Strumming Exercise.
Quarter and Eighth-Note Strumming.
Let me preface this lesson by stating - “USE YOUR METRONOME!”
The guitar is both a melodic instrument and a rhythm instrument, just like a piano. Did you know that the piano is a percussion instrument? Well, in many ways, you can use your guitar as a way to play percussion as well - but mostly, your approach to the guitar will be in the way of strumming.
You gotta practice.
Strumming is all about rhythm - holding down that heartbeat - keeping a steady clock to guide the progression of the song. Is this an easy thing to learn? It is if you practice every single day.
Does strumming come easy for everyone? Absolutely not. Honestly, I’ve had a few students over the years who simply didn’t have much rhythm at all. They struggled more than normally considered. It happens.
My present students all have good rhythm, because we go over the things they need to improve upon. It also helps that they understand the basics of changing chords clearly in rhythm. Keeping time in rhythm while strumming from chord to chord without stopping, does take a while to accomplish - but it absolutely can be done.
So, what we have to do is practice along with songs, over and over and over until we are sick of playing them. There really are no short cuts to improve how well we strum and change chords in rhythm. However, we can always practice to strumming exercises.
Let’s practice our strumming!
In the following exercises, you will strum both quarter-note and eighth-note strumming, and combinations therein.
Set your metronome at 60-70bpm. You will be strumming the “C” chord for this exercise.
When you strum, be sure to count outloud the numbers of the beats in each measure.
Quarter-note strums are counted: “1 - 2 - 3 - 4”.
Eighth-note strums are counted: “1 and - 2 and - 3 and - 4 and”.
You will strum down/up for eight-note strumming, always starting with a down strum.
This first exercise starts off with two measures of quarter-note strums. The third measure introduces two eighth-note strums on the first beat followed by three quarter-note strums. The fourth measure repeats the third measure, only the second beat has been changed to two eighth-note strums.
In the next four measures, you will see an increase in eighth-note strumming being added until the sixth measure becomes all eighth-note strumming. The seventh measure then brings back the quarter-note strumming.
The tenth measure switches things around with both quarter-note and eighth-note strumming balancing out each measure.
Here we see that both quarter-note and eighth-note strumming are somewhat scattered in each measure. This is on purpose - to force you to count outloud as you strum. Were you counting?
Now we have come to the last two measures. Hey, there’s something strange about that last measure. It’s not like the other measures.
Those curved lines are called “Ties”. They connect the strumming between the “and” of the second beat, and the third beat. This means that you don’t strum the third beat.
You will strum: 1 - 2 and - [tie] - (3) and - 4 and”. Or, do it this way…
“Down - down up - [tie] - up - down up”.
Remember, not using your metronome for these exercises, is counter-productive. Set your metronome at a tempo that is comfortable for you, but not too slow. Start off around 60bpm and slowly increase the increments to 70, 80 and 90.
I hope this helps improve your understanding of strumming with different types of notes and how to count along. Please leave a comment. Thanks.
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Dave