# Strum > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Strum > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Strum.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strum > Source revision: 1253444132 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Way of playing a stringed instrument For other uses, see [Strum (disambiguation)](/source/Strum_(disambiguation)). This article needs more citations. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Strum" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (February 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Guitar strum [Play](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/4/47/Guitar_strum_on_open_G_chord_base_pattern.mid/Guitar_strum_on_open_G_chord_base_pattern.mid.mp3)[ⓘ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Guitar_strum_on_open_G_chord_base_pattern.mid): base pattern on open G tuning. Strumming is used to create a chord. Many patterns are created through subtracting beats from this base. Guitar strum [Play](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/6/69/Guitar_strum_on_open_G_chord_common_pattern.mid/Guitar_strum_on_open_G_chord_common_pattern.mid.mp3)[ⓘ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Guitar_strum_on_open_G_chord_common_pattern.mid): pattern created by subtracting the second and fifth (of eight) eighth notes from the base, above. [Ska stroke](/source/Ska_stroke)[1] [Play](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/9/98/Skank_on_Em64.mid/Skank_on_Em64.mid.mp3)[ⓘ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Skank_on_Em64.mid): features [dampened](/source/Damping_(music)) staccato [upbeat](/source/Beat_(music)#Downbeat_and_upbeat) downstrokes. In [music](/source/Music), **strumming** is a way of playing a [stringed instrument](/source/Stringed_instrument) such as a [guitar](/source/Guitar), [ukulele](/source/Ukulele), or [mandolin](/source/Mandolin). A **strum** or **stroke** is a sweeping action where a [finger](/source/Finger) or [plectrum](/source/Plectrum) brushes over several [strings](/source/Strings_(music)) to generate [sound](/source/Sound).[2] On most stringed instruments, strums are typically executed by a musician's designated **strum hand** (typically the musician's [dominant hand](/source/Handedness),[3] which is often responsible for generating the majority of sound on a stringed instrument), while the remaining hand (referred to as the fret hand[4] on most instruments with a [fingerboard](/source/Fingerboard)) often supports the strum hand by altering the tones and pitches of any given strum.[5] Strums are often contrasted with [plucking](/source/Pizzicato), as a means of vibrating an instrument's strings. 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. 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 contrast, a musician could utilize a technique with more precise string group targeting (such as a [fingerstyle](/source/Fingerstyle) or [fingerpick](/source/Fingerpick) technique) to pluck all the strings on a stringed instrument at once and this would still be considered a pluck, not a strum. ## Notation There are a variety of methods for writing strum notation. Arrow notation Letter notation Traditional notation ## Strumming patterns A strumming pattern or strum is a preset pattern used by a [rhythm guitar](/source/Rhythm_guitar).[6] For example, a pattern in [common time](/source/Common_time) or **4** **4** consisting of alternating down and up eighth note strokes may be written: - 1&2&3&4& - dudududu ### Rock and pop The pattern most typical of rock and related styles is: - 1&2&3&4& - d du udu The final upstroke is sometimes omitted altering the strumming pattern slightly to d du ud. This pattern is often called "Old Faithful",[7] or when played on ukulele, the "Island Strum". Examples of other strumming patterns include:[8] - Single down strum: d d d d - [Elvis](/source/Elvis)' "[Burning Love](/source/Burning_Love)" - [Kathy Mattea](/source/Kathy_Mattea)'s "[What Could Have Been](/source/What_Could_Have_Been)" - Boom-chicka: d dud du - [Merle Haggard](/source/Merle_Haggard)'s "Silver Wings" ### Jazz and funk The simple four-to-a-bar rhythm is associated with [jazz guitarists](/source/Jazz_guitarist) such as [Freddie Green](/source/Freddie_Green), although they may subtly vary the rhythm of a chord on some beats to add interest. A simple eight-to-a-bar (8 eighth notes) rhythm is known as "straight eights" as opposed "[swung](/source/Swing_(music)) eights", in which each pair are played in a rhythm that resembles the first and third notes in a [triplet](/source/Triplet_(music)). The fretting hand can also mute the strings on the fretboard to damp a chord, creating [staccato](/source/Staccato) and percussive effects. In [reggae](/source/Reggae) and [ska](/source/Ska), a few staccato "chops" are played per bar. In [funk](/source/Funk) rhythm playing, the strumming hand keeps a fairly steady motion in [16th notes](/source/16th_note), while the left hand, basically holding down a [jazz chord](/source/Jazz_chord) damps some of them in a [syncopated](/source/Syncopated) pattern. ## Fingerstyle strumming strokes Some of the many possible [fingerstyle](/source/Fingerstyle) strums include - A slow downstroke with the thumb. This is a *[sforzando](/source/Dynamics_(music)#Sudden_changes_and_accented_notes)* or emphatic way of playing a chord. - Light "brushing" strokes with the fingers moving together at a near-perpendicular angle to the strings. Works equally in either direction and can be alternated for a chord tremolo chord effect. - Upstrokes with one finger make a change from the standard downstroke strum. - A "pinch" with the thumb and fingers moving towards each other gives a crisp effect. It is helpful to clearly articulate the topmost and bass note in the chord, as if plucking, before "following through". - [Rasgueado](/source/Rasgueado): Strumming is typically done by bunching all the right-hand fingers and then flicking them out in quick succession to get four superimposed strums. The rasgueado or "rolling" strum is particularly characteristic of [flamenco](/source/Flamenco). - Turning *p-a-m-i* tremolo plucking into a series of downstrokes. This is a lighter version of the classic rasgueado, which uses upstrokes. ## See also - [Harmonic rhythm](/source/Harmonic_rhythm) ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Snyder, Jerry (1999). *Jerry Snyder's Guitar School*, p.28. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7390-0260-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7390-0260-0). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Definition of STRUMMING"](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strumming). *www.merriam-webster.com*. Retrieved 2018-06-22. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Should You Play Left-Handed or Right-Handed? | Hub Guitar"](http://hubguitar.com/articles/left-or-right-handed-guitar). *hubguitar.com*. Retrieved 2018-06-22. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Fret-Hand Fitness: Four Wicked Workouts to Develop Your Digits"](https://www.guitarplayer.com/technique/fret-hand-fitness-four-wicked-workouts-to-develop-your-digits). *GuitarPlayer.com*. Retrieved 2018-06-22. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Right-handed and Left-handed Vs Right and Left Hand Guitars"](http://www.playableguitar.com/left-handed.html). Retrieved 2018-06-22. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["Strumming patterns for the Ukulele"](https://www.ukulele-tabs.com/strumming-patterns.html). *Ukulele-Tabs.com*. Retrieved 2023-02-20. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Sandercoe, Justin (2013). *Justinguitar.Com: Rock Songbook*. London: Music Sales Ltd. p. 69. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1780386874](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1780386874). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Dix, Bruce (2011). *You Can Teach Yourself Country Guitar*. pp. 19–26. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781610654869](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781610654869). v t e Guitar picking General Alternate bass Arpeggio Guitar pick Hybrid picking Performance techniques Plectrum Strum Fingerstyle Apoyando Carter Family picking Rasgueado Tirando Travis Flatpicking Alternate picking Crosspicking Downpicking Economy picking Guitar Craft Sweep picking Innovators Maybelle Carter Robert Fripp Merle Travis Leo Kottke Outline of guitars v t e Guitar techniques and strums Carter Family picking Chanking Chop Fingerstyle Guitar harmonics Hammer-on Palm mute Picking Pick slide Pull-off Rasgueado Ska stroke Tapping --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Strum](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strum) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strum?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.