How to Strum - Guitar Lessons

Lookin' good, yeah.

One thing I do that has helped me a lot with my timing is to keep a thin pick on the console of my truck and strum (across my chest) to songs being played on the radio, while driving. Since I drive approximately 40,000 miles a year I get to do a lotta struming. By listening to the bass (beat) of a song it helps me find the strum pattern while counting in my head. Since I have XM Radio and like the older country music it gets kinda easy once you've learned 6 or 5 strum patterns.

In 4/4 time:(D = Down & U = Up)

1  &  2  &  3  &  4  &
D U  D U D  U  D  U

1  2  &  3  &  4  &
D D U  D  U  D U  (I find this pattern is used a lot)

1  2  &  3  4  &
D  D U  D  D U

In 3/3 time:

1   2  3
D  D  D

1  2   &  3  &
D  D  U  D  U

Lets don't even go into "Triplets".

Nela