B2-0807 Songs for lesson 8

[close2u]

Lesson link: https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/songs-for-lesson-8-b2-807

Questions ...

[kior]

Hi there,

Could someone clarify what strumming we should be aiming for with these songs at this stage? I have no problem with all down strums, the old faithful pattern and the 8th note strumming. However, taking Every Rose Has Its Thorn as an example, the pattern introduced in the video feels too difficult for me and Justin mentions in the video that 16th note strumming is introduced in the intermediate course. In the video where he's talking about each of the songs for lesson 8 he mentions that for Wonderwall for instance it may be worth just working on the chord changes and not the full strumming pattern. In the first grade it felt quite clear for song practice that you should just work on down strums and smooth changes. Here I'm not so sure what I should work towards and would appreciate any guidance! Cheers

[close2u]

Hi kior and welcome to the forum.
There's a couple of important yet perhaps seemingly contradictory pointers here.

As soon as you venture down the road of learning and using 16th note strumming, the number of possible strumming patterns opens up to virtually limitless combinations.
Take just one bar and assume this repeats throught an entire song.

1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a

That is the complete set of 16ths.
Now, to create a pattern you think about NOT playing on one or more of those subdivisions. In other words, if it was written on paper, you would rub some of them out with an eraser. Which ones? How many to rub out?
Even if you just rub one out do you see how that would give 16 combinations?
Say you chose to rub two out how many combinatons now? And if you rubbed out three? Four?
The possible combinations to create a strumming pattern spiral beyond comprehension.
That is why 16th note strumming as a creative tool, when yo're not thinking but playing by feel, is so powerful. It allows for so much flexibility in play.

Now, consider that each bar was not the same. Let is assume there was a two-bar pattern. The strumming was different between bars 1 and 2. And only then did the repeats happen. So bar 1 & bar 2 = strum pattern. Bar 3 & bar 4 = a repeat. Bar 5 & bar 6 = another repeat. How many millions of combinations now?

You mention Wonderwall.
This song has a 16th note two-bar strum pattern. Not only that, there is a push so some chord changes happen before the beat. It is quite a complex pattern. Not many bother to learn or play it exactly right.
The strumming makes the song instantly recognisable.
But, an approximation to the correct strumming still makes it very recognisable if played with the correct chords and the dynamic and emphasis in the correct places.
Here is a pdf I created of the main strumming pattern. See if it helps, if you can follow it and play it. Start very, very slow.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/6ryeazgr44cl8a1/Oasis%20-%20Wonderwall%20main%20strumming%20pattern.pdf?dl=0

For other songs at this level, you may have a little freedom of choiuce in strumming or you may want to match the actual record due to it being so distinctive and integral to the sound and vibe of the song.
You have to determine this yourself.
And learning good strumming and great rhythm skills gives you this freedom and flexibility.

Hope that helps.

[stahlhammer]

Hello party people! I'm having a bit of a problem with a video that is included in this lesson in the website practice assistant - it has no audio. All other videos, however, work fine.
What could be the problem?
Thank you in advance!

[Snoopysvet]

Finding it hard to get past the "add to 4" in the beginning of Shallow. Anyone else finding it difficult?

[close2u]

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