The straight 8th note strum pattern has got to be one of the most common ones out there. Basic, but everyone uses it, and for a reason – it gets the job done. Okay, so how can we take that pattern and give it a shot of life and make it sound a lot more interesting? How can we make it serve the song better? How can we make it express something specific? The answer is found in HOW we strum, not necessarily changing the rhythm. In this lesson we’ll explore a couple ways to do that.
Hi Jonathan,
My strumming is very boring…..I’m looking forward to your course. I’ve purchased a couple of your other courses and they were very helpful. I’m sure this one will be too!
Thanks,
Pat
Jonathan,
Take a listen to Zombie by the Cranberries. Their cord progressive is exactly what you are talking about.
The idea of ‘pulling back” is an important one that is addressed in developing some new strumming patterns. This was very helpful.
As always I found your video to be very helpful. Sometimes we all get comfortable in doing what we have always done for years. This video really opened up my thought process to the possibilities in adding a little flavor to my old strum techniques. Thanks!
This video is exactly what my playing has been needing for a quite a while to help differentiate my sound from all the others out there. Thanks a lot Jonathan!!
Hi Jonathan!! Being a self taught finger-style player- I have struggled with strumming for a very long time!! Your tutorials are very helpful!! I look forward to your e-mails all the time!! Thanks for sharing
nice, clear explanation. RYTHM drives the music above all. Without it, the music drifts into confusion and mistakes on the simplest chord changes.
Three ideas in 10 minutes…..now that is efficient teaching!!!
I love your methods of playing. I’m a beginner player, trying to teach myself. I’m 75 years old and enjoy youe methods.
Hi Jono
Your chords and the style you are teaching is identical to my song. http://youtu.be/RKEuwoO_xGc
Check it out!!
Thanks for sharing !! It sounds nice, uncomplicated, and a basic function for all types of guitar playing. I started with your courses “Unlocking I-IV-V” and “Guitar Scale Patterns” a year or so ago. Since I’ve accumulated quite a library of Instructional DVDs and try to practice with a DVD or two each day. Feels like the more I do the dumber I get and playing is not progressing like I want: “Travis Picking” has me stonewalled. Maybe “Back to Basics” and a Metronome should be revisited.
Loved the lesson. Varying the strum to create variety of sounds is a very power tool. Thx for this course. It’s just what I need.
That is amazing. My strumming is very basic. Can't wait to try this in a song. Thanks
I have started my seven year old son on your courses as well as Colin Daniels. This is the breakthrough that will allow him to express what he is trying to say musically to come out and be heard. Perfect timing and very appropriate for all.
Thanx, keep up the good work!
Richard
good ideas, thanks
Great video for a new perspective on strumming. Thanks for sharing!
Another great video Jonathan. I will be adding this to my playing to add some different sounding aspects. Great advise like usual. I can’t wait to see the rest of the course.
This chug strum and muting is making my playing more interesting as I tend to get bored with myself. I think it adds a bluesy feeling as well.
My main goal in learning and playing the guitar is to enter a mini vacation. Just you the guitar and the sounds you create. If you have gone fishing or sailing you will know what I mean. I am not into preforming but at some time I might enjoy playing along with someone. I think the Dynamic Rhythm Guitar course will help expand what I might be able to do on the guitar either during my mini vacation or playing with other musicians.
simple but so effective
There seems to be something missing in my playing. People often make comments about my strumming. I’m sure they are trying to help but I don’t always understand what they are trying to say. Perhaps this is just what I need to get my playing on the right track.
Your teaching style is great. I have some of your courses. I am doing some home recording – working on some demos to send in to try and get something going. The bank is taking the house in January so with this new course it will give me additional ideas to make my demos sound much better. Thanks.
Mickey Duane
Will you add fingerpicking to your dynamic guitar?
