New — the Good Guitarist Academy is open. Start free for 10 days →

Home » This SIMPLE Trick Makes LONG and FAST Strumming Patterns EASIER

This SIMPLE Trick Makes LONG and FAST Strumming Patterns EASIER

Today we’re going to learn the difference between quarter notes, eighth notes and sixteenth notes.

This SIMPLE Trick Makes LONG and FAST Strumming Patterns EASIER

Get the Worksheet That Goes With This Lesson!

All-Access Members can download it instantly and follow along step-by-step.

This Lesson Is Part 2 of a 3-Part Series

The lesson begins with some simple theory. We learn how to subdivide eight notes into 16th notes, and then we compare quarters versus eights versus sixteenths, and realize that they’re all the same thing, just one level deeper!

We discuss lining up our downstrokes and upstrokes with the beat, when playing 16th versus playing eighth notes. And then we take a look at a trick that will help you play fast strumming patterns on guitar, without having to think very hard. Instead of using complicated counting, we can use some phrases that will help us navigate the rhythm and and feel the beat when we’re strumming fast.

I also show you how to take plain eighth note strumming patterns, you know the easy strumming patterns, and combine those into a longer strumming pattern in 16th notes.

Your assignment: I just want you to practice the things that we have already done in this lesson; practice counting the strumming patterns just like we did.

Also, I think I might add a few more episodes.. I know I said this was just going to be a three part series, but there’s so much more to cover with rhythm and I’d like to dive a bit deeper!

Until then, take care!
-James

Spring Sale - Up to 40% OFF

For a short time, the All-Access Pass is available at special pricing, with every course, song lesson, and play-along in one place.

GoodGuitarist Academy

Step-by-step guitar courses that help you stop guessing and start making real progress.

Table of Contents
    Add a header to begin generating the table of contents

    More Lessons

    James from Good Guitarist showing a note on the G string of the guitar fretboard
    How to Learn the Guitar Fretboard: Unlock Lead Up the Neck
    How to Learn the Guitar Fretboard: Unlock Lead Up the ...
    James from Good Guitarist demonstrating a smooth, continuous guitar strumming motion
    How to Improve Your Guitar Strumming: 3 Fixes That Actually Work
    How to Improve Your Guitar Strumming: 3 Fixes That Actually ...
    September Update
    September Update An injury — or anything else life throws ...
    Scroll to Top
    FREE SONGBOOK FOR GUITAR LEARNERS
    ebook imageArtboard 1

    Play 15 iconic songs on guitar - starting with just 2 chords

    Joined by 645,000+ guitarists on YouTube