1 Topic by johncross21 (edited by johncross21 2007-07-15 18:55:40)

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

Topic: 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 rythm 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

Have a look at the Ramones doing their thing on an very early punk song

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=yQ9kOamga … mp;search=

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

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  • Registered: 2007-02-14
  • Posts: 27

Re: Punk strumming patterns

yes punk rock bands are known to have great rythymists. one such band, shadows fall, their rthymist has a warm up technique where he does downstrokes and slides power chords from root6 1-3-1, then the same in root5. he does 8 of these patterns (1-3-1) in one measure. heres the kicker: its set at 240 BPM. my metronome dosnt even go that high, it maxes out at 208 BPM. thats fast.

Have you ever thought of a world with no hypothetical situations??

3 Reply by johncross21 (edited by johncross21 2007-07-16 22:01:39)

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

Re: Punk strumming patterns

Thanks

Sliding a half or a whole step is indeed commonplace in Punk Music

It was one of Steve Jones (the Sex Pistols) favorite licks. He was a big fan of rock and roll and this sort of sliding was used to great effect previously by Chuck Berry

This sort of thing -


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

..........................................................
.........................................................
..........................................................
6.../..7......7......7......6.../...7.....7......7.......
6.../..7......7......7......6.../...7.....7......7....
4.../..5......5......5......4.../...5.....5......5...

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