What strumming you guys use?

[Jathank]

i usually use

 

down up up down up up down up down up for upperb

down down up up up down up down up for moderate

 

What about you?

[streetknight]

Can you use pretty much whatever you want to? I'm new is why I ask. Like if I'm trying to learn a song that's say 1/8 notes I can't just strum it however can I or it won't be like the recording?

 

This is my hardest problem right now. Listening to tracks and trying to get the strum patterns down after finding the tabs.

[Freeman Keller]

Right now I'm trying to learn to strum like a girl.

 

Rory Block, that is

[DenverDave]

 

Right now I'm trying to learn to strum like a girl. Rory Block, that is

 

 

Gotta correct you here - Rory doesn't play like a girl - she plays like a woman!!

 

I use whatever strumming pattern works for the song I'm playing...

[Preacher Will]

I like the up and down thing. Side-to-side never seemed to work out for me . . .

[Freeman Keller]

 

Gotta correct you here - Rory doesn't play like a girl - she plays like a woman!!

 

 

Actually, Dave, there is a wonderful line in one of her autobiographical songs where she talks about learning to play from Gary Davis and John Hurt, and opening for Fred McDowell - she says "someone stood up and said 'she plays like a man' "

 

I just bought her "Rory teaches RJ" dvd and to answer the original question, when playing some of his songs she sturms up, up, down, up - usually with the slide up on the first "up" and down on the last "up". But otherwise, whatever the heck works.

[kwakatak]

i usually use down up up down up up down up down up for upperb down down up up up down up down up for moderate What about you?

 

 

I like to strum to the same rhythm as the Hampster Dance.

[simplygoodmusic]

Sounds a bit limiting to stick to strict strumming patterns...

[STEELSTRINGS]

Use whatever strumming pattern works for the song. There are many different strum patterns.

[Freeman Keller]

 

Use whatever strumming pattern works for the song. There are many different strum patterns.

 

 

 

Unless you are a bluegrasser, then you need two

 

boom, chuck, boom chuck...

 

boom, chuck chuck, boom, chuck chuck...

[angus_old]

i let my hand choose the pattern, it seems to know best

[Hudman]

 

i usually use down up up down up up down up down up for upperb down down up up up down up down up for moderate What about you?

 

 

Too much thinking.

 

I use the pattern that fits the song. It's a "feel thing".

[theGOOCH]

I don't think about strumming patterns. I just do it. I also like to hit partial chords or emphasize certain strings sometimes

[Kap'n]

 

I don't think about strumming patterns. I just do it. I also like to hit partial chords or emphasize certain strings sometimes

 

 

Right. Move your hand until it sounds like you hear it in your head.

[guit30]

I play a hybrid bluegrass style with connecting notes

Jim

[kwakatak]

 

I don't think about strumming patterns. I just do it. I also like to hit partial chords or emphasize certain strings sometimes

 

 

+1

 

Practice certainly is important in the beginning stages of learning to play, but try not to overanalyze the process. Eventually it will become like a reflex (aka "muscle memory") which will leave you free to experiment with different rhythms.

 

I like to emphasize the bass notes on certain beats, often using some muting with the heel of my strumming hand. I also like to use hammerons and pulloffs to interject a subtle melody, often as "grace notes".

[Jathank]

 

+1 Practice certainly is important in the beginning stages of learning to play, but try not to overanalyze the process. Eventually it will become like a reflex (aka "muscle memory") which will leave you free to experiment with different rhythms. I like to emphasize the bass notes on certain beats, often using some muting with the heel of my strumming hand. I also like to use hammerons and pulloffs to interject a subtle melody, often as "grace notes".

 

 

Actually, I agree that too....

At first I play the EXACT strumming everytime, and as my playing time increase, I strum watever I feel like.

I been playing for 4years now, but since half year ago, I couldnt find a new strumming feel, so I am trying to find some new strumming and build it up in order to find a new rhythm feel. sorry for being unclear at the very first place.

[polynices]

 

Right now I'm trying to learn to strum like a girl. Rory Block, that is

 

 

what a woman!!

 

I'm finally gonna get to see her around March when she plays in Binghamton NY.

[Terry Allan Hall]

I like to strum to the same rhythm as the Hampster Dance.

 

LOL...

[mikesr1963]

 

i usually use down up up down up up down up down up for upperb down down up up up down up down up for moderate What about you?

 

 

I listen to the song before I play it and feel it out. I add my own thing to it, picking and strumming. I don't try to copy it exactly; the only person I have to impress is myself and if someone else likes it, great, if not they can keep walking. The important thing for me is fun and feeling good about me doing what I'm doing. Enjoy the ride because it's short.