Strumming Chords From the Root Note

Lesson 3/53 | Study Time: 5 Min
Course: Beginner Guitar
Strumming Chords From the Root Note

Strumming Chords From the Root Note

Practice the previous rhythm pattern holding a C chord shape until you perfect it. You can apply this rhythm to any chord progression you like. This is a very important rhythm and will be the basis of many other rhythms.

In the previous lesson you learned about playing the root note of a chord when using the Bass Note Rhythm Patterns. When strumming, chords also sound best when the root note is the lowest note you strum. When playing the following rhythm patterns with the C chord, strum only the first five strings. This will mean that the lowest note is the root note (C) on the fifth string.

As with bass note picking, the best bass note to strum is the lowest note of the same letter name of the chord - the root note:

  • When playing a C chord, strum from the 5th string (C root note).
  • When playing a G chord, strum from the 6th string (G root note).
  • When playing a D7 chord, strum from the 4th string (D7 root note).
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Gary Turner

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Class Sessions

1- Chord Charts 2- Notes on the 1st String 3- Eighth Note Rhythms 4- Notes on the 2nd String 5- Notes on the 4th String 6- INTRODUCTION 7- Notes on the 5th string 8- LESSON ONE 9- The Major Scale 10- Sharp Signs 11- Silent Strums and Continuous Rhythms 12- Key of A Minor 13- The Open Position 14- Tuning Methods 15- The F Sharp Note (F<span class="symbolA">#</span>) 16- The Octave 17- Strumming Chords From the Root Note 18- Notes on the 6th String 19- Sharps and Flats 20- The 12 Bar Blues Progression 21- How to Read Sheet Music 22- Minor Chords 23- Alternate Picking 24- The Pivot 25- Approach to Practice 26- The Major Chord 27- Rests 28- Easy Chord Substitution 29- Acoustic Guitars 30- The Chromatic Scale 31- Root Note Chords 32- The G Major Scale 33- The Key of C Major 34- Turnaround Progressions 35- The Lead-In 36- The Seventh Chord 37- How to Transpose 38- Slide Finger 39- Key Signatures 40- Electric Guitars 41- Notes on the Guitar Fretboard 42- Notes on the 3rd String 43- Bass Note Rhythm Patterns 44- Where to from here… 45- Amplifiers 46- Styles of Playing Guitar 47- Strings 48- Tuning Your Instrument 49- How to Hold the Guitar 50- How to Read Music 51- Chord Diagrams 52- Fingering 53- Using a Metronome

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