Eighth Note Rhythms

Lesson 2/53 | Study Time: 5 Min

Course: Introducing Guitar 1

Eighth Note Rhythms

All the rhythm patterns you have played so far involved playing a downward strum (t), on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th beat. To make rhythm patterns more interesting, eighth note rhythm patterns can be used. An eighth note rhythm is a combination of down and up strums within one beat.

An up strum is indicated by a (y), and is played on the "and" section of the count.

Play the following rhythm pattern, which has an eighth note rhythm on the second beat.

Practice this new rhythm pattern holding a G chord.

Eighth Note Rhythm Pattern 1

Here are some more patterns using eighth note rhythms. They are all in * time. Practice each pattern while holding a G chord. When you are confident playing each rhythm pattern, apply it to the following example.

This song uses eighth note Rhythm Pattern number 8.
Remember not to start strumming until the first beat of the first full bar (after the lead in).

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Gary Turner and Andrew Scott

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Class Sessions

1- The Note B 2- The G<sup>7</sup> Chord 3- The C Chord 4- The Three Four Time Signature 5- The Quarter Rest 6- Open E Note 7- Changing Chords 8- The Note F 9- The Eighth Note 10- Chords 11- The Note D 12- The Note C 13- The Note A 14- Eighth Note Rhythms 15- INTRODUCTION 16- Tuning the Guitar to Itself 17- How to Sit and Hold the Guitar 18- Sharp Signs 19- The Open D Note 20- The Dotted Quarter Note 21- First and Second Endings 22- The Note G 23- The D Chord 24- The Note F Sharp 25- The Lead-In 26- Two-Bar Eighth Note Rhythms 27- Approach to Practice 28- The Tie 29- Other Methods of Tuning the Guitar 30- Alternate Picking 31- Rhythm Pattern 32- Suggested Rhythms 33- Chord Diagrams 34- Right Hand 35- Two Chord Songs 36- The D Seventh Chord 37- Two-Bar Rhythms 38- Tuning to Another Musical Instrument 39- Tuning 40- The G Major Scale 41- Right Arm Position 42- Eighth Note Rhythms in <span class="symbolA">^</span> Time 43- Duets 44- Tuning Fork and Pitch Pipes 45- Parts of the Guitar 46- Left Hand 47- Strumming Chords 48- Left Hand Thumb 49- Guitar Fingering Diagram 50- The Open G String 51- How to Read Music 52- Music Notes 53- The Note G

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Eighth Note Rhythms