Right-Hand Techniques, Part 1: Strumming
Glenn Weiser
celticguitar1@nycap.rr.com
The first right-hand skill you need to develop on
guitar is strumming. First is the basic downstrum, and then down-up
strumming.
1. The basic downstrum: In three-four time, strum
three times per bar, once per beat, counting, One, two, three. The
accent is on 1. In four-four time, strum four times per bar, once per
beat, counting, One, two, three, four. The accents are on 1 and 3.
↓ ↓
↓
3/4 /1 2 3 /
↓ ↓
↓ ↓
4/4 /1 2 3 4 / When the accents fall on 2
and 4, it is called a backbeat.
2. Down-up Strumming: Here we use eighth-note rhythms
to create a more lively effect. In three-four time, count, one and two
and three and. In four-four time, count, one and two and three and four
and.
Here are some down-up strums in both three-four and
four-four:
Ύ time strums-
↓ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↓
↓ ↑ ↓ ↑
/ 1 + 2 + 3 + / / 1 + 2 + 3 + /
4/4 time strums-
↓ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↓
↓ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↓ ↑
↓ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑
↓ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↓ ↑
/ 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + / / 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + / /
1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + / / 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + /
3. The Latin, or syncopated strum has accented
strums on 1 and 2 &, and no strum on 3 in 4/4 time.
↓ ↓ ↑
↑ ↓
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
↓ ↓ ' ↓ ↓ '
/ 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + / / 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + / 4.
Sock strum- 4/4 / 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + /
The symbol indicates the tacet-let the strings off the neck with the
fingers on the strings.
5. The swing strum: In 4/4, each beat is divided in
thirds, called triplets. It is counted, 1 trip-let, two triplet, etc.
Strum down on 1, count trip, and strum up on let.
↓ ↑
↓ ↑ ↓
↑ ↓ ↑
1 trip-let 2 trip-let 3 trip-let 4-trip-let
↓ ↑ ↓
↓ ↑ ↓ ↓ ↑
↓ ↓ ↑ ↓
6. The triplet strum is a down-up-down pattern- 1
trip-let 2 trip-let 3 trip-let
4-trip-let |