• From: Orpington London
  • Registered: 2006-10-22
  • Posts: 390

Topic: Strum pattern - alternating down strokes

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

This is the strum used by Credence  Clearwater Revival on Proud Mary

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=anyz5l0nGqE

but you can also use it as a strum pattern to provide accompaniment to lots of other songs   

try-

Brown Eyed Girl - van morrison
Back in the USSR  - beatles

johncross21's Website

  • From: Orpington London
  • Registered: 2006-10-22
  • Posts: 390

Re: Strum pattern - alternating down strokes

a common variation on the basic alternate strum is to play a quarter note on the first beat

instread of playing the first upstrum pass your picking hand over the strings without touching them

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

Try this with

Blowin' in the Wind - Bob Dylan

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=sUz2OulZ-q4



finally you can achieve a very different effect by playing two chords in one measure

for example "freebird" by Lynard Skynard

G...................D................Em.................................
1...&...2...&... 3...&...4..&...1...&...2...&... 3...&...4..&...
V. ......V...n...V...n...V...&...V. ......V...n...V...n...V...&..

........ if I...... leave here...to-morrow


of course lynard skynard had seven band members including three guitarists but if i was asked to play free bird on lone acoustic this is how i would approach the main chords progression

johncross21's Website