The idea of texture

In the basic strumming lesson, you may find the sound gets boring after awhile, even if you are changing the strumming pattern. Now we begin to add “texture” or “coloration” to each strum. In this lesson we add texture by strumming different parts of the chord at different times.

Use an “E” chord

Focus on your right hand and the patterns. Just play an “E” chord.

Adding the “and” to each beat

Now strum up on the “and” of each beat. Except this time only strum the top two or three notes.

Strum like you normally would on the downbeat. In other words, strum the whole chord. On the upbeat, just strum the top two or three notes.

You can try this for all the strum patterns in the first part of the lesson.

Strumming on the beat

Start out strumming down on each beat.

On the 1 and 3 play the lower notes of the chord.
On the 2 and 4 play the middle lower notes.
It will look like this.

Go back and try this for all the strum patterns in the first part of the lesson.

Combining up and down beat textures

Now combine playing the bottom strings and middle bottom strings on the downbeat with

playing the top two strings on the upbeat.

Again, go back to the first part of the lesson and try this. Also start making up your own strum patterns and adding your own textures.

A new downbeat strum

Just brush the top three strings lightly.

Combining the strum pattern with the new “texture”

Play this slowly and with a good beat so you are relaxed and your right hand can learn it well. Remember to not play the 3rd beat.

Other Relevant Lessons

• Strumming Lesson 1 – Basic strumming patterns
• Strumming Lesson 3 – Playing alternating bass
• Better time, 1
• Flamenco Rumba (How to Play a Basic Strumming Pattern)
• Play what you sing, Sing what you play!