Bluegrass Rhythm Guitar In-Depth - Bass-Strum & Down-Up-Down-Up Strum.

Here is an in depth lesson about playing basic bluegrass rhythm guitar. It covers the basic alternating bass strum (which I refer to as "Bass-Strum"). Focus on clearly playing the bass notes and playing the top three (G-B-e) strings for the strum. Also concentrate on playing the bass notes right over the rosette behind the sound-hole and play the strum as close to the bridge as possible. Aim for the "V" space between the back of the pickguard and the bridge.
The "Down-Up-Down-Up" strum is more difficult. Practice it very slowly concentrating on being exactly accurate on what strings you are playing. the up-strokes should be on the B-G-D strings and the down-stroke on the G-B-e strings. Remember to keep the beat as straight and even as possible. Don't swing it. Remember that it should sound like a train, not a cowboy.
Post questions below and I'll try to answer them.
Good luck!
Do you want more lessons like this one? Check out my Patreon site at / martingilmore

[@thunderbugcreative7778]

This is the best Bluegrass lesson on the world wide web.

[@martingilmore]

Much appreciated!

[@solinadave5769]

I've been playing and singing country songs for years Martin, and used, as you put it, the "incorrect" strum pattern regularly. A big space with no drive or forward motion. The idea of incorporating the 3 string upstrokes is a great revelation for me. For whatever reason, I have assumed a great interest in bluegrass music lately. So thank you very much for those excellent tips, and your very effective presentation. Just the very best.

[@martingilmore]

Very much appreciated. Glad it helped. Bluegrass is a very particular style of playing and it's hard to get it just right. We are all still learning I think. Glad to hear you are playing bluegrass. It's a grear community of musicians. Keep pickin!

[@Porposkiarea]

Thank you ... finally, someone was able to teach me exactly what I needed. All the other videos did not help me personally at my beginner level. Very good video.

[@martingilmore]

You're welcome! Glad it helped!

[@frontporchpickin289]

Brother, this space of strum embelishments is incredibly undertaught on youtube. SO helpful!

[@martingilmore]

Glad it was helpful!

[@leebarron4777]

As a beginner bluegrass and old country picker I really appreciate the lessons, thank you

[@martingilmore]

Very welcome! Lots of great music to play. Have fun!

[@ewilliams1185]

When you added the singing to illustrate your point, everything clicked. Great video! Thank you.

[@martingilmore]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tomf429]

I’ve been playing my D-18 for over 50 years. I’m in a working bluegrass group. I play a solid 12 hours a week between practice, noodling, and gigs. Even so, you taught this old guy a few things. Thanks so much! Always learning.

[@martingilmore]

Rock on! That's how it is with the guitar, there's always something else to learn.I love KZbin because there are so many great guitarists here sharing tips and secrets. Thanks for watching!

[@ouyrwq]

So, so outstanding. Finally an articulate instructor who instructs with clear, concise direction. I have been searching for you for years. Thank you.

[@martingilmore]

Glad it was helpful!

[@deliaguzman1138]

Now THIS is a valuable lesson with a great teaching style! I’ve been a rock, folk, and country lead guitar player for over 40 years-and now I’m finally trying to play bluegrass rhythms. Hoo boy. Always loved it, never understood how to play it. Now I know a little more! Subscribed!

[@martingilmore]

Rock on! Thanks so much! Bluegrass is a great community of musicians, and a lot of fun!

[@kevinhowey4286]

Great lesson and explanation. Thank you.

[@martingilmore]

Glad it was helpful!

[@bradettinger3072]

Really, just great!

[@martingilmore]

Very much appreciated!

[@brandonroberts6388]

Mannnnn! Best lesson on the tube so far! Very thankful!

[@martingilmore]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for tuning in!

[@mns8732]

Great lesson for me because I was trying to unlock a rhythm for 9 #hammer but I didn't know what strings ti play on the up strokes until you described the mechanics. Tip of the hat to you.

[@martingilmore]

Glad it helped! Thanks for watching!

[@johnnicholson4862]

Terrific lesson. Thanks very much.

[@martingilmore]

My pleasure!

[@farmershane]

Great lesson!

[@martingilmore]

Thanks!

[@mns8732]

Excellent

[@martingilmore]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@reneemyers3787]

Outstanding lesson...immediately improved my sound! Thanks...Can't wait for the lesson on bass lines and embellishments. I will be looking for that. Thanks Martin!

