Strum

For other uses, seeStrum (disambiguation).

Guitar strum:base pattern on open G tuning. Strumming is used to create a chord. Many patterns are created through subtracting beats from this base.

Guitar strum:pattern created by subtracting the second and fifth (of eight) eighth notes from the base, above.

Ska stroke:featuresdampenedstaccatoupbeatdownstrokes.

Inmusic,strummingis a way of playing astringed instrumentsuch as aguitar,ukulele,ormandolin.Astrumorstrokeis a sweeping action where afingerorplectrumbrushes over severalstringsto generatesound.On most stringed instruments, strums are typically executed by a musician's designatedstrum hand(typically the musician'sdominant hand,which is often responsible for generating the majority of sound on a stringed instrument), while the remaining hand (referred to as the fret handon most instruments with afingerboard) often supports the strum hand by altering the tones and pitches of any given strum.

Strums are often contrasted withplucking,as a means of vibrating an instrument's strings. In plucking, a specific string or designated set of strings are individually targeted to vibrate, whereas in strumming, a less precise targeting is usually used. Compared to other plucking techniques, any group of strings brushed in a single sweep by a plectrum could be considered a strum due to the plectrum's less precise string group targeting (however, a plectrum might simultaneously pluck a small group of strings without being considered a strum). In contrast, a musician could utilize a technique with more precise string group targeting (such as afingerstyleorfingerpicktechnique) to pluck all the strings on a stringed instrument at once and this would still be considered a pluck, not a strum.

Notation

There are a variety of methods for writing strum notation.

Arrow notation

Letter notation

Traditional notation

Strumming patterns

A strumming pattern or strum is a preset pattern used by arhythm guitar.For example, a pattern incommon timeor⁴
₄consisting of alternating down and up eighth note strokes may be written:

1&2&3&4&

dudududu

Rock and pop

The pattern most typical of rock and related styles is:

1&2&3&4&

d du udu

The final upstroke is sometimes omitted altering the strumming pattern slightly to d du ud. This pattern is often called "Old Faithful",or when played on ukulele, the "Island Strum".

Examples of other strumming patterns include:

• Single down strum:d d d d
  • Elvis' "Burning Love"
  • Kathy Mattea's "What Could Have Been"
• Boom-chicka:d dud du
  • Merle Haggard's "Silver Wings"

Jazz and funk

The simple four-to-a-bar rhythm is associated withjazz guitaristssuch asFreddie Green,although they may subtly vary the rhythm of a chord on some beats to add interest.

A simple eight-to-a-bar (8 eighth notes) rhythm is known as "straight eights" as opposed "swungeights ", in which each pair are played in a rhythm that resembles the first and third notes in atriplet.

The fretting hand can also mute the strings on the fretboard to damp a chord, creatingstaccatoand percussive effects. Inreggaeandska,a few staccato "chops" are played per bar. Infunkrhythm playing, the strumming hand keeps a fairly steady motion in16th notes,while the left hand, basically holding down ajazz chorddamps some of them in asyncopatedpattern.

Fingerstyle strumming strokes

Some of the many possiblefingerstylestrums include

• A slow downstroke with the thumb. This is asforzandoor emphatic way of playing a chord.
• Light "brushing" strokes with the fingers moving together at a near-perpendicular angle to the strings. Works equally in either direction and can be alternated for a chord tremolo chord effect.
• Upstrokes with one finger make a change from the standard downstroke strum.
• A "pinch" with the thumb and fingers moving towards each other gives a crisp effect. It is helpful to clearly articulate the topmost and bass note in the chord, as if plucking, before "following through".
• Rasgueado:Strumming is typically done by bunching all the right-hand fingers and then flicking them out in quick succession to get four superimposed strums. The rasgueado or "rolling" strum is particularly characteristic offlamenco.
• Turningp-a-m-itremolo plucking into a series of downstrokes. This is a lighter version of the classic rasgueado, which uses upstrokes.

See also

• Harmonic rhythm