We want to be sure now we have the skills for Rhythm! This Includes being able to read, play and understand the rhythm and feel of the following patterns;

Firstly - LEARN A RIFF!

• Acoustic strummers often have to be reminded to learn a riff, something short and instantly recognisable as a song - do you know one?

• Riff options from me: Wild Thing, Free Fallin’, Highway To Hell, Seven Nation Army, Satisfaction, Peter Gunn Theme

Spreads

• Perfect for learning the initial chords of a song for the first time

• Think big intros single strum intros, like Sweet Child O' Mine

8ths with all downs (slower tempos)

• Chasing Cars,

• Free falling

8ths with all downs embellishments (D D D DU, the 2nd most common)

• Live Forever

• Hotel California

8th downs and ups

Up tempo: D DUDUDU

Most Common Strumming!

but beware of ALWAYS defaulting to this, it’s a hard habit for some to break…

Blues shuffle straight and with swing

• Straight: Get Back, Tulsa time, Level 3 blues riff

• Swing aka shuffle: Level 6 Jam track 12

• Before You Accuse Me

• Sweet Home Chicago

6:8 and 12:8 straight (level 8)

• Hallelujah

• House of the Rising Sun

• Everybody Hurts

6:8 and 12:8

Strumming patterns with swing (Level 8 jam track 15)