Rhythm Guitar

Practice strumming pattern exercises!

The Guitar Conspiracy takes a closer look at how we can translate rhythmical symbols to up and down strokes.

Once this is understood you can mathematically work out how to play strumming patterns, all you need to be able to do is count to 4.

Before we dive into rhythm guitar exercises, let’s remember the basics:

1. All rhythms are named after being in the time signature of 4/4
2. A note that lasts a whole bar of 4/4 is called a whole note; it lasts 4 beats.
3. A note that lasts half a bar of 4/4, or two beats is called a half note.
4. A note that lasts one beat is called a quarter note since there are four of these in one bar of 4/4.
5. A note that lasts half a beat is called an eight note since there are eight of these in a bar of 4/4.

Rhythm Tree

We can use a rhythm tree to more clearly see the relationships between the different rhythms.

If you play in a different time signature than 4/4 the notes are still called the same.

A half note, for example, wouldn’t take up half a bar of 3/4, it would take up two beats.