What is a strumming pattern? Types of strumming patterns on guitar

Summary

Mix and match activities to create a fun lesson in which students will learn to combine downstrokes and upstrokes in a simple strumming pattern. Integrate Solfeg.io in teaching the basics of guitar playing.

💻 Materials:

• Solfeg.io web app best used with Chrome browser
• Projector or computer and access to WIFI
• Guitars
• Mobile devices with the Solfeg.io mobile app installed (optional)

🎲 Activities included:

• Learning the G, Em and C chords
• Playing the G, Em, and C chords in a song
• Learning the basics of strumming
• Playing a strumming pattern in a song

Introduction to the song

🕐 Time: 5 min

🎯 Objectives:

• Get familiar with the chosen song
• Recognize instruments in a song
• Understand the song structure
• Describe the characteristics of a song

🎶 Recommended Song:

🎲 Activity:

• Select a song that students like the best from the suggestion list.
• Project the song on the screen Click on 'Guitar' under 'Tools' - 'Visuals' so that the guitar chord diagrams are visible.
• Listen to a the chorus of the song
• Shortly discuss the song with the class.

What instruments do you hear?

Is there a guitar played in this song? How is it strummed?

Which chords are featured in this song?

What is the tempo, mood and genre of the song?

Learn or recap the chords

🕐 Time: 5 min

🎯 Objectives:

• Learn the chords of the chosen song

🎶 Recommended Song:

🎲 Activity:

- less guitars than students, distribute one instrument to a small group of students - they will have to take turns when playing.

- Press “Play” and then pause the song at each new chord that appears in the chord diagrams at the bottom of the song player.

- If needed, explain to class how to read the chord diagrams:

• The horizontal lines represent the strings. At the top you can see the string which is at the bottom when playing the guitar - the E/1st string.
• The vertical lines indicate the frets.
• The dots indicate where the left hand fingers should be placed on the guitar.
• The numbers inside the dots indicate which finger should be pressed:

1 - index finger

2 - middle finger

3 - ring finger

4 - pinky

• If there is an “X” on the string, it should not be strummed with the right hand.

Play the G chord

🕐 Time: 10 min

🎯 Objectives:

• Learn to play the G chord on the guitar

🎶 Song:

🎲 Activity:

• Click on 'G' under 'Tools' - 'Chords' so that the Solfeg.io fretboard showing the G chord is visible.
• To play the G chord, students should place the 3rd finger on the 1st string, 3rd fret. Then add the 1st finger on the 5th string, 2nd fret. Lastly - add the second finger on the 6th string, 3rd fret. Then strum all six strings downwards with their right thumb.
• Let them practice the chord and get familiar with it!
• Play the verse or the chorus of the song and listen to it with your students.
• Tell the students that they will now have to try to play the G chord in this song.
• The rules are simple - as soon as the G chord passes the red line - play it! Other chords should be omitted now.
• Press play and let them practice the chord and get familiar with it! You can also press the loop button in the controls so that the intro section would repeat multiple times.

Learn the Em chord

🕐 Time: 5 min

🎯 Objectives:

• Learn to play the Em chord on the guitar

🎶 Song:

🎲 Activity:

• Click on 'Em' under 'Tools' - 'Chords' so that the Solfeg.io fretboard showing the Em chord is visible.
• Tell your students to play the Em chord on their guitar with their left hand. To play that chord, students should place their 3rd finger on the 4th string, 2nd fret. Then add the 2nd finger on the 5th string, same fret. Then strum downwards with their right thumb.
• Let them practice the chord and get familiar with it!

Combine G & Em chord

🕐 Time: 10 min

🎯 Objectives:

• Learn to play the G & Em chord on the guitar

🎶 Song:

🎲 Activity:

• Tell students that they will have to play the G and Em chords in this song.
• Look at the song and play G and Em chords when they pass the red line
• Leave out the C chord for now.
• Slow the song down by pressing “﹣” on the left side of the “Play” button. You can press it up to 4 times to choose the preferred speed.
• Play the verse or the chorus of the song and let them practice the chords and get familiar with it! You can also press the loop button in the controls so that the section would repeat multiple times:
• When students are comfortable with the speed, repeat the exercise at a faster speed until the original speed of the song is reached.

