Subdividing the Beat: The MOST Essential Technique for Strumming

Welcome back to Day 8 of 30 Days of Guitar! Let’s learn our first “real” strumming pattern. We’re going to learn how to subdivide the beat and count music properly, and how to apply rhythm to real music.

How to subdivide the beat

Subdividing the beat is a skill that comes in useful when counting time in music. It’s essential for understanding rhythm, song structure, and musical phrasing. Subdividing the beat means being able to break down a full beat into smaller subdivisions. For example, an eighth note would take up one eighth of a whole beat, while a sixteenth note would take up one sixteenth of a beat.

For strumming, the most common way to subdivide the beat is with an eighth note. To count an eighth note strum pattern, simply use the words “one and two and three and four and” This is a great way to start learning and getting familiar with different strumming patterns.

How to improve your timing

The best way to improve your timing is to practice counting out loud as you move your arm down and up. Down on the numbers, up on the “ands.” Getting used to this will turn your arm into a built-in metronome!

How to apply rhythm to real music

Once you’ve learned to count 8th notes, the next step is to apply these subdivisions to actual music. When you hear a song on the radio, take a minute to listen and count along. Most pop and rock songs are written in 4/4 time, which means you can count four subdivisions per beat with an eighth note strum.