Strum

<h2 id="notation">Notation</h2>

<h2 id="strumming-patterns">Strumming patterns</h2>
<p>A strumming pattern or strum is a preset pattern used by a <a href="/facts/Rhythm_guitar/WFcg4fXC">rhythm guitar</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5"><sup>5</sup></a> For example, a pattern in <a href="/facts/Common_time/kwQcWg1P">common time</a> or 44 consisting of alternating down and up eighth note strokes may be written:
</p>
1&2&3&4&
dudududu
<h3>Rock and pop</h3>
<p>The pattern most typical of rock and related styles is:
</p>
1&2&3&4&
d du udu
<p>The final upstroke is sometimes omitted altering the strumming pattern slightly to d du ud. This pattern is often called "Old Faithful",<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6"><sup>6</sup></a> or when played on ukulele, the "Island Strum".
</p><p>Examples of other strumming patterns include:<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7"><sup>7</sup></a>
</p>
<ul><li>Single down strum: d d d d 
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Elvis/oW3sAoB7">Elvis</a>' "<a href="/facts/Burning_Love/RQsypffH">Burning Love</a>"</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Kathy_Mattea/6defa1um">Kathy Mattea</a>'s "What Could Have Been"</li></ul></li>
<li>Boom-chicka: d dud du
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Merle_Haggard/9n8Qfyts">Merle Haggard</a>'s "Silver Wings"</li></ul></li></ul>
<h3>Jazz and funk</h3>
<p>The simple four-to-a-bar rhythm is associated with <a href="/facts/Jazz_guitarist/SsrJFGUD">jazz guitarists</a> such as <a href="/facts/Freddie_Green/wr1TP2Go">Freddie Green</a>, although they may subtly vary the rhythm of a chord on some beats to add interest.
</p><p>A simple eight-to-a-bar (8 eighth notes) rhythm is known as "straight eights" as opposed "<a href="/facts/Swing_(music)/80SJ1h4F">swung</a> eights", in which each pair are played in a rhythm that resembles the first and third notes in a <a href="/facts/Triplet_(music)/4HWfB0N2">triplet</a>.
</p><p>The fretting hand can also mute the strings on the fretboard to damp a chord, creating <a href="/facts/Staccato/sJykEK2o">staccato</a> and percussive effects. In <a href="/facts/Reggae/JC95IvF6">reggae</a> and <a href="/facts/Ska/lswkm6MY">ska</a>, a few staccato "chops" are played per bar. In <a href="/facts/Funk/NVuzVek1">funk</a> rhythm playing, the strumming hand keeps a fairly steady motion in <a href="/facts/16th_note/7jD1tPMm">16th notes</a>, while the left hand, basically holding down a <a href="/facts/Jazz_chord/fTphTCjy">jazz chord</a> damps some of them in a <a href="/facts/Syncopated/qA2dqkTI">syncopated</a> pattern.
</p>
<h2 id="fingerstyle-strumming-strokes">Fingerstyle strumming strokes</h2>
<p>Some of the many possible <a href="/facts/Fingerstyle/WuG9uEqA">fingerstyle</a> strums include 
</p>
<ul><li>A slow downstroke with the thumb. This is a <i><a href="/facts/Dynamics_(music)/o2FTe5LC">sforzando</a></i> or emphatic way of playing a chord.</li>
<li>Light "brushing" strokes with the fingers moving together at a near-perpendicular angle to the strings. Works equally in either direction and can be alternated for a chord tremolo chord effect.</li>
<li>Upstrokes with one finger make a change from the standard downstroke strum.</li>
<li>A "pinch" with the thumb and fingers moving towards each other gives a crisp effect. It is helpful to clearly articulate the topmost and bass note in the chord, as if plucking, before "following through".</li>
<li><a href="/facts/Rasgueado/MyXoTKYT">Rasgueado</a>: Strumming is typically done by bunching all the right-hand fingers and then flicking them out in quick succession to get four superimposed strums. The rasgueado or "rolling" strum is particularly characteristic of <a href="/facts/Flamenco/4PAIJXbh">flamenco</a>.</li>
<li>Turning <i>p-a-m-i</i> tremolo plucking into a series of downstrokes. This is a lighter version of the classic rasgueado, which uses upstrokes.</li></ul>
<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/Harmonic_rhythm/8fnKBSoa">Harmonic rhythm</a></li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1"><p>"Definition of STRUMMING". www.merriam-webster.com. Retrieved 2018-06-22. <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strumming" target="_blank">https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strumming</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:2"><p>"Should You Play Left-Handed or Right-Handed? | Hub Guitar". hubguitar.com. Retrieved 2018-06-22. <a href="http://hubguitar.com/articles/left-or-right-handed-guitar" target="_blank">http://hubguitar.com/articles/left-or-right-handed-guitar</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:3"><p>"Fret-Hand Fitness: Four Wicked Workouts to Develop Your Digits". GuitarPlayer.com. Retrieved 2018-06-22. <a href="https://www.guitarplayer.com/technique/fret-hand-fitness-four-wicked-workouts-to-develop-your-digits" target="_blank">https://www.guitarplayer.com/technique/fret-hand-fitness-four-wicked-workouts-to-develop-your-digits</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:4"><p>"Right-handed and Left-handed Vs Right and Left Hand Guitars". Retrieved 2018-06-22. <a href="http://www.playableguitar.com/left-handed.html" target="_blank">http://www.playableguitar.com/left-handed.html</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:5"><p>"Strumming patterns for the Ukulele". Ukulele-Tabs.com. Retrieved 2023-02-20. <a href="https://www.ukulele-tabs.com/strumming-patterns.html" target="_blank">https://www.ukulele-tabs.com/strumming-patterns.html</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:6"><p>Sandercoe, Justin (2013). Justinguitar.Com: Rock Songbook. London: Music Sales Ltd. p. 69. ISBN 978-1780386874. <a href="978-1780386874" target="_blank">978-1780386874</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
<li id="fn:7"><p>Dix, Bruce (2011). You Can Teach Yourself Country Guitar. pp. 19–26. ISBN 9781610654869. <a href="9781610654869" target="_blank">9781610654869</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li>
</ol>

Strum open-in-new

Strum