Denys Berezhnyi

Guitar-plus-Vocal School

Strumming Patterns Collection
(techniques, audio)

These Guitar Strum Patterns are created specially for learning to sing and play guitar at the same time. I needed them for webcam lessons. But I found different collections of rhythmic patterns, many of which, unfortunately, are completely useless for self-accompaniment. I have not found really useful audio and video on the internet. So I made them. I used all of the strumming patterns from this collection in teaching, creating and performing vocal music.

  1. (↑ ↑↓ ↓↑↓) Four-four time, one move equals one eighth note, with and without bass

  2. (↑ ↑ ↑ ↑↓ ↓↑↓↑ ↑↓) Four-four time, one move equals one sixteenth note, with and without bass

  3. (b ↑↓ ↓↑↓) Four-four time, one move equals one eighth note, with bass and palm mute

  4. (b ↑↓↑ ↑↓) Four-four time, without syncopation

  5. (b ↑ ↓alt b ↓↑ ↓) Shuffle rhythm, with alternating bass and palm mute

  6. (b ↑↓alt b↓↑↓) Four-four time, straight rhythm, with alternating bass

  7. (b ↑↓↑↓↑ ↑↓↑↓) Six-eight time, slow

    (b ↑↓↑↓↑ ↑↓↑↓) Six-eight time, fast

  8. (b 3+2+1 3+2+1 ↑ 3+2+1 3+2+1) Six-eight time, with plucks and accent on down stroke, fast and slow

  9. (b ↑ ↑ ↑↓↑ ↑ ↑↓↑↓) Four-four time, with syncopation, accent on "3-and"

  10. (b ↑↓↑↓↑ ↑↓↑↓↑ ↑↓) Four-four time, with syncopation, accent on "2-and"

  11. (b ↑↓↑↓alt b ↑↓↑↓) Three-four time, waltz rhythm, without/with palm mute

  12. (↑ ↑) Two-four time and four-four time, march

  13. (↑↓↑↓↑↓↑↓↑↓↑↓) Twelve-eight time, groups of three pulses with up stroke and down stroke accents, without and with chord changes

  14. (↑↓↑↓↑↓↑↓↑↓↑↓↑↓↑↓) Four-four time, with 5 accents

    (b ↑↓ ↓↑ ↑↓ ↓↑ ↑↓) Another type of strum pattern with 5 accents, for slow songs

  15. (b ↑↓↑↓↑↓↑↓↑↓↑↓↑↓) Four-four time, with bass and 5 accents, fast and slow

  16. (↑p↓↑p↓↑↓) Four-four time, "Eight" is a famous strumming pattern of the 20th century, fast and slow

  17. (↑ ↓↑ ↓↑↓) Four-four time, with down stroke accents

  18. (↑ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑ ↑↓↑↓) Another type of strum pattern with down stroke accents, four-four time

  19. (↑ ↑ ↑ ↓) Four-four time, straight rhythm, one stroke equals one eighth note

  20. (↑ ↑ ↑ ↑↓) Another type of strum pattern with straight rhythm, four-four time

  21. (b↓↑↓) Four-four time, straight rhythm, one stroke equals one eighth note, with nonalternating bass and palm mute

  22. (b ↑v^↓^↓) Four-four time, with staccato

  23. (↑p↓↑p↓↑ ^^v) Twelve-eight time, fast and slow

  24. (↓↑↓↑↓↑↓↑↓↑↓↑) Twelve-eight time, with palm mute, starts with an upstroke

  25. (pp↓↑↓↑pp↓↑↓↑) Twelve-eight time, with palm mute, thumb makes a downstroke and upstroke (pp)

  26. (b ↑↓alt b ↑) Two-four time, with alternating bass, fast and slow

  27. (b ↑ alt b ↑ b ↑alt b ↓↑) Two-four time, with alternating bass, syncopated fourth bass

  28. (b ↑ b́ ↑b́ ↓↑b́ ↓↑↓) Four-four time, one move equals one sixteenth note, with alternating bass, syncopated third and fourth basses, b́ - bass with simultaneous up stroke, fast and slow

  29. (b ↑ ↑↓↑↓ ↓ ↓↑↓↑↓) Four-four time, one move equals one sixteenth note, with palm mute

  30. (b ↑ ↓^ v↑ ↓) One version of reggae

  31. (b 3 ↑ b 2+1 3 ↑ 3+2+1) Shuffle rhythm, with plucks, syncopated second bass

  32. (b ↑↓alt b↓↑↓) (b ↑ alt b ↑) (b́ ↑ alt b́ ↑) (↓↑↓↑) Accelerando in Romani songs, here without chord changes

Video illustrations:
Strum pattern No. 1 (↑ ↑↓ ↓↑↓) is considered primitive and unprofessional. Contemporary accompaniment refutes this view. Song shows the big potential of this strumming technique.

Lullaby (D. Berezhnyi - R. Kusimov)

In the next song, rhythmic patterns No. 8 (b 3+2+1 3+2+1 ↑ 3+2+1 3+2+1), No. 7 (b ↑↓↑↓↑ ↑↓↑↓), simple arpeggios (b 3 2 1 2 3), and arpeggios with accented down stroke (b 3 2 ↑ 2 3), 6/8 time signature.

Mumu (D. Berezhnyi - S. Os)

Singing lessons? Voice? Or guitar lessons? Why is it important to learn to sing and self-accompany on guitar at the same time? Who teaches this, and where? How to avoid common mistakes in choosing a teacher? Pros and cons of learning in various music schools? How not to be caught in a net of video schools? Video lessons, in-person lessons, or online lessons via Skype — which is better? There are answers:
Guitar-plus-Vocal School
See also:
Correct Chord Diagrams;
Left Handed Guitar Chord Diagrams;
Guitar Strum Patterns for webcam lessons;
Notes on Guitar Fretboard;
Chord Construction and Fingerings. Universal Table;
Guitar Parts. Interactive image

© Denys Berezhnyi, denysberezhnyi.com.ua