Guitar : Strumming Patterns (Lesson 1)

The Ultimate Strum Pattern uses a combination of quarter and 8th notes, so make sure you have a good understanding of these and are comfortable playing them before attempting the strum pattern. It is an incredibly popular pattern to strum on the guitar. It makes a good substitute for other more complex strumming patterns and is also a good `go to`strum pattern that all you guitarists can call on frequently when in doubt.

Songs that use The Ulitmate Strum Pattern

• Van Morrison –  Brown Eyed Girl
• Green Day – Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)
• The Calling – Wherever You Will Go
• Foo Fighters – Times Like These
• The Fray – How to Save A Life

Pop

Chords used:
G Major, D Major, E minor, C Major

Play-along:
Capo 2nd fret
(G, D, Em, C) x 4

Rock

Chords used:
F5, E5, G5, A5, B5, C5

Play-along:
No Capo
(F5, E5, G5, A5, B5, C5 ) X 4

As you can hear the same strum pattern gives you a very different sound depending on what `sound` you are after. The overall feel is same for both the pop and rock versions but the end result is pretty different.

The Indie rock strumming pattern uses a combination of quarter, 8th and 16th notes, so make sure you have a good understanding of these and are comfortable playing them before attempting this strum pattern. The accents on the 2nd and 4th beats are integral to this pattern. Loads of modern rock songs use this pattern to great effect.

Songs that use The Indie Rock Strum Pattern

• Blur – Country House
• Eagle Eye Cherry – Save Tonight
• Red Hot Chili Peppers – Dani California
• Shawn Colvin – Sunny Came Home
• Oasis – D’You Know What I Mean?

Pop

Chords used:
A minor, F Major, C Major, G Major

Play-along:
Capo 2th fret
(Am, F, C, G)
Note: All bars in this example are split bars

Rock

Chords used:
F5, Ab5,E5, Bb5, C5

Play-along:
No Capo
F5, Ab5,E5, Bb5, F5, Ab5,E5, C5
Note: All bars in this example are split bars

The Modern Strum Pattern uses a combination of quarter, 8th and 16th notes, so make sure you have a good understanding of these and are comfortable playing them before attempting the strum pattern.

Songs that use The Modern Strum Pattern

• Oasis – Live Forever
• Passenger – Let Her Go
• Bob Dylan – Knockin` on Heavens Door
• Ed Sheeran – Skinny Love
• Radiohead – Fake Plastic Trees

Pop

Chords used:
E minor, Cadd9, G, Dsus4/F#

Play-along:
Capo 6th fret
(Em, Cadd9, G, Dsus4/F#) X 4

Rock

Chords used:
Drop D tuning (D5, E5, A5, F5)