Strumming Exercises
Wholes, Halves, Quarters and Eighths
The following exercises are designed so that you can better understand common rhythm and strumming patterns in chord progressions. Each exercise is written in 4/4 time at 74 beats per minute. You can set your metronome to this suggested tempo or adjust it to the speed that is comfortable for you.
It is recommended that you count along outloud with your metronome as you play each chord in the progressions below.
Whole, Half and Quarter note strumming.
In this first exercise you will play four measures of a “G” major chord. Each measure will be played as one whole note strum. This means that you will strum one time on the first beat of the four count. You will only play the first beat and allow the chord to ring out through the three remaining beats in each measure.
The following exercise you will switch to the “C” major chord and do the same thing you did in the first exercise, however, you will play two half note strums for each measure. This means that you will strum the chord on the first and third beat of each measure.
The third exercise will use quarter note strums. You will strum four times in each measure. One time for each beat.
Eighth note strumming and variations with Quarter notes.
In the following exercises you will practice both Eighth and Quarter note strumming patterns in various combinations.
Eighth note strumming requires you to play the chord in a “down-up” pattern for each beat. You can count along with your metronome: “1 and, 2 and, 3 and, 4 and”. When you strum this patterns, it will be: “Down-up, down-up, down-up, down-up”.
Remember, when you see a quarter note strum, you only strum down, not up.
“Tied” Eighth note strumming.
The last three measures of this exercise incorporate “tied” notes. If you look at the tablature below in measures 30, 31 and 32, you will notice the 3rd beat of each measure is not highlighted. This means that you do not strum on that beat.
This particular patterns is very common in modern music. To help you understand how to count it:
“1, 2 and, (3) and, 4 and” or Down, down-up, (no strum) up, down-up”.
