BC-116 • 4:4 all down rhythm

[justinguitar]

Lesson Link: http://justinguitar.com/en/BC-116-Basic44time.php

Question...

[Night Guitarist]

WHEN YOU STRUM DO U START FROM THE SIXTH STRING OR GO BY THE STRUM PATTERN OF THE CHORD

[close2u]

Some chords are 6 strings so start from the 6th (E) string - open chord examples from beginner's course: G & G7 / E & E minor and E7 / F (full barrre chord version).

Some use 5 strings so start from the 5th (A) string - open chord examples from beginner's course: A & A minor & A7 / C & C7.

Some use 4 strings so start from the 4th (D) string - open chord examples from beginner's course: D & D minor & D7 / F (small version) & F major 7.

Hope that helps.

[dpregan]

Hi

Firstly I am new to the forum and the lessons so hi everyone 

This is mainly a question about the Bob Marley song but it is also just a general question about beats etc.

In the vid Justin plays on the beat and then on the half beat. They sound completely different. Like he says it sounds more reggae and jolly or whatever.

I can't get my head around why. I mean surely you are just moving when you strum to a half second or so later. I mean, you start the beats when you want. So surely the beats and half beats are just whenever you want them to be. So why does it sound different? I cant see what differentiates a beat from a half beat.

Hopefully someone can explain this and put my clearly musically ignorant mind at rest!

Thanks

Dan

[Linsen]

I can't get my head around why. I mean surely you are just moving when you strum to a half second or so later. I mean, you start the beats when you want. So surely the beats and half beats are just whenever you want them to be. So why does it sound different? I cant see what differentiates a beat from a half beat.

Actually you don't start the beats when you want -- or at least you shouldn't. The beat is inherent to the song and it's melody. So, no matter where you strum, the 1 is always on the first syllable of 'worry' in the line 'don't worry about a thing' and likewise on 'thing' for the next bar. If you were to strum on 1, 2, 3 and 4, your 1st strum would be on 'worry' and on 'thing'. If you strum on the 'ands' it would be on 'worry' and after 'thing'. All subsequent strums move up one quaver as well. So all strums align differently with the lyrics, which is why it sounds different when strumming on the 'ands'.

It's a little hard to explain, I guess, but even if you strum on the 'ands' you should still be able to 'feel' that the bar starts on the 1 only your first strum comes a quaver after the bar started. Does that make sense?

[dpregan]

ah ok I see, I see.

Thanks, now it makes sense. Finding the beat is not something I am great at. Me and my GF took a salsa class and I was pretty terrible at it ha ha ha Ah well hopefully playing will build up this skill.

Thanks

[Night Guitarist]

if im correct justin is saying do 4 strums for the e chords then 4 strums for the a chords {continuesly]then 4 strums for the d chord

[Brandhout]

Does the 4:4 rythm have a standard amout of time between each strum? like 1 second between each strum or can you make up your own speed like 2 seconds or 1/2 second between each strum?

[Tourniquet]

Does the 4:4 rythm have a standard amout of time between each strum? like 1 second between each strum or can you make up your own speed like 2 seconds or 1/2 second between each strum?

That depends on the tempo of the song it's being applied to.

For example
if the tempo is 60 beats per minute it would be 1 second between each downstrum
if the tempo is 120 beats per minute it would be 1/2 a second between each downstrum

A metronome or drum machine is handy for practicing consistent strumming.

[Brandhout]

Thanks it helps a lot

[Night Guitarist]

when Justin does the 4:4 on the E Chord does the that mean  just do the E Chord or should i move on to the other Chords simultaneously
Example

E Chord 4:4
D Chord 4:4
A Chord 4:4
C Chord 4:4
E Minor 4:4
D Minor 4:4

[Simo]

I would start with one chord and once you are comfortable strumming that at a 4/4 rhythm, then you can start thinking about switching chords.

[Night Guitarist]

im having trouble with my strumming
example i can the chords down
A TO E work in progress
but when i do the chord switches i may hit the 3rd string for the d chord
should i like strenghten my hand becuase i usally leave my loose and strum
(its like my hand is slower than my chord switches)
so guy any help

[Steve St.Laurent]

Justin - first let me say what a GREAT service you've provided here!  Will be ordering your DVD later this week to support your efforts.

Near the end of this lesson you said that the next lesson would go over common chord sequences and you mention them in the stage 1 practice schedule too (BC-119) but I can't find the common chord sequences in the next lesson.  You did have some chord progressions in BC-118 (A E A D, D A E D, and E A E D) - are these what I should be practicing?

Thanks in advance

[charlieguitars]

I'm not sure what you mean exactly.  Are you still on stage 1? Or are you on stage 2?

Just play the songs, Justin gives you and those will offer quite a few progressions for you to use.

Just practice making the changes.

some progressions using the chords from stage one that sound pretty good,
A D E E
A D E A
A E D A
A E D D
A E D E
D A E E
D A E A

i mean there are a ton just about any order of those chords will work.  It'd be easier to find which combos Don't work than to find all the ones that do.

Just work on your chords and your ability to change to and from each chord.