• Registered: 2015-08-01
  • Posts: 2

Topic: Wonderful songs, chords....but strumming patterns?

I am somewhat new to playing guitar. I love all songs and how they are presented but how in the world do you know what the strumming pattern is supposed to be?

  • From: West Georgia
  • Registered: 2006-10-14
  • Posts: 2,557

Re: Wonderful songs, chords....but strumming patterns?

Hey Jaybird_11

Great question, and one that's very important. What I would recommend is to listen closely to the tune you may be covering and see if its patterns might match up with one this guy's talking about:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzC0orOGARw

I have some very knowledgeable friends who can tell you much more about this subject, but this is a good one to get you started.

Let us know how it goes and good luck!

Bill

Epiphone Les Paul Studio
Fender GDO300 Orchestral - a gift from Amy & Jim
Rogue Beatle Bass
Journal: www.wheretobud.blogspot. com
  • From: Nova Scotia, Canada
  • Registered: 2013-01-20
  • Posts: 4,083

Re: Wonderful songs, chords....but strumming patterns?

Welcome to Chordie, Jaybird ... and like SB Bill said, this is a vital question. Here are couple tips you may find useful:

1) Think of your guitar as a washboard in a Jug Band setting. Without trying to play any notes, mute your strings with your fretting / chording hand, and use your pick or thumb on the dead strings like a percussion instrument, using both up and down strokes. Work along with the song while it's playing, and play your "washboard" in time to what you're hearing. Once you've got that lined up, you've got the main strumming pattern, and can start adding notes / chords. My Dad taught me this as a kid, and it's proved very useful.

2) A second thing which may help, is to watch YouTube videos of the songs you're learning, with the volume turned off. Watch the guitarist's picking / strumming hand only, pick up the beat from that, and imitate the visual pattern you see using your "washboard" again. This is really easy, and you'll have the strumming pattern in no time.

I hope these are helpful to you, and hope to see more of you in the Chordie Forums as your skills progress. All the best to you!