Mutes and 8ths

We started the rhythmic engine for guitar with down strumming.

In this lesson of free guitar lessons, let's try the same down strum, but this time we will mute. A mute is created by lightly touching the strings without pressing.

In this case, mute all of the strings (make sure all of them are covered with the fretting fingers). You should hear a blocked sound, also known as the chuk or klunk.

Whether strumming opens or mutes for quarter notes (one beat - the down), you are hitting, missing, hitting, missing, etc.

Now, we will hit, hit, hit, hit, hit...when strumming down and up.

This will be notated (drawn) with eighth notes (a half a beat) in 4/4 time.

Again, the motion of the hand does not stop and you don't have to hit all the strings all the time. Try this on open strings. You can also do this with mutes, and combinations of opens and mutes.

Muscles have memory. By doing this exercise above for long enough, your arm will not want to stop once we start changing chords.

So, down-up strum is the template for all other strumming patterns that will emerge. In fact, we will get more complex patterns by MISSING more. Missing creates gaps in the sound & creates more interesting rhythmic patterns. Less is More.

Also, adding mutes to strumming creates personal style. Creating a personal style is a most worthy goal for any player. Another responsible thing to do is become a solid rhythm player. These are possibilities for all us.

The breakdown for strumming:

Motor hand - strumming hand

The non-stop engine that powers the rhythm.

Fretting hand

The steering wheel which can create a harmonic rhythm through pressing and muting. It can also add melodic activity to harmonic blocks.