Guitar Strumming Patterns | Guitar Strumming Techniques

One of the most basic and essential techniques a person must learn in order to become a master at the guitar is strumming.  Guitar strumming patterns are what give songs played on the guitar their tempo and rhythm.  Different strumming techniques can also change the tone of a song, making it louder or quieter, softer or more sharply defined.  Learning to use your strumming hand is half of the battle of learning to play the guitar.  Many people make the mistake of thinking it is the easy half, but strumming techniques are just as difficult to master as fret-fingering techniques, if not more so. 

The most important distinction to make between different ways of strumming the guitar is whether the pick or fingers are strumming the strings downward, from the lowest- to the highest-pitched string, or upward, from the highest to the lowest.  These two types of strumming are called downstrokes and upstrokes, respectively.  Ideally, both should be used in creating strumming patterns that are interesting and pleasing. 

By consciously incorporating either more downstrokes or more upstrokes, players can give the song they are playing a stronger sense of style.  For example, heavier types of rock music, especially various types of metal, typically use strumming patterns that are heavy in downstrokes.  Jazz guitarists, on the other hand, typically use patterns that are more rooted in upstrokes.  Essentially, this difference shows that downstrokes are more powerful and assertive, and should be used to emphasize a certain part of a riff or song. 

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Once players have decided which strokes in their pattern should be upstrokes and which should be downstrokes, there are many other ways they can modify their guitar strumming techniques. 

The first is deciding where on the strings to strum.  Most teachers tell beginning players to strum the part of the strings that is directly above the pickups or soundhole.  This is because strumming this part of the strings gives the most even sound.  However, players can strum higher or lower on the strings to achieve a desired effect.  Strumming higher, or closer to the guitar’s neck, will produce a sound that is fuller but more dull.  Conversely, strumming lower, or closer to the guitar’s bridge, will produce a sound that is sharper, but more tinny and empty-sounding.  The range of possible places to strum offers a large variety of effects, which experienced players can use to accent or de-emphasize certain parts of the songs they play. 

Finally, in cases where a pick is used, the way the pick is held is a vital aspect of a player’s guitar strumming techniques.  The more tightly a player grips the pick, the louder and more defined the sound it makes will be.  A loose grip produces a quieter, softer sound, whereas a tight grip produces a louder, more defined sound.  Players typically loosen their grip on the pick when singing along to shift attention to their voice.  Additionally, adjusting the force with which a player strikes the strings is a common method for producing similar effects.

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