Lesson 3 - Strumming and Rhythm Guitar
In this lesson we will get some basic rhythm training and learn a cool strum pattern.
Training Information
Video Time: 10:53
This 3rd part doesn't have us playing the percussive hits on 2 and 4 like in part 2 but uses the pattern from part 1 and does a variation on it! The information to go with video is below and marked with the reference times!Open G Power Chord (G5)
Chord Used in Video
This is the chord I am using through this lesson.
A lot of people don't think of this shape as being a power chord but it is. A power chord is only made up of a root and 5th. In order for it to be a major or minor chord, it needs to have a 3rd.
Quarter Notes
Worth 1 beat in 4/4
0:43 - 0:52
The quarter note worth one beat each in 4/4. So we play 4 in on measure.
Eighth Notes
Worth 1/2 a beat in 4/4
0:53 - 1:03
Next up is our eighth notes worth half a beat each in 4/4. So we will play 8 notes in one measure and count 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &. In this example we will play up and down strokes. So note that when you were playing quarter notes you were playing all down but you had to come back up in between the down strokes. Now you just have to catch the strings on the way back up.
Sixteenth Notes
Worth 1/4 a beat in 4/4
1:04 - 1:06
So now we will play sixteenth notes which means we would need 16 in to fill one measure. One 16th notes by itself in 4/4 time would be worth 1/4 of a beat. Now we are playing a note in between the 1 and the & and we are calling them the e and a. So we will count one beat as 1 e & a.
Review of Pattern from Lesson 1
1:07 - 1:18
Review of the 2nd strum pattern we did in lesson 1! This is an easy one with two quarter notes on beat 1 and 2 and then four eighth notes making up beats 3 and 4.
Review of Pattern from Lesson 2
1:19 - 1:26
Review of the 2nd strum pattern we did in lesson 1! This is an easy one with two quarter notes on beat 1 and 2 and then four eighth notes making up beats 3 and 4.
Lesson 3 Pattern
1:27 - 1:42
So here is a quarter note on beat one with a down and then two eighth notes on beat 2, played down up.
1:43 - 2:23
Next up let's practice going back down on beat 3 but without hitting the strings.
2:24 - 2:44
So once you have gotten used to going down on beat 3 but not hitting the strings, let's now come back up on the "&" of beat 3 like we did in part 1 and 2.
2:45 - 3:22
Now we add a down on beat 4 and we have completed this pattern. This is probably the most used strum pattern of all time. So much so that the rest of the video has us work on speeding it up and using the same break down we did to learn it.
3:23 - 4:24
This section of the video we try the pattern at 100 bpm (beats per minute). I run through a quick breakdown of the whole pattern. If you have trouble at this tempo, don't stress about it just continue to work at it at the slower tempo for a few days and then try the faster tempo again.
4:25 - 5:41
Now a little faster at 140 bpm (beats per minute).
Lesson 3 Bonus Pattern
Combining Pattern from Lesson 2 and Lesson 3 Into One
5:42 - 6:05
This next part combines our new strum pattern from this lesson with our pattern from part 2 that used the percussive hits on 2 and 4 🙂
First quick review of percussive hit on beat 2
6:06 - 6:45
Let's add the up on the and of beat 3. Remember to do the down on beat 3 without hitting the strings 🙂
6:46 - 7:00
Let's finish it by adding the click back on beat 4 with a down.
7:12 - 9:09
I start the breakdown again but at 100 bpm and then at 7:57 it goes up to 140 bpm.
9:10 - 9:32
Here is another way you might want to practice this (or anything for that matter). The pattern and then one measure rest before repeating. It gives the mind a little time to digest the material.
