Strumming Patterns on Guitar - Breakforth 2013

© www.musicademy.co.uk

HOW TO CONSTRUCT STRUMMING PATTERNS

Do you end up going back to the same old couple of familiar strumming patterns? In

this session you will learn about constructing 8 and 16th note patterns, how to listen out for them in a song and how to find the right

pattern with or without a drummer

© www.musicademy.co.uk

About Musicademy

• The Musicademy team

DVDs

Guitar, Vocals, Keys

Drums, Bass, Orchestral

• Worship Backing band

© www.musicademy.co.uk

Three key things. • One - ALWAYS keep your hand moving so that the

downs and ups naturally fall into place. If you stop moving it will mess your downs and ups around.

• Two - if you’ve got more than one acoustic guitar, either play exactly the same rhythm or perhaps split the pattern up and both play some parts of it. Again don’t make it too busy or you’ll eave no space for other instruments.

• Three - once you’ve found a strumming pattern that fits, don’t go changing it randomly, as it forms part of the rhythm section and if you are playing with anyone else they need to fit what they are doing with your rhythm to form a tight groove.

© www.musicademy.co.uk

Let’s listen to some music and look at how to find the groove.

grooves are made up of 8th or 16th notes Most worship songs use 16th notes Slow songs or fast songs above 120bpm use 8th notes

• Nothing But the Blood is…. Note groove • Forever is… note groove

Building a Groove

© www.musicademy.co.uk

Finding a strumming pattern

• Pick up on kick and snare drum

• Pick up on other rhythmic elements

• It all begins with vocal accents

• The key is LISTEN and try to fit in with emphasis of the rhythm instruments, 75% listening, 25% playing – Therefore don’t play at 75% of your ability!

© www.musicademy.co.uk

How grooves are communicated

8th notes = 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

16th notes = 1 e & a 2e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

Write the 16th note groove across your page

© www.musicademy.co.uk

Mighty to Save

Well used 16th note groove Red arrows are optional to add to groove

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

© www.musicademy.co.uk

Holy is the Lord

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

© www.musicademy.co.uk

Beautiful One

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

© www.musicademy.co.uk

Faithful One

16th note slower groove

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

Be Careful of the gallop!

Keep the groove consistent

© www.musicademy.co.uk

Consuming Fire

If a lot is going on you don’t need to play the down beats

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

© www.musicademy.co.uk

Hungry

With two guitars co-ordinate strumming

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

© www.musicademy.co.uk

Lead Me

Normally finger picked but still a consistent pattern

Kick drum (in red) pushed on 3rd beat

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

Play this for more movement

© www.musicademy.co.uk

In Christ Alone

Grooves in 3/4 time Snare on beat 2 or 3

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a

© www.musicademy.co.uk

Rescuer

Grooves in 6/8 8th note groove

Different to 3/4 as Snare on beat 4

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 5 & 6 &

The space in the pattern gives emphasis to beats 1 and 4

© www.musicademy.co.uk

Come Let Us Return

Adding to patterns to create dynamics

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

Looks like 8ths but all played with down strokes

16th note possibilities create movement and dynamics

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

© www.musicademy.co.uk

Pattern One

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

Pattern Two

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

Result

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

What if you don’t coordinate strumming patterns?

© www.musicademy.co.uk

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

Worse still if everyone’s timing is slightly out your pattern will look like this!!

© www.musicademy.co.uk

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

Groove is often changed on where you emphasis beat 3 (write and clap this)

1e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

Lets clap some patterns

© www.musicademy.co.uk

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

16th note Strumming Pattern- your love is amazing

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

© www.musicademy.co.uk

Two Bar Patterns

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

Two bar pattern - Beautiful One 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

© www.musicademy.co.uk

For Further Information

• www.musicademy.com

• Sign into the members area for free resources and to receive our monthly e-newsletter packed with useful articles and special offers

• Sign up on our mailing list at the Musicademy booth to receive these teaching notes by email