guitar Course in the Intermediate section of the site and is not for complete beginners. But if you have already learnt the basics of playing guitar and are interested in improving your strumming skills then this might be interesting for you.
Here's the abridged transcript:
How to strengthen your strumming
Over the years I think I have been asked more questions about strumming than about any other aspect of guitar playing.
People get quite anxious, I find, to be told 'the right strumming pattern' for a given song.
In this lesson we'll look at a handful of underlying patterns that form the basis of 99% of all strumming patterns used in popular music. Once you have nailed these, I think you'll find the whole subject will become a lot simpler.
So let's start with a very logical exercise. Have a look at this strumming pattern...
First, note that the strumming direction is shown by the arrows on the tab. And it is important to realise that the arrows that point Upwards are used to show Down strokes! This stems from the fact that your view of the fretboard when you play the guitar is in fact upside down
Here we have doubled the strum pattern by adding upstrokes between the down strokes. Once you are happy with that, practice shifting from one exercise to the other without losing any time. Four bars of the basic four to the bar ......followed by four bars of the 8-beat pattern.
Now that basic pattern, usually called '8-beat feel' is probably the most commonly used underlying pattern in guitar playing so it's worth spending time working on getting it smoothed out.
When you're ready to move on double up the strum pattern again like this...
This is another very commonly used pattern that we refer to as 16-beat feel.
Notice how the first strum of each beat is a long downstroke, the remaining three are short strokes played up down up.
The counting for this pattern is best vocalised as 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a ...and so on. This helps you get the pulse of the rhythm right...
Concentrate on a smooth transition from the basic count of four-to-the-bar, through the eight-beat feel, and on up to the sixteen-beat feel. Once you are comfortable with that, I recommend practicing this transition against the metronome to help keep your timing honest.
If you don't own a metronome you can access one online from the toolbox to the right of the screen.
OK, once you are happy using the metronome try this: Start on a slow setting, say around 60 bpm... Play one strum per click-of-the -metronome like this... ...then after four bars...double it......then after another four bars double it again......then halve it...and halve it again. As you approach this level you will definitely hit physical barriers that you won't get past without improving your technique. For example, if you are using a plectrum, the exact angle you hold the plectrum will become of critical importance.
If the plectrum is perpendicular to the strings it will offer too much resistance at high speed and get caught. So you need to close the angle between the plectrum and the strings like this...
This is where a soft wrist helps, because this angle has to be reversed on the upstroke -- look at this in slow motion.. Just like painting a fence!
It also helps to make the pick travel slightly diagonally across the strings like this ...And finally, experiment with turning the pick round in your grip so that instead of using the pointed tip of the pick ...you use the rounded edge
Once you have got used to working through these three patterns in this way, you'll be well set up to cope with a wide range of songs that are written in 4/4 time. You might then like to go on to explore these patterns...
This is the basic ¾ pattern used for songs in waltz time as well as various folk-influenced tunes. Notice all the strokes are kept short in this one...
This can then be doubled like this 1&2&3& 1&2&3& These doubled patterns in ¾ are not to be confused with this pattern in 6/8 which has the same number of strokes to the bar......but has a pulse of two instead of three.
You can see that one bar of 12/8 is pretty similar to two bars of 6/8.
In practice the only difference is the pulse.6/8 has its main pulse every two main beats... 12/8 has its main pulse every four main beats...
Ok, well that's covered the underlying form behind most of the strumming patterns you are going to come across.
Some hours spent on practising these will help you build a very strong foundation to your strumming.
In the next lesson we'll look at some of the technical tricks used to make these underlying patterns more interesting.
I look forward to seeing you then.
Finally the first person on UA-cam giving fully comprehensive explanation of strumming and beats, including how to read, and vocalize it. Thank you!
i know it is quite off topic but do anyone know a good place to watch newly released series online?
Out of every teacher on youtube I've looked at, none teach with as much patience and simplification as you do. You break down the parts, and step by step, you help us assemble them again. Thank you for uploading these videos.
He is the most experienced and best teacher online. Going into the details of mechanism and methodological steps involved in improvement of guitar strumming. Experience counts. Rest most of youtube teachers teach and shows the link below to pay online.
I don't know Sir's name..but Sir I am learning a lot from you. Your teachings are absolutely simple, process oriented and brilliant. God always bless you to give us such happiness.
Sujoy from Kolkata.
wow! I don't even know how to play guitar.
after watching this video, this true master was able to explain it in a way that I understand, and makes perfect sense. thank you! you have helped me make the decision to start playing guitar.
Best teaching and lesson on strumming pattern on UA-cam , Thanks . keep up the good work , Lots of love from India ....
By far the 'Best' video ever made on strumming...this covers 4 beat, 8 beat and 16 beat strumming and reducing strumming resistance besides other great tips. THANKS a MILLION!!!
I thought 'never too late', and started taking guitar lessons with 50. After finally memorising a few chords with quite some difficulties, I got so discouraged over the horrible sounds my strumming would produce. Watching videos, going through various instructions and taking more lessons didn't get me back to that joy after mastering the first chords.
