The Power That Makes Songs Rock: Rhythm!
You've learned your first chords and can play a basic song. But how do we get that fluid, energetic, and professional sound of your favorite recordings? The answer lies in making your strumming hand more dynamic. In this lesson, you'll discover the 'up-strum,' a technique that will bring a whole new level of movement and life to your guitar playing.
Proper Strumming Technique
Whether you use a pick or your fingers, the principle is the same: the motion should come from a relaxed wrist, not your whole arm. Your strumming hand should be loose and ready to swing.
- With a Pick: Hold the pick firmly but not too tight between your thumb and index finger. Angle it slightly. Use down-strokes and up-strokes to hit the strings.
- With Fingers: The most common method is to use your index finger. Strum down with your nail and strum up with the fleshy tip of your finger.
Subdividing the Beat: "1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and..."
To make music feel alive, we need to fill the space between the main beats. We do this by subdividing the rhythm with the word 'and.' Instead of just counting '1, 2, 3, 4,' we'll now count:
"1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and"
In this system, the numbers are where you play down-strums, and the 'ands' are where you play up-strums.
Your First Real Rhythm: The Down-Up Practice
Time to put this into practice. This exercise is crucial for building a steady and reliable strumming hand.
- Mute and Focus: Gently lay your fretting hand across the strings to mute them. We're not playing chords yet, just focusing on rhythm.
- Start the Engine: Begin a constant, steady down-up motion with your strumming hand. It should feel like a pendulum that never stops.
- Count Out Loud: While counting "1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and" out loud, make sure you hit the strings on every number (down) and every 'and' (up).
- Combine with a Chord: Once you're comfortable, hold a simple Em chord and apply the same D-U-D-U pattern. Listen for an even, consistent sound.
- Energize the Key Four: Now you can apply this to your main chord progression! Play one full measure (1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and) for each chord.
| G (D-U-D-U) | D (D-U-D-U) | Em (D-U-D-U) | C (D-U-D-U) |
Congratulations! You are no longer just playing chords; you're playing the rhythm that gives the song its heartbeat. This single skill will dramatically change how musical you sound.
