GuitarManac

Beginner

Strumming and rhythm

Stop strumming straight down. Make your chords sound like the record.

10 lessons in 4 chapters

Start the course

What you'll learn

The strums from the records.

  • Record strums
  • Down, down, down-up-down-up
  • The chuck
  • Sixteenths
  • Three beats a bar

What's inside

Chapter 2 · Down, down, down-up-down-up

  1. 3Down, down, down-up-down-upD D DUDU, the pop strum, before your next song.
  2. 4Sweet Home AlabamaThe Sweet Home Alabama loop, two chords in a bar with a new pair.

Chapter 3 · The chuck

  1. 5The chuckA strum on muted strings that clicks like a snare drum.
  2. 6The chuck in the folk strumThe chuck inside the folk strum: the sound of acoustic pop.
  3. 7Twist and ShoutTwist and Shout with chucks, and it bounces.

Chapter 4 · Gallops and three beats

  1. 8The gallopThree strums on every beat, like hooves. Your first sixteenths.
  2. 9Three beats in a barCount to three instead of four, and everything turns into a waltz.
  3. 10Happy BirthdayHappy Birthday and a new chord, D7. Next time there's cake, you're the band.

Songs you'll play

  • Stand by MeBen E. King · Lesson 2
  • Sweet Home AlabamaLynyrd Skynyrd · Lesson 4
  • Twist and ShoutThe Beatles · Lesson 7
  • Happy BirthdayTraditional · Lesson 10

And to try after: Zombie (The Cranberries)

Good next courses

Questions

How long is Strumming and rhythm?

10 lessons in 4 chapters, about 45 min in all. Each lesson takes 4 to 5 minutes, so one a day fits around anything.

What do I need before I start?

Em, D, G, C and Am, up-strums and the folk strum, from Your first songs. A guitar in standard tuning; the tuner in the app gets you there.

Is Strumming and rhythm free?

You can try the start of it for free, no account needed. The lessons marked with the pick come with Pro, which opens every course.

Which songs will I play?

Stand by Me by Ben E. King, Sweet Home Alabama by Lynyrd Skynyrd, Twist and Shout by The Beatles, Happy Birthday by Traditional.

What should I learn after this?

Good next courses are Your first songs, Open chords and the easy F, Fingerpicking.