Strumming Patterns for Guitar/Uke

I'm hard-of-hearing and I have a heck of a time figuring out strumming patterns on a lot of songs since no amount of listening will let me pick out the guitar from the melody so I can hear what I need.

Can anyone point me to resources where I can find notations of strumming patterns, decent-res videos that focus on hand movements, or instrumental recordings?

Alternately, is anyone willing to share the strumming patterns that they have worked out on easier songs?

Thanks for any help!

Hi!

Sorry you have that handicap with regard to hearing. But I am sure you can get around that....

For me, strumming is probably the most difficult aspect of the guitar with regard to teaching/learning. One can learn notes, scales, chords, etc... but strumming is such a "gut" thing - such a feeling thing. I had a friend who I tried to teach guitar to, and he just could not get strumming. He just didn't have that inner groove - y'know?

Don't rely on SOUND with regard to learning strumming patterns. Patterns switch-up so much in any given song that a strumming "chart" is really unrealistic and a burden, actually.

I don't know of any resources other than actual footage of players playing (concert videos, etc.) that might be of help to you.

Good luck!

I agree with 62Hofner. While strumming (and other complex patterns of rhythm, like say, African drumming, etc.) CAN be notated in one form or another, it's impractical to try to learn that way. I'd suggest trying first to be a "drummer," maybe not even with a guitar or uke in hand. Practice banging out simple "drum" patterns on the table or your knee...get those patterns "into" your body, so you "feel" them, not think them. Gradually add little embellishments to your patterns, then at some point transfer them to guitar or uke. Then, experiment with using the different fingers, wrist, etc. to make "strong" and "weak" strokes (accents) to imitate what you're hearing, errr...I mean feeling, as I would argue that rhythm is not heard, it's felt.

I dunno, it's even hard to talk about, but for my two cents, you have to just feel it, NOT read it from tab or notation. Might even be as simple as starting with tapping your foot to the beats of a song, I know folks who can't even do that, and they expect somehow to learn an instrument.