Backer Corner with Matt Heaton - Polka Rhythm

In-house guitarist Matt Heaton shares thoughts on how to play Irish polkas with good rhythm, focusing only on the strumming hand. For chordal ideas in different keys, see the Backer Corner playlist!
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[@Kitiwake]

Great lessons, Matt.

[@laviniaburke3160]

I was searching for ideas how to accompany a polka with my harp. I found this very helpful, thank you!

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

oh, good! Please let us know what you come up with... share a link if you post a video.

[@deguilhemcorinne418]

I will use this, thank you

[@ShannonHeatonMusic]

So glad this is helpful!

[@AntonGuryev]

Hmm, what about the basic boom-chick ?

[@mattguitarheaton]

If you mean a bass note/treble chord kind of alternation, I'm generally not a fan; for me it gets a bit heavy. though I do sometimes play a lot of downstrokes on polkas! I think listening to some good dancing is the best way to get ideas.

[@AntonGuryev]

​@@mattguitarheaton Thanks for your reply! Coming from eastern europe, polka always had that boom-chick/um-pa kind of feel for me. After watching this vid, I spoke to a couple of bouzouki players about it and they confirmed that the um-pa rhythm is a bit much lol. Now, to get myself our of the um-pa mindset, I usually think about that strumming from Pinball Wizard. Here's a beginner pro-tip for you :)

[@mattguitarheaton]

@@AntonGuryev pinball wizard is a good idea! but maybe keep the hand moving, but don't strum the strings every time. if you do a whole tune playing pinball wizard, you'll wear yourself out (and maybe the fiddle player too!)