strum

File:Guitar strum on open G chord base pattern.png

File:Guitar strum on open G chord common pattern.png

File:Backbeat chop.pngSnyder, Jerry (1999). Jerry Snyder's Guitar School, p.28. {{ISBN|0-7390-0260-0}}. {{audio|Skank on Em64.mid|Play}}: features dampened staccato upbeat downstrokes.]]

In music, strumming is a way of playing a stringed instrument such as a guitar, ukulele, or mandolin. A strum or stroke is a sweeping action where a finger or plectrum brushes over several strings to generate sound.{{Cite web|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strumming|title=Definition of STRUMMING|website=www.merriam-webster.com|language=en|access-date=2018-06-22}} On most stringed instruments, strums are typically executed by a musician's designated strum hand (typically the musician's dominant hand,{{Cite web|url=http://hubguitar.com/articles/left-or-right-handed-guitar|title=Should You Play Left-Handed or Right-Handed? {{!}} Hub Guitar|website=hubguitar.com|access-date=2018-06-22}} which is often responsible for generating the majority of sound on a stringed instrument), while the remaining hand (referred to as the fret hand{{Cite news|url=https://www.guitarplayer.com/technique/fret-hand-fitness-four-wicked-workouts-to-develop-your-digits|title=Fret-Hand Fitness: Four Wicked Workouts to Develop Your Digits|work=GuitarPlayer.com|access-date=2018-06-22|language=en-us}} on most instruments with a fingerboard) often supports the strum hand by altering the tones and pitches of any given strum.{{Cite news|url=http://www.playableguitar.com/left-handed.html|title=Right-handed and Left-handed Vs Right and Left Hand Guitars|access-date=2018-06-22}}

Strums are often contrasted with plucking, 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 a fingerstyle or fingerpick technique) to pluck all the strings on a stringed instrument at once and this would still be considered a pluck, not a strum.

Notation

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| header = There are a variety of methods for writing strum notation.

| image1 = Strumming arrow notation.png

| caption1 = Arrow notation

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Strumming patterns

A strumming pattern or strum is a preset pattern used by a rhythm guitar.{{Cite web |title=Strumming patterns for the Ukulele |url=https://www.ukulele-tabs.com/strumming-patterns.html |access-date=2023-02-20 |website=Ukulele-Tabs.com |language=en}} For example, a pattern in common time or {{music|time|4|4}} consisting of alternating down and up eighth note strokes may be written:

:{{mono|1&2&3&4&}}

:{{mono|dudududu}}

=Rock and pop=

The pattern most typical of rock and related styles is:

:{{mono|1&2&3&4&}}

:{{mono|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",{{cite book|last1=Sandercoe|first1=Justin|title=Justinguitar.Com: Rock Songbook|date=2013|publisher=Music Sales Ltd|location=London|isbn=978-1780386874|page=69}} or when played on ukulele, the "Island Strum".

Examples of other strumming patterns include:{{cite book

| last = Dix

| first = Bruce

| year = 2011

| title = You Can Teach Yourself Country Guitar

| isbn = 9781610654869

| pages = 19–26

}}

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

=Jazz and funk=

The simple four-to-a-bar rhythm is associated with jazz guitarists such as Freddie 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 "swung eights", in which each pair are played in a rhythm that resembles the first and third notes in a triplet.

The fretting hand can also mute the strings on the fretboard to damp a chord, creating staccato and percussive effects. In reggae and ska, a few staccato "chops" are played per bar. In funk rhythm playing, the strumming hand keeps a fairly steady motion in 16th notes, while the left hand, basically holding down a jazz chord damps some of them in a syncopated pattern.

Fingerstyle strumming strokes

Some of the many possible fingerstyle strums include

A slow downstroke with the thumb. This is a sforzando or 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 of flamenco.
Turning p-a-m-i tremolo plucking into a series of downstrokes. This is a lighter version of the classic rasgueado, which uses upstrokes.

References

Category:Accompaniment

Category:Guitar performance techniques