Hi Jonathan,
I really appreciate your straightforward way of explaining things without putting too much into a short lesson. I don’t feel comfortable with a plectrum and prefer to use my thumb and fingers, (the fleshy part not the nails as I prefer mine short) but I like to do something other than just the same old strum, I often pluck one or two of the higher strings on the upstroke and this keeps the sound more interesting, but I will try this method of muting too so once again thanks for a great lesson and I look forward to the improvements it will no doubt bring…
The most complicated problems always have the simplest of solutions. Thanks Jonathan. I’ll use this at church next Sunday – the sound of the low notes strummed alone is amazing
looks easy thanks
I have been following Jonathan for a long time now. He is one of the best guitar instructor on the web. I will continue to follow him.
Yes, there is a section on finger picking, as well as a section on hybrid picking too!
Informative and worth noting that using this will allow us to create variation from song to song because a lot of tunes use a “straight” eighths thing. So modifying this idea will yield other variations when applied to other strum patterns, too. Very nice.
very gooood! lesson w/lots of learning built into it………..
Very nice
I love your lessons there very in depth and very informative
An interesting concept. But hearing it played on top of the drum track was much more effective in demonstrating the idea.
I have been using the straight strum pattern in some 12 Bar Blues work and this is going to open up a lor more possibilities without changing a lot. Thanks
Hi Jonathan;
Very cool! I have Colin Danials course on stage 2: Scales. I am just getting to the point of going to Guitar Center for some private lessons on strumming as this seems to be what I am missing right now. However I definitely would like to check your course out in more detail first. That way I would know if the teacher is on the up and up. If you know what I meen. I have heard some “horror” stories about teachers dragging things out to make more money from student who progress well.
Nice video. Sometimes you need to get back to basics in order to move ahead. To enhance it just a bit, I would strum the lower strings then add some chord tones to the strum.
I am a singer who accompanies himself with rhythm guitar. I have been playing rhythm guitar for decades. I know about a zillion chords and play every day. That having been said, I need to tell you that the course you are offering is a wonderful validation of what I've been doing for years! Not everyone is a lead player and I play very little of what you'ld consider lead. But, as you mention, much can be done with dynamics, strum pattern and muting. What I see in your offering is exceptional! Keep the faith of dynamic rhythm.
And thanks for the uplifting validation. Terry
One way I like to add dynamics to a strum pattern is to either not hit the strings on one of the downbeats, or mute them as I strum.
I will buy it………Why……You mentioned about how and when to add a riff. That is enough for me to buy it. Riffs….ok. When to jump in….I don’t know . you sold me on WHEN!!!!!!
Would you please stop using Facebook for a reply.
Yes, “when” is just as important as “what” and just as important as “how” – a proper mix of those gives you DYNAMICS! 🙂
My strums are terrible! And my timing is off! So I’ll use this course to improve both!
Thanks for the lesson, sounds good.
I have a couple of your other courses and have learned a lot from them. This introductory video is no different…it has a lot of good ideas.
I really like the idea of spicing up everyday chords with the various strum patterns. You explain things so well and easy to understand. Hope I'm the lucky one to receive a copy of your course. Jason
Strumming just seems too general (too many tones at once) to me as I prefer tones that are more articulate. This seems to make strumming more articulate for me, and therefore more interesting. You gotta learn it anyway so why not with a little more finesse.
Great to hear Terry!
Kinda like a guitar-cation… nice.
Hi Jonathon,
I have only been learning the guitar for a few months. I already have your I IV V and Scale Pattern Lessons. I love your approach to teaching. This will be another great course.
I so need help adding spice to my strumming.
Love how something seemingly so simple, can add so much color and flavor. Especially nice/useful if backing up a vocal, or letting the song “take a breath” now and then! 😀 “More” or “louder” isn’t always better, that’s for sure! 😀 Great stuff!
So simple yet so effective, should be interesting to use with the 12 Bar Blues.
Very clear instruction. Your tutorial style is good. Glad I found your page. Thanks,
Thanks Jonathan! I really look forward to your emails and am excited about the new course. Decided to start playing guitar (a life’s dream) in retirement about a year and a half ago and am having a blast with it. Love rhythm and looking forward to spicing it up!