Strumming

One of the most commonly used techniques on the guitar which typically coincides with chord playing is strumming. Strumming creates a textural musical effect, created by playing mutiple strings through the vertical motions of your strumming hand. Although strumming is a textural effect, it is important to remember that strumming is purely dictated by rhythm, which is why this type of playing is commonly refered as ‘rhythm playing’.

A chord chart by design provides a rhythmic grid layout of chords positioned within bars, which can then be further divided into rhythms at many levels called rhythmic divisions. Locking into this rhythmic grid is the most essential part of rhythm playing and a way to achieve this is through the use of strum patterns. Similar to the way a drummer lays out the time by looping a drum beat, strum patterns also use rhythmical repetitions within a rhythmic grid.

Groove

The combination of rhythm and feeling is usually wrapped up in the term groove. Developing a connection with rhythm or strong groove is strongly linked to the internalisation of rhythm through embodiment. Learn more about methods on how to develop your groove.

Strum Patterns

The strum examples below are generalised strum patterns found in particular styles of music. For simplicity all strum pattern examples will be one bar of 4/4 time.