Sixteenth Note Rhythms
In Lesson Fifteen you were introduced to eighth note rhythm patterns.
Eighth note strums
In eighth note rhythm patterns there are 2 eighth note strums per beat and 8 eighth note strums in one bar of *time.
The strum on the "+" count is an up strum.
In sixteenth note rhythm patterns there are 4 strums per beat.
Play these sixteenth note strums holding an E chord.
Sixteenth note strums
There are 4 sixteenth note strums per beat.
There are 16 sixteenth note strums in one bar of * time.
Play the first down strum of each group of four strums louder, this will help you keep time and make the sixteenth note rhythm easier to play. When playing a sixteenth note rhythm the strum on the "+" count is a down strum.
The following sixteenth note rhythm pattern has sixteenth note strums on the third beat only. Play this pattern holding an E chord.
Sixteenth note Rhythm Pattern
Now try a chord progression using this rhythm pattern.
This chord progression uses a rhythm pattern with sixteenth notes on the first two beats.
Here are some sixteenth note rhythm patterns. Practice them holding an E chord and then apply them to any chord progression. These patterns combine sixteenth note strums with quarter note strums.
The following chord progression uses a rhythm pattern which combines eighth note strums and sixteenth note strums. Notice that the eighth note strums on the "+" count is a down strum. When playing eighth note strums in conjunction with sixteenth note strums, the eighth note strum is a down strum (unlike the eighth note strums in an eighth note rhythm pattern where they are played as an up-strum. See Alternate Picking, Lesson 15).
The following example uses a sixteenth note rhythm pattern with a silent down strum on the third beat.
Here are some more sixteenth note/eighth note combination rhythm patterns. Practice them holding an E chord and then apply them to other chord progressions you have learned.
