For those beginners learner of guitar. Some simple strumming for you to learn.
Audio clips of each strumming coming soon.
First you need to learn how to read the strumming pattern below?
v = Downstroke
^ = Upstroke
V = Accent downstoke
Λ = Accent upstroke
All the notation below is in the form of one bar, 4 beat.
The different feel of the song give it different count.
A normal 4/4 fast praise song will counting at "1 n 2 n 3 n 4 n" in a quaver feel.
A normal 4/4 worship slow song will be counting at "1 e n a 2 e n a 3 e n a 4 e n a" in a semi-quaver feel.
A 16 beat fast praise song will be in the same semi-quaver feel of a worship song (however it's much faster)
General rule: Use more of the arm when strumming in quaver feel and more of the hand and wrist when strumming semi-quaver feel.
The strumming pattern below are place in terms of difficulty, first 2 should be fairly easy and can be the first strumming you learn for fast and slower songs. The third moderate worship strumming need a bit of getting used to.
The forth strumming is most commonly heard for slower song. Not very difficult to learn after you master the previous 2 worship strumming pattern.
The fifth and sixth 16 beat strumming should take you quite some time to learn, most people will take more than 2-3 weeks to play it smoothly.
The last strumming of a more jumpy feel worship style can be a bit tricky, takes a bit of time. Listen closely to the feel of the 2 example song.
Normal 4/4 praise song strumming
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V |
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v |
^ |
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^ |
v |
^ |
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1 |
n |
2 |
n |
3 |
n |
4 |
n |
Example of suitable songs: Awesome in this place, With You
Simple 4/4 worship song strumming
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V |
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^ |
V |
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^ |
V |
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^ |
V |
^ |
v |
^ |
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1 |
e |
n |
a |
2 |
e |
n |
a |
3 |
e |
n |
a |
4 |
e |
n |
a |
Moderate 4/4 worship song strumming
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V |
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^ |
V |
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V |
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^ |
V |
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v |
^ |
v |
^ |
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1 |
e |
n |
a |
2 |
e |
n |
a |
3 |
e |
n |
a |
4 |
e |
n |
a |
Worship strumming
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V |
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V |
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v |
Λ |
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Λ |
v |
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v |
^ |
v |
^ |
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1 |
e |
n |
a |
2 |
e |
n |
a |
3 |
e |
n |
a |
4 |
e |
n |
a |
Example of suitable songs: All the Heavens, Lord You are always here with me
16 beat praise song strumming (1)
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V |
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V |
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v |
^ |
v |
^ |
V |
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V |
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v |
^ |
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1 |
e |
n |
a |
2 |
e |
n |
a |
3 |
e |
n |
a |
4 |
e |
n |
a |
Example of suitable songs: Now that You're near, You're everything, All about You
16 beat praise song strumming (2)
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V |
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V |
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V |
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v |
^ |
v |
^ |
V |
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V |
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v |
^ |
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1 |
e |
n |
a |
2 |
e |
n |
a |
3 |
e |
n |
a |
4 |
e |
n |
a |
A more jumpy feel worship strumming
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V |
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v |
^ |
v |
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V |
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v |
^ |
v |
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V |
^ |
v |
^ |
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1 |
e |
n |
a |
2 |
e |
n |
a |
3 |
e |
n |
a |
4 |
e |
n |
a |
Example of suitable songs: I could sing of Your love forever, It's all about Jesus
Note: There are many many different kind of strumming pattern, you can even form your own. The few given above are just for reference and learning purpose.