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Learning Guitar - Lesson Nine
Part 3: Strumming Patterns
More of this Feature
• Part 1: overview
• Part 2: major scale
• Part 3: strumming patterns
• Part 4: sus4 chords
• Part 5: essential knowledge
• Part 6: learning songs
• Part 7: practice schedule
Related Content
• Index of Guitar Lessons
• Buying Your First Guitar
• How to Read Guitar Tab
• Easy to Play Songs
• Guitar Chord Library

In lesson eight, we started learning how to incorporate bass notes into our strumming patterns. Now, we'll explore that concept further, except now we'll try and incorporate single notes within the chord with our strumming patterns.

NOTE: The following exercises use guitar tablature for illustration. If you are unfamiliar with this, take a moment to learn how to read guitar tablature.

A Strum Based on G7
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This one will be tricky at first, but as your picking accuracy increases, it'll sound better and better. In your fretting hand, hold down a Gmajor chord, with your second finger on the sixth string, first finger on the fifth string, and third finger on the first string. Now, strike the sixth string with your pick, and follow that by down and up strums on the bottom four strings of the chord. Use the above tablature to complete the rest of the pattern. When finished playing the pattern once, loop it multiple times. Be sure to keep your picking motion constant, whether you are playing a single note, or strumming a chord. If you are too deliberate while playing the single notes, it will break the flow of your strum, and the resulting pattern will sound choppy.

A Strum Based on Dmajor

Listen to clip in RealAudio or MP3.

This somewhat tricky strum should really help us work on our picking accuracy. You'll note that this strum also incorporates a hammer-on in the fretting hand - which is rather common. Begin by holding down a Dmajor chord in your fretting hand. Now, play the fourth string with a downstroke, and follow that by strumming the remaining three notes in the chord with a down and up strum. Then, play the open fifth string, followed again by a down and up strum of the remaining three notes. Now, play the open fourth string again, followed by a down and up strum. Then, take your first finger off the third string, play it open, then hammer your first finger back on to the second fret. Complete the strum with another down and up strum, and you've finished the pattern once. Try it until you get the hang of it, then loop the pattern. It will seem much less complex in no time.

Remember:

  • It is extremely important, when playing the above patterns, to keep your strumming motion constant, whether you're playing the single notes or the full chords.
  • You might find that at first you accidentally play several strings when trying to strum one string. Don't get upset, just try to remedy the problem.
  • When hammering on, make sure that both the initial, and hammered on notes ring.
  • These new strums are rather complex, and will probably be overwhelming at first. Don't get frustrated! You'll get the hang of it eventually!

Now, let's move on to learning how to play sus4 chords.

Next page > Sus4 chords > Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

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