Strum
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about musical performance technique. For the city, see Strum, Wisconsin.
A strumm is the act of brushing one's fingers over, or strumming, the strings of a string instrument such as a guitar.
A strumming pattern is a preset pattern used by a rhythm guitar. Compare with pattern picking, strumming patterns may be indicated through notation, tablature, up and down arrows, or slashes. For example, a pattern in common time or 4/4 consisting of alternating down and up eight note strokes may be written:
- /\/\/\/\
The pattern most typical of rock and related styles would be written:
- / /\ \/\
Patterns may alternate or vary through one song.
Examples of primary strumming patterns in songs (Dix, 1993, p.19-26):
- single down strum: / / / /
- down-up: /\/\/\/\
- Billy Ray Cyrus' "Achy Breaky Heart"
- Kathy Mattea's "What Could Have Been"
- boom-chicka: / /\/ /\
- Merle Haggard's "Silver Wings"
[edit] Source
- Dix, Bruce (1993). You Can Teach Yourself Country Guitar. ISBN 1-56222-456-5.