Good Songs To Learn To Hone My Acoustic Strum Pattern?

['59]

I've started up playing acoustic for my church's praise band. Unlike electric where I can just read off of a lead sheet, acoustic is more open to interpretation.

What songs are there that have unique strum/picking patterns that I could learn to better incorporate interesting rhythms into my playing.

 

[Old Guy]

Re: Good Songs To Learn To Hone My Acoustic Strum Pattern?

This is going to sound completely off the wall, but "House of the Rising Sun" can be played in so many ways, it is a great way to practice various techniques.

It can be strummed, finger picked, played with a pick arppegiated, or a combination of those. I return to that song all the time when practice those techniques. Getting it to ring true and sound clean isn't as easy as it seems.

 

['59]

Re: Good Songs To Learn To Hone My Acoustic Strum Pattern?

Thanks, I'll look into that one. As another side question, are there any good early rock and roll songs that had that Chuck Berry/Elvis vibe, but have a solid acoustic part to it? One that can be played without a backing band.

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: Good Songs To Learn To Hone My Acoustic Strum Pattern?

Listen and play to the 3 albums Yes put out between 1971 and 1972.

• The Yes Album 1971
• Fragile 1971
• Close to the Edge1972

BTW, this is answer to wanting to learn any style or type of music -as they just about cover it all in those records. It is the most prolific variety of music by any band in a 2 year period.

Also Steve Howe (who is an absolute master of the guitar and doesn't live in typical masterbatorial pentatonic scale boredom like many other guitar greats) has step by step guitar videos on YouTube.

 

[SlyFoxx]

Re: Good Songs To Learn To Hone My Acoustic Strum Pattern?

Thanks, I'll look into that one. As another side question, are there any good early rock and roll songs that had that Chuck Berry/Elvis vibe, but have a solid acoustic part to it? One that can be played without a backing band.

If Chuck and Elvis are your bag just get out your acoustic and start jamming along. Put YOUR acoustic stamp on any of their songs. Make up new parts. Just about any rock tune can be stripped down to acoustic guitar and voice.

 

[Old Guy]

Re: Good Songs To Learn To Hone My Acoustic Strum Pattern?

If Chuck and Elvis are your bag just get out your acoustic and start jamming along. Put YOUR acoustic stamp on any of their songs. Make up new parts. Just about any rock tune can be stripped down to acoustic guitar and voice.

Totally agree with this!

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Good Songs To Learn To Hone My Acoustic Strum Pattern?

Pete Townshend was a master of rhythmic (acoustic) parts. Pinball Wizard, Magic Bus, Goin Mobile, Don’t Know Myself, Behind Blue Eyes, Pure And Easy, etc.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Good Songs To Learn To Hone My Acoustic Strum Pattern?

Listen to drummers and bluegrass mandolin players.

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: Good Songs To Learn To Hone My Acoustic Strum Pattern?

Listen to Violent Femmes first record.... It's a strummers joy to tackle.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Good Songs To Learn To Hone My Acoustic Strum Pattern?

Listen to Violent Femmes first record.... It's a strummers joy to tackle.

Plus as an added bonus, the entire album kicks ass

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Good Songs To Learn To Hone My Acoustic Strum Pattern?

Some serious Violent Femmes over here! Great Album and great band for sure.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Good Songs To Learn To Hone My Acoustic Strum Pattern?

Almost any Beatles tune...John was a great rhythm player.

Acoustic guitar in the '50s? Try The Everly Brothers.

Bill