Rhythm Basic
Before we get to the fun part, it is important for you as a musician to be able to feel the beat and keep time as you play.
Strumming patterns are created by sub dividing the beat to create a rhythm pattern and to understand that, you need to know the concept of ‘Down Beat’ and ‘Up Beat’. Most beginners having a hard time to learn strumming pattern because they didn’t realize this concept. Let sort this out real quick below:
Music are commonly written in 4/4 time which means that there are 4 beats for every measure/bar:
| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | etc…
The numbers are what referred to as the down beat. In between the down beats there are up beats represented by the symbol ‘&’ like so:
| 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 | 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 | 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 | 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 | etc…
What you want to be able to do is to develop the ability to feel the beat so that you know where you are at all times (On the Down Beat or on the Up Beat). Trained your self with an exercise below:
Exercise:
The first thing to do is to establish a steady beat and you can do this by tapping your foot. When doing this, make sure that you tap at a reasonable tempo (Slow is best to start with) and keep it steady. Try this with me…
Tap - Tap - Tap - Tap - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
Can you feel the beat now?
Also notice that the up beats (&’s) fall at the moment that you lift your foot in between the taps.
The ability to feel the beat will make you understand rhythm and understanding rhythm will make you learn the guitar faster.
________________________________________________________________
Back to Beginners Lessons
Before we get to the fun part, it is important for you as a musician to be able to feel the beat and keep time as you play.
Strumming patterns are created by sub dividing the beat to create a rhythm pattern and to understand that, you need to know the concept of ‘Down Beat’ and ‘Up Beat’. Most beginners having a hard time to learn strumming pattern because they didn’t realize this concept. Let sort this out real quick below:
Music are commonly written in 4/4 time which means that there are 4 beats for every measure/bar:
| 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | 1 2 3 4 | etc…
The numbers are what referred to as the down beat. In between the down beats there are up beats represented by the symbol ‘&’ like so:
| 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 | 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 | 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 | 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 | etc…
What you want to be able to do is to develop the ability to feel the beat so that you know where you are at all times (On the Down Beat or on the Up Beat). Trained your self with an exercise below:
Exercise:
The first thing to do is to establish a steady beat and you can do this by tapping your foot. When doing this, make sure that you tap at a reasonable tempo (Slow is best to start with) and keep it steady. Try this with me…
Tap - Tap - Tap - Tap - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
Can you feel the beat now?
Also notice that the up beats (&’s) fall at the moment that you lift your foot in between the taps.
The ability to feel the beat will make you understand rhythm and understanding rhythm will make you learn the guitar faster.
________________________________________________________________
Back to Beginners Lessons