What a difference did 'How to Play the Right Strumming Pattern' make. I still have to continue to practise an awful lot, but it is fun again. Beside that, my play does not chase away the cat anymore. Thank you very much for helping me build such thorough basics, in an excellent way of teaching!
love how you start from such a basic place...it's so easy to get ahead of oneself and never learn the fundamentals...your lesson prevents that. thanks!
The BEST 'strumming' lesson I have ever seen! Bravo. Clear & precise, you also have a very pleasant calm voice.
I started out long time ago playing classical fingerstyle, and recently decided to learn how to play bluegrass and rhythm style. This video really helped a lot with my strumming technique. Your fundamental approach to the timing and pick technique really helped bring a lot of things together for me. Thank you for it.
your video on strumming helped me immensely. I am a beginner. I watch it every chance I get now to help me get over to the next hurdle.
I'm a very late bloomer with learning guitar and I've had my guitar for about a month now. I was just saying IF ONLY I could learn to strum properly and voila!... I found your video. Thanks for the tutorial. :D
Thank you SOO much... this finally gave me the understanding of strumming of which I have struggled with for the last 6 months!
Thank you so much for explaining it this way. It makes so much more sense to get the 3 major timings down first then work on adding strumming patterns.
Just discovered this - best tutorial on strumming I have seen
Thanks
You teach the fundamentals and basics like a pro yours lessons are very clear to understand. One of the best teachers on UA-cam! Thank you 🙏
Excellent lesson! I liked that there were pauses so I could keep up and practice. I'll definitely be rewatching this many times.
I've seen a ton of various strumming lessons on youtube - without a doubt - yours is superior to all of them.
Your lessons are very helpful and to the point. You are a great teacher; thank you so much...
Ur tutorials are simple, methodological and to the point....and yes that's a nice piece of wood u got... :)
Thanks so much ..really is one of the best lessons of the net for rhythm help
Ivstrum purely be ear and always quit thecstrunlmming vids half way through..but this hwld my attention and tought me a thing or two one the way..new subscriber here..dont stop these please
This is terrific. It made so much sense. I advanced a great way in just one viewing!
interesting lesson. iv been playing for quite a while now (2 years) and not yet been able to proper break the different times 3:4 and such down thanks to your help im getting somewhere
This was very helpful. You are great.
If I may, holding onto the pick was, for me, just a matter of developing the finesse over time to control it. It just came down to playing every day, and within a couple of years, the problem eventually went away. In the mean time, one of the best things I have found is self-gripping athletic/bandage tape. You know the stretchy stuff the medics use to secure a gauze bandage? Just make one wrap around the fat end of the pick and leave the point exposed. That pick won't go anywhere.
I just wanted to say thank you very much for taking the time to make this video. It certainly has helped me get a better grip on strumming! Very helpful!!
u r the best struming teacher ive evr seen on youtube... great tips
This is the best strumming lesson I've ever found in UA-cam!
Very nice & clear.............no confusion:))
Sir this lesson is best I am from India and I don't know more English language but I am show your video and learn strumming this is best strumming lesson some guitarist not make long video....you are best teacher
Thank you so much! First Strumming video I've found that actually started making sense to me! Going to check out your webpage now. Thanks again!! It is greatly appreciated! (Just starting to learn at 40, and really have my heart set on doing it right and getting in as much practice as I possibly can!)
Thanks for the video, I always have issues with the strumming pattern of a song. Now I can identify how the strumming pattern is form in different beat. Thanks man!
Thank You, your methods and control is very much appreciated. It's a long time dream to play the guitar.
I'm just beginning to learn my first instrument. . . the ukulele, but this was a fabulous and informative tutorial. Loved it!
Finally someone on UA-cam explaining well , not in five minutes this video I think I shud take it
Really good lesson. I have been trying to move on to learning 16th note strumming for a few weeks now, and your lesson has really helped me a lot! Also major props for totally nailing the feel of a BBC open university lecture. :)
Thanks for this video. I have been struggling with the strumming. You make it look so easy. I now have a reference to practice with.
Thanks for the tips. I never really thought about diagonal picking before
Thanks for the quick reply..as a beginner..just wanted to make sure...thanks for the lessons..really helping me..as a left hander there are limited resources..so need to work out reverse fingers etc myself..but getting there...
regards,
Derek
Thank u. Really good teaching. I've struggled with strumming. Now I know why after this great tutorial
Yes. It makes perfect sense to have the arrows pointing in the same direction as the strings if the arrows are on the TAB lines. So many variations on many points! You are right about needing to engage the left side of the brain though 😂 My teacher points the arrows down for down strokes. But then again his notation is slap dash; presumably in an attempt not to confuse me 😁 The arrows I’ve seen in my previous written study books have the arrows above the stave/TAB, so consequently they are down for down and up for up. But if they are on the TAB then it does make sense to have them go in the direction of the strings. I dont know why some people have reacted badly to this? Right sided brain freeze perhaps? 😂 Any way, the brain is more than capable of dealing with such issues, just apply simple logic. People shouldn’t get bogged down, or take a personal affront.
