GUITAR
TEST YOUR STRUMMING RHYTHM SKILLS | David Harsh
Can you hold a consistent rhythm when you strum? You might have this locked in, you might not, and you might not even know for sure. Well, today, I’ m going to show you what might need fixing and how to fix it.
Today we’ re going to lock in our strumming through a simple and helpful diagnostic process, so we can ultimately play well with others – because that’ s what musicians do. Someone once told me“ We are all drummers in disguise.” Do you believe it? What does a good drummer do? Well, for starters, he or she holds a steady rhythm.
What is a tool that can help keep us on point with rhythm? A metronome. Whether you use an actual quartz metronome or a smartphone app, a metronome doesn’ t get sleepy and slow down, and it doesn’ t get nervous and speed up.
How am I going to do this? Through the accompanying video.
I’ m going to use a time counter on the screen. I’ ll show you each example without any indicators, because I want to test your ear. Then I’ ll rewind and replay each example, using some handy indicator lights to show when I start to accelerate or drag. Green means good. Yellow means caution and red means danger.
If you can detect when I start to go off course, make a mental or physical note of the time code, and then we’ ll be able to check and see if you’ re correct. After the diagnostics, we’ ll wrap up each section where I’ ll invite you to grab your guitar and strum along with me to lock in each rhythm.
Diagram 1 – 4 / 4
PART 1 – 4 / 4 TIME – UPBEAT AND SLOW 4 / 4 time is the most common time signature – and it’ s actually often known as common time. We have 4 beats in a measure, and the quarter note gets a beat. We’ ll start upbeat at 96 BPM, and then play much more slowly at 60 BPM. Believe it or not, playing fast can be difficult, but playing slowly can be much more difficult. Watch the accompanying video and see if you can detect when I start to go off course.
PART 2 – 3 / 4 TIME- MODERATE Another time signature you may encounter is 3 / 4 time, with 3 beats in a measure, and the quarter note still getting one beat. Try this moderate tempo and observe the accompanying video to evaluate my accuracy.
PART 3 – 6 / 8 TIME – VARYING PULSES In my humble opinion, 6 / 8 will hopefully be the
But perhaps the most important instrument we can wield as rhythm guitarists isn’ t even the guitar. It’ s a part of us. It’ s our ear. Right? Can you listen to a beat, listen to your playing, and be able to tell if they line up?
I’ m going to take you through three essential time signatures. First, I’ ll demonstrate them correctly. Then, I’ ll show you an example of how I gradually steer off course from the beat, whether speeding up or slowing down … but here’ s the thing. I want you to be able to detect exactly when I start to slip with my rhythm.
Diagram 2 – 3 / 4
60 April 2026 Subscribe for Free...