Understanding strumming patterns

[David Lo]

Hi, Can someone please help me to understand/visualize these strum
patterns/rhythms?

It's from the Shadows' Apache, in 4/4 time.

Most bars look like this (I hope you can read my bad text notation here,
maybe it will be more readable in Notepad?), note the double-line (==) in
the 2nd half of the first "group":

+-==+ +-+ +-----+
| | | | | | | | |
/ / / / / / / / /

And some bars look like this:

+-==+ +-+ +-+ +-==+
| | | | | | | | | |
/ / / / / / / / / /

I know what the song sounds like, but it's too fast for me to understand
what's happening in terms of Up and Down stroke movements of the strumming
hand, e.g. how many up/downs per measure?

And how do you "count" these patterns, i.e. what parts fall on 1, 2, 3, 4?

This is a common problem I have with strumming most songs - unless it's a
slow & simple "ONE, two, three, four, ONE, two, three, four" rhythm, I
really struggle.

Thanks a lot!!

PS. I found this tab on powertabs.net, if you want to download it to
see/hear what I mean.

[Tony Meloche]

Post by David Lo
Hi, Can someone please help me to understand/visualize these strum
patterns/rhythms?
It's from the Shadows' Apache, in 4/4 time.
Most bars look like this (I hope you can read my bad text notation here,
maybe it will be more readable in Notepad?), note the double-line (==) in
+-==+ +-+ +-----+
| | | | | | | | |
/ / / / / / / / /
+-==+ +-+ +-+ +-==+
| | | | | | | | | |
/ / / / / / / / / /
I know what the song sounds like, but it's too fast for me to understand
what's happening in terms of Up and Down stroke movements of the strumming
hand, e.g. how many up/downs per measure?
And how do you "count" these patterns, i.e. what parts fall on 1, 2, 3, 4?
This is a common problem I have with strumming most songs - unless it's a
slow & simple "ONE, two, three, four, ONE, two, three, four" rhythm, I
really struggle.
Thanks a lot!!
PS. I found this tab on powertabs.net, if you want to download it to
see/hear what I mean.

For counting your first pattern, say this (start slowly, and
gradually get faster):

SHAVE and a HAIR-cut, MON-day TUES-day

and the second pattern, only subtly different (you could play the whole
thing with the first pattern alone - few would notice the difference) is
counted like this:

SHAVE and a HAIR-cut, MON-day LADY-bug

As far as up and down strokes, I would strum it thus:


D U D U D, D U D U
SHAVE and a HAIR-cut MON-day TUES-day

And again, slowly at first - it will quickly become natural.

I love "Apache" and play it often - good to see the grand old
instrumentals still being studied by many guitarists.

The Old Guy


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[johnty]

Post by Tony Meloche

Post by David Lo
Hi, Can someone please help me to understand/visualize these strum
patterns/rhythms?
It's from the Shadows' Apache, in 4/4 time.
Most bars look like this (I hope you can read my bad text notation here,
maybe it will be more readable in Notepad?), note the double-line (==) in
+-==+ +-+ +-----+
| | | | | | | | |
/ / / / / / / / /
+-==+ +-+ +-+ +-==+
| | | | | | | | | |
/ / / / / / / / / /
I know what the song sounds like, but it's too fast for me to understand
what's happening in terms of Up and Down stroke movements of the strumming
hand, e.g. how many up/downs per measure?
And how do you "count" these patterns, i.e. what parts fall on 1, 2, 3, 4?
This is a common problem I have with strumming most songs - unless it's a
slow & simple "ONE, two, three, four, ONE, two, three, four" rhythm, I
really struggle.
Thanks a lot!!
PS. I found this tab on powertabs.net, if you want to download it to
see/hear what I mean.

For counting your first pattern, say this (start slowly, and
SHAVE and a HAIR-cut, MON-day TUES-day
and the second pattern, only subtly different (you could play the whole
thing with the first pattern alone - few would notice the difference) is
SHAVE and a HAIR-cut, MON-day LADY-bug
D U D U D, D U D U
SHAVE and a HAIR-cut MON-day TUES-day
And again, slowly at first - it will quickly become natural.
I love "Apache" and play it often - good to see the grand old
instrumentals still being studied by many guitarists.

I love it, too. I'm struggling to make the first fast bit sound OK,
though (tum-ti-ti-tum-ti-ti-tum-ti-ti-tum-ti-ti-tum dum dumm). Any
tips?

[Tony Meloche]

Post by johnty

Post by Tony Meloche
I love "Apache" and play it often - good to see the grand old
instrumentals still being studied by many guitarists.

I love it, too. I'm struggling to make the first fast bit sound OK,
though (tum-ti-ti-tum-ti-ti-tum-ti-ti-tum-ti-ti-tum dum dumm). Any
tips?

Hold the pick so just the tip is exposed (that is good advice for
any kind of lead playing, actually). The motion should be mostly with
the thumb and finger you hold the pick with, using just a little wrist
motion. Works for me . . .

The Old Guy

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[Guncho]

Post by David Lo
Hi, Can someone please help me to understand/visualize these strum
patterns/rhythms?
It's from the Shadows' Apache, in 4/4 time.
Most bars look like this (I hope you can read my bad text notation here,
maybe it will be more readable in Notepad?), note the double-line (==) in
+-==+ +-+ +-----+
| | | | | | | | |
/ / / / / / / / /
+-==+ +-+ +-+ +-==+
| | | | | | | | | |
/ / / / / / / / / /
I know what the song sounds like, but it's too fast for me to understand
what's happening in terms of Up and Down stroke movements of the strumming
hand, e.g. how many up/downs per measure?
And how do you "count" these patterns, i.e. what parts fall on 1, 2, 3, 4?
This is a common problem I have with strumming most songs - unless it's a
slow & simple "ONE, two, three, four, ONE, two, three, four" rhythm, I
really struggle.
Thanks a lot!!
PS. I found this tab on powertabs.net, if you want to download it to
see/hear what I mean.

If you know what it should sound like why and can play the chords, stop
thinking and play it.

Seriously. Turn off your brain and make your hand do what it sounds
like.

Chris