Thank you for your time and patience in explaining these essential fundamentals 👍 Very useful!
Best video about strumming pattern, thanks to you i learned how to strum well, vey good exercices and explanations ! A big thank you from 2017 year !
Thanks thanks thanks !
Excellent ! Nice and good teacher. Thank you.
This guy is excellent. 5 STAR lesson done well.
The best teacher I’ve ever seen on UA-cam
Thank you sir
omw, ive been looking for someone to dumb down these 4/4 3/4 6/8 things for so long. Thank you very much, great help indeed
Thanks for the lesson, very clear and with a good speed
Wow Nick this tutorial along with yourself are truly amazing, Thank you so much for taking the time to teach
Thanks for a great lesson on fundamentals. Really well done. Just what I needed to move forward!
Fantastisk serious and dedicated instruction from you, thank you very much. Best regards Jan Jensen Denmark
Great Lesson. As soon as I get a job again I want to join up again.
Hi Nick, Thanks for this. Helps a lot. Quick note - there's a typo I think?? The 'B' string is shown as 'A' string in the video.
Thank you so much
I was confused first before watching it .
Once again thanks a lot .
It really helped me
Hope it will help others too
This was very helpful. Thanks very much.
Excellent...and Thanks! I feel I have a decent technique for some picking (though a relative newbie), but strumming has always been difficult for me. This helped a LOT!
God bless you and thanks your for your lessons
ty for this video...now, i learn how to have perfect strumming technique...ty very much.
Thanks for your help, I found your lessons very informative.
It helped me a lot. I'm just a beginner for guitar playing and I found your lesson quite helpful. Will you please give me an advise because everytime that I'm playing guitar and trying to sing a song while strumming, looks like my strumming begins to be different and sway to the song that I'm singing.. How can I continue the right beat of strumming while singing? Thanks in advance and God bless..
Really appreciate the quality of your instruction ..I'm getting it !
Hey Nick very fundamentally solid lesson and wish I had of seen it before I ever picked up a guitar-after a few hours practice vast improvement.Note to any newbies...Watch any "Eagles" farewell tour video and the camera shows them all strumming in unison-a vital key concept to accompaniment and harmonized sound. Thanks Nick-keep up with the great lessons Sir- Dave..
thank you so much for the great lesson
Excellent teachings skills!
thanks for the lesson all helps thanks again.
Very good lesson . Thanks
thanks so much! Finally got the idea how to do strumming!
Thank you a very easy to follow lesson.
Great lesson. I am a beginner. This helped me alot
Crystal clear. Thank you so much!
This was well explained. Thank you!!
thank u so much for this..so cool and I learned so much from this and keep on watching this to help me :)
Best video on this subject! Thank you!
Yes! Someone who actually explains it and doesn't condescendingly say you just "do it," or that is "easy."
You're absolutely the best !! Thank you so much
Great lesson! Maybe I'm getting old but I'm more interested in being a good, groovin' rhythm guy than a soloing hero, and I figure that strumming is right up there with learning chords to make that happen?
Thank You so much for the great lesson.
This is Brilliant , I always wanted to be taught how to keep time.
Note for beginners. The names of the strings on the on screen tabs are incorrect. Starting from the bottom thick E string it should read E A D G B E. For some reason the video incorrectly shows E A D G A e.
Thank You Men (Teather, You deserve The nomination) You are Great!!! Help a lot!!!!
Thank you for the video. It was very enlightening. Would be nice to find those strum patterns online where we could print them to paper. Nonetheless, I appreciate the effort and time you put into your video.
Brilliant video! Thank you very much. 👍
Great lesson on strumming!
Your lesson is wonderful.
Very good lesson. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Sensie ! You are amazing.
Great lesson!
Thank you for putting so much time and effort into producing these videos. You should really use adverts your true followers would understand I'm sure. You should have some rewards for your effort
Thanks for the video!
You are the best thank you so much.
nice clear instruction!! Good Job!
Very useful ， thanks so much !
great teacher ,thank you very much
Thank you for this video
I really like the way you explain, nice accent by the way, greetings from sf bay area
I downloaded a free metronome app from google play onto my android. Works great!
great practice! thank you
I am a beginner (1 year in, I am 65) I try and practice unobserved. Frequently when people see me practicing like shown here I get told/asked "you need to learn a song"
Thank you so much for the reply. I see what you are saying. Are there any rules to follow playing with another rhythm player I need to know other than the obvious? I feel like I'm analyzing what he is playing to much when we are playing, but I don't want to be ignorant of him so the over all sound is messy. If that makes sense. His strum patterns and changes seem to have more specific purpose in the song than mine, but like you said if I listen more to others maybe that will come in time. Unfortunately, I forget the changed pattern by like, the next measure. LOL. I will work on it though. Again thank you for the response and I will check out more of your tutorials.
well explained lesson thank you
Yes we really appreciate it