Search options (Page 9 of 16)

Punk strumming patterns
------------------------------

It has to be said that punk rock does have a reputation for sloppy technique

However to be fair whilst some punk is a little primitive there are many punk guitarists with a great deal of skills -  especially in terms of rthym guitar

there is certainly an old legend that punk can all be played on three chords -the famous punk rock chords A D And E.  that is a bit a myth and to play punk well you will need to be able to play maj and minor barre chords. 

the basic punk strum is downstrokes

1...&....2...&...3...&...4
V...V...V...V...V...V...V

This is usually embellished

For example here is a rythym pattern using mainly downstrokes 

1...&...2....&...3....&...4....&...1...&.....2.....&....3...&....4...&

8........8....8...8....8....8.............................................
8........8....8...8....8....8........10..10...10.........12..12..12....
9........9....9...9....9....9........10..10...10.........12..12..12....
10......10..10..10..10..10.......10..10...10..... ...12..12..12...
10......10..10..10..10..10..8....8...8.....8....0....10..10..10...0
8........8....8...8....8....8....8...8....8....8.....0....10..10..10...0

Another defining feature of  punk is  mixing open and damped chords.
you damp the sound of the barre chords by releasing the pressure  on the fret after playing

a common sequence is

A                  G         
1...&...2...&...3...&...4.. &
V....... X...X.. V...... X...X

this is often used to add interest to a progression using downstrokes

Blues strum patterns
------------------------

people often asking on Chordie for strumming patterns

1..&..2..&..3..&..4..&
........X.............X...
V..n..V..n..V..n..V..n

(try damping the strings on the 2 and 4 downstroke)

good for 

Baby Please dont' go - Muddy Waters / Van Morrison

Back to playing fingerstyle and the bass strum pattern

its quite common to vary the bass note in each bar. so the first time the thumb plays the 6th string and the second time the thumb plays the 5th string

this is one bar pattern based on the G chord

....1... &...2...&...3...&...4... &.. 
 
E-------3--------------3---3-----
B-------0--------------0---0----
G-------0--------------0---0----
D-------0--------------0---0----
A-------2 ---------2---2---2----
E---0---3--------------3---3----

there are different ways to play the chord which follows the thumb strike. sometimes its easier after playing the the bass note on the 6th string to play the next chord with a downstroke starting on the 5th string

E-------3------------------
B-------0-----------------
G-------0-----------------
D-------0-----------------
A-------2 --------------------
E---0--------------------

i would be interested to hear from other guitarist here whether they always play the full chord after a bass note or whether the miss the bottom strings 

i am also interested whether people regularly play these patterns using a pick

Jerome's right

assuming that we are looking at the major key.

The expected chords in C major all contain the notes of the C major scale. They are

I C
II Dm
III EM
IV F
V G
VI AM

the commonest chords are I IV and IV. So for songs in C look for F and G.

my favorite book on contemporary harmony is "guitar playing and song writing" by Rikky Rooksby.

its mainly for song writers but it has loads of tips/ideas on common chord progressions

I do  occasionally want to play songs in the minor key. These are the expected chords in Am

I      Am
bII   Bb
III   C
IVb  Dm
V     Em
VI    F
VII  G

of course these are only rules of thumb - it works for many bands but if you listen to jazz or someone like radiohead you will have to listen hard because often artists will avoid formulas

make sure you know (you may already do)  harmonic theory forward backward and sideways

try the expected chords in the key. then try the obvious combinations

be careful that you tell people what you feel. don't let your clothes speak for you. if you wear black it signifies to some people depression and aloofness

perhaps the clothes are saying "stay away" when you want to say something more inclusive. if the clothes are becoming the message and the message isn't one you want to give then change your wardrobe.

that  doesn't mean ditch the wardrobe entirely - it might mean don't overdo it.

i play wuith pick and thumb (not both at the same tinme obviously)

the thumb is quieter but if you need the volume mic up and if you don't need the volume then bring your audience closer

I do have problems (like everyone here) with the attack. sometimes its muffled and sometimes its really sharp

start by playing the piece slowly until you get a constant sound. the attack needs to be firm (don't be too gentle)

i have even bigger problems with arppegios which I suppose demonstrates that practice helps (wags fingers accusingly).

tab can be used to show lead (notes) or rythm parts (chords)

however rythm parts are sometimes more easily shown using either the chords names or chord charts above the lyrics

if the tab shows notes vertically the notes are played together

two notes do not make a chord. however they might be intended to form part of  a chord

chord fragments could be strummed (although as you say you can pick two or more notes at once using a claw )

playing individual notes in a chord is called arpeggios. arpeggios are not written vertically 

This is a D arppegio

-- 2---------  2---
----- 3--- 3-----3---   
--------2----------  2 
-0---------------
------------------     

know the song but never played it

hope this helps

Ken

as I was writing my post I thought perhaps I should try using the capo for songs which are too high for me and then singing the octave below

sounds like thats what you're suggesting ?

I'll try it and see if it works for me

john

southpaw is right

i posted my take on reggae strumming here

http://www.chordie.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=3583

good luck