Get Rhythm
Music is essentially based upon 3 key things...
(Well 4 if you include your creativity/imagination!)
1. Time (Tempo & Rhythm) - Drum beats, Strumming patterns, Chord vamps etc.
2. Notes (Scales) - Melody lines, Riffs, Solos, Licks, Hooks etc. Which are typically short phrases in a particular 'key', and therefore notes are from the scales that "fit the key" the song / piece of music is in.
3. Harmony - Chords are harmonised notes from the 'key' of the music. Just like the notes used to make a melody or riff they are typically from a particular scale. In fact, when you learn more about scales you'll also learn about "scale degrees", which are the numbers given to the notes of a scale. Understanding scales degrees is useful to describe how chords are formed... More about this later in the course!
Of all of the elements that make music Rhythm is by far the most important... So, to begin lets learn a couple of basic strum patterns and a few easy open chords to get you strumming along to some classic tunes right away!
Johnny Cash "Get Rhythm"
When learning an instrument, playing and/or listening to music, the most important element by far is rhythm.
Having a great sense of rhythm trumps fast playing every time! You can play fast and be note perfect, but play out of time, with poor rhythm and it'll sound terrible! However, play with great rhythm and mistakes can often go unnoticed and at worst be easily forgiven and quickly forgotten... Rhythm is King. So, to ensure you develop an impeccable sense of rhythm we'll start really easy with some basic strumming patterns that will provide the foundations for all the rhythms you'll ever play!
Strumming your guitar is playing the rhythm and keeping time, and as you'll know already you strum your guitar in an "up and down" motion... But sometimes to play songs with the right kind of groove you may need to follow a particular strumming pattern.
That’s where these symbols can be really useful for guitarists...
This symbol represents a Downstroke (strumming your guitar strings in a downwards motion towards the floor)
This symbol represents an upstroke (strumming your guitar strings in an upwards motion towards the ceiling)
Very Basic Strum Patterns
Strum Pattern 1.1
All Downstrokes
4 Beats to the bar
Count 1 2 3 4 etc.
Notice that beats 1 and 3 are the ‘stronger’ beats whilst 2 and 4 are ‘weaker’ beats.
Play along and practice this basic pattern: - The Strum Factory Week 3, Round 5.
Strum Pattern 1.2
Alternate Strumming (Downstoke and Upstrokes)
4 Beats to the bar
Count 1 2 3 4 etc.
Notice that beats 1 and 3 are the ‘stronger’ beats whilst 2 and 4 are ‘weaker’ beats.
Strum Pattern 2.1
All Downstrokes
4 Beats to the bar
Count 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & etc.
Notice that beats 1 and 3 are the ‘strong’ beats whilst 2 and 4 are ‘weaker’ beats.
Play along and practice this basic pattern: -
Strum Pattern 2.2
Alternate Strumming (down up down up etc...)
4 Beats to the bar
Count 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & etc.
Notice that beats 1 and 3 are the ‘strong’ beats whilst 2 and 4 are ‘weaker’ beats.
Strum Pattern 2.3
A very common strum pattern combining down and alternate strumming: Down Down Down Up Down Up
4 Beats to the bar
Count 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & etc.
Notice that beats 1 and 3 are the ‘strong’ beats whilst 2 and 4 are ‘weaker’ beats.
Get your STRUMMING and RHYTHM sorted with the Strum Factory..
If you like the backing tracks and exercises please "buy me a coffee" and show your support! Thank you!