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.Ī 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. This pattern is often called "Old Faithful", or when played on ukulele, the "Island Strum".Įxamples of other strumming patterns include: The pattern most typical of rock and related styles is: For example, a pattern in common time or 4Ĥ consisting of alternating down and up eighth note strokes may be written: 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.Ī strumming pattern or strum is a preset pattern used by a rhythm guitar. 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 plucking, a specific string or designated set of strings are individually targeted to vibrate, whereas in strumming, a less precise targeting is usually used.
Strums are often contrasted with plucking, as a means of vibrating an instrument's strings. On most stringed instruments, strums are typically executed by a musician's designated strum hand (typically the musician's dominant hand, which is often responsible for generating the majority of sound on a stringed instrument), while the remaining hand (referred to as the fret hand on most instruments with a fingerboard) often supports the strum hand by altering the tones and pitches of any given strum. A strum or stroke is a sweeping action where a finger or plectrum brushes over several strings to generate sound. In music, strumming is a way of playing a stringed instrument such as a guitar, ukulele, or mandolin.