Eighth Sixteenth Note Common Strumming Pattern - 1&a 2&a 3&a 4&a
This is the same rhythm as the quarter and eighth rhythm but written with eighth and sixteenth notes and so played twice as fast.
Lesson Info
Lesson Length: 3:30
Instructor: George Goodman
Concepts:
* Eighth and Sixteenth notes
* Downstrokes and Upstrokes
* Chords in the key of C major
Help File
Gear Used
Takamine EG541SC
I am playing my black tak in this one.
This is a Takamine G Series EG541SC bought in North Carolina when I was playing in a band called Double Take.
Specs:
Top - Solid Spruce
Back - Nato
Sides - Nato
Finger Board - Rosewood
Electronics - TK40
Finish - Gloss Black
Check out more Takamine G Series Guitars
1&a 2&a 3&a 4&a - Boom Chick A Boom
Outline
Now its time to mix up the eighth and sixteenth notes.
This is a very common country rhythm and used almost exclusively by Johnny Cash.
The count on this rhythm is 1&a 2&a 3&a 4&a. The syllables Boom Chick A Boom can be used to emulate the sound of this rhythm.
Chord Progression
The chord progression used in this exercise:
C | C | Dm | Dm | Em | Em | F | F | G | G | Am | Am |
Building On The Last Exercise
This rhythm is essentially the same as the previous quarter eighth note rhythm but since the note types last half as long, the rhythm is played twice as fast.
Things To Work On
Work on creating clean sounding chords and making the chord changes as quickly as possible.
For the left hand, fret the strings with the finger tips by arching the fingers and place them close to the frets.
For the right hand, strum down (down stroke), and then up (upstroke) with a combination of wrist and elbow movement. Keep your hand close to the strings without using excessive movement.
Stick to the beat.
Ear Training
Practice singing the root notes of each of the chords and listen for the differences between the quality, major or minor, of the different chords.
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Hi George,
Great strumming lessons!
It confused me a little at first. It said Boom Chick a Boom but it sounded like Chick (8th) a (16th) Boom (16th)
Am I understanding it correctly?
Thanks Bruce
1&a 2&a 3&a 4&a – Boom Chick A Boom
In the outline description
Thanks Joseph (Bruce)