The basic * rhythm pattern learnt in Lesson 1 consisted of four down strums i.e.
Watch your right hand as you play this pattern again. You will notice that your hand actually moves up and down in a continuous motion, but it only makes contact with the strings on the down strum (t). The silent upward motion can be represented by a broken upward strum (p) indicating a silent upward strum.
So the basic rhythm could be written as:
The above two rhythm patterns sound exactly the same.
When you play eighth note rhythms, (see Lesson 3) you will see that your right hand also moves up and down in a continuous motion sometimes making contact with the string and sometimes not. Some very useful and interesting rhythm patterns can result by incorporating eighth note rhythms with silent down strums.