Play the C chord

🕐 Time: 5 min

🎯 Objectives:

• Learn to play the C chord on the guitar

🎶 Song:

🎲 Activity:

• Click on 'C' under 'Tools' - 'Chords' so that the Solfeg.io fretboard showing the C chord is visible.
• To play the C chord, students should place their 1st finger on the 2nd string, 1st fret. Then add 2nd finger on the 4th string, 2nd fret. Lastly - add 3rd finger on 5th string, 3rd fret. Strum only five strings downwards, starting with the second thickest string.
• Let them practice the chord and get familiar with it!

Get comfortable with the chord combo

🕐 Time: 5 min

🎯 Objectives:

• Practice a chord combo at different speeds

🎶 Recommended Song:

🎲 Activity:

• Click on the beginning of the chorus on the timeline in the song player.
• Press “Play” and invite the class to play along, following the chord symbols.
• If needed, slow the song down by pressing “﹣” on the left side of the “Play” button. You can press it up to 4 times to choose the preferred speed.
• When students are comfortable with the speed, repeat the exercise at a faster speed until the original speed of the song is reached.
• You can loop a selected part of the song by pressing the “Loop” button on the right side of the “Play” button.

Basics of strumming

🕐 Time: 5 min

🎯 Objectives:

• Understand the concept of downstrokes and upstrokes
• Practice alternating between downstrokes and upstrokes

🎲 Activity:

• Explain the two types of strumming: downstrokes and upstrokes.

To play downstrokes, simply strum the indicated strings in a downward motion with the flesh of the left side of your right thumb.

To play upstrokes, strum the indicated strings upwards starting from the bottom with the nail or fingertip of the right index finger.

• Practice combining downstrokes and upstrokes alternately - either on open strings or a chord of choice!
• Some tips and tricks to share with students:

Try not to change the hand shape when switching between downstrokes and upstrokes, simply move the hand upwards.

Make sure your shoulders are relaxed.

Use the wrist and the elbow while strumming, move them freely together with the hand.

After the downstroke, the right hand should continue the movement and come back up, stroking the strings.

Strumming pattern

🕐 Time: 15 min

🎯 Objectives:

• Practice a strumming pattern at different speeds

🎶 Recommended Song:

🎲 Activity:

• Show students an easy strumming pattern for the chosen song:

To boost the creativity of students, you could ask them to come up with their own strumming pattern using downstrokes and upstrokes in 4/4.

• Click on the beginning of the chorus, press “Play” and invite the class to play along with the new strumming pattern.
• Slow the song down by pressing “﹣” on the left side of the “Play” button. You can press it up to 4 times to choose the preferred speed.
• If you wish to loop a selected part of the song, press the “Loop” button on the right side of the “Play” button.
• When students are comfortable with the speed, repeat the exercise at a faster speed until the original speed of the song is reached.

Another part, another pattern?

🕐 Time: 5 min

🎯 Objectives:

• Experiment with different strumming patterns
• Choose a suitable strumming pattern in different song sections

🎶 Recommended Song:

🎲 Activity:

• When students are comfortable with the chorus, invite them to try strumming another part of the song, for example, a verse.
• Discuss with the class if the same pattern is suitable for this part.

Would you suggest another pattern?

If yes, can you demonstrate it?

Reflection

🕐 Time: 5 min

🎯 Objectives:

• Reflect on the learning process
• Understand how different strumming patterns change the overall feel of the song

🎲 Activity:

• Ask these questions to the class and have a short discussion

In your opinion, why do different strumming patterns are used in songs?

How does the feel of the song change, when a different strumming pattern is played?

What was the most fun/challenging part of the lesson?

What other songs would you like to learn to play on the guitar?

Homework assignment

🕐 Time: 3 min

🎯 Objectives:

• Practice playing the whole song
• Consolidate the concepts learned in the lesson

🎲 Activity:

Challenge students to go beyond the lesson by…

• Trying another strumming pattern in the song.
• Learning to play another song from the suggestion list.