[@martingilmore]

Great to hear! Yes! More lessons to come.

[@iwanjones4705]

Tremendous stuff

[@martingilmore]

Thanks so much!

[@jonathanfinks8019]

Amazing! Super helpful. Thanks for the video!

[@martingilmore]

You're very welcome!

[@mylesguitar]

Absolutely brilliant sir, thank you for taking the time to share

[@martingilmore]

My pleasure! Thanks for tuning in!

[@DG5466]

Brilliant little video well done I've just subscribed

[@martingilmore]

Awesome, thank you! Glad you got something out of it!

[@robertclark5060]

Thank you for such a useful and complete lesson - with excellent theory included!

[@martingilmore]

Glad it was helpful!

[@freedomvan2970]

This is a fantastic video and taught me a lot as a 39 yr old that kind of put down a guitar for 15 yrs and wants back in

[@martingilmore]

Glad you found it! Keep pickin'!

[@RP-xn4xu]

Great lesson thank you

[@martingilmore]

Glad you liked it!

[@patgaff2536]

Really like your voice and teaching style.

[@martingilmore]

Thanks very much!

[@gavinhell4597]

You’ve really helped me have a breakthrough, great work. Thankyou 👍

[@martingilmore]

Great to hear! Have fun!

[@maddys3955]

Great! Exactly what I needed! Thank you!!!

[@martingilmore]

Glad it helped!

[@brookwilliams3740]

THANK U! Thanks for ur time this was a BIG BIG HELP!!

[@martingilmore]

You're welcome! Glad it helped

[@slpc30]

Thank you this is such a helpful video

[@martingilmore]

You're so welcome!

[@dannysullivan3951]

Great stuff. Gracias.

[@martingilmore]

Glad you liked it! Thanks for listening!

[@nicklyde4361]

Great , love that lesson. Just stumbled accros Martin's channel. But so pleased I have. Top man.

[@martingilmore]

Welcome aboard! Thanks for tuning in!

[@chloesmum1884]

I'm jusr learning, and rhis is the first video thats really made sense to me! Thank you so so much. I'm ready to watch and learn more!👍😄

[@martingilmore]

Glad it was helpful!

[@bradenblackmon7642]

You have great teaching chops as well as guitar chops. As a new bluegrass player (but seasoned guitar player) I really appreciate how you explain what you are doing with brevity and spend more time demonstrating what to do and especially what not to do. In such a short video I learned a ton! Thank you!

[@martingilmore]

I appreciate that! Glad it helped!

[@dopicker]

GEAT LESSON!

[@martingilmore]

Thanks!

[@maxturgeon89]

This lesson was very clear, thank you!

[@martingilmore]

Glad it was helpful!

[@gavinmuir1170]

Thanks Martin! I've subscribed so I'll see you often!!!

[@martingilmore]

Thanks for being here!

[@gwbrush3]

Nice, straight-forward instruction at my approximate skill level I'magonna try those strumming patterns for sure

[@martingilmore]

You can do it! Thanks for tuning in!

[@teej0813]

From a country-loving drummer trying to learn acoustic, THANK YOU! Great stuff.

[@martingilmore]

My pleasure! Glad it helped! Best of luck!

[@bodiedominguez]

Thank you

[@martingilmore]

You're welcome!

[@mstargate12]

Sounds mint mate👍

[@martingilmore]

Thanks!

[@billyhowell86]

Nice. Thank you

[@martingilmore]

You're welcome 😊

[@chrisvanderwalt790]

Thanks so much, from sunny South Africa

[@martingilmore]

My pleasure! Thanks for tuning in!

[@penprop01]

👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽thank you

[@martingilmore]

You are so welcome

[@jameslacy3509]

New to learning bluegrass and also recently started Bryan Sutton's course in Artistworks. This was helpful as well and will check others.

[@martingilmore]

Awesome! Bryan Sutton is a great player and teacher. Thanks for tuning in to my lessons. More to come soon!

[@schabukow]

Thanks for the tutorial man. When i have enough money i buy a guitar and i think your video will gonna help me. ♥️♥️♥️

[@martingilmore]

Rock on! Keep saving that $$$!!!

[@jupitercyclops6521]

I'm not sure what country you live in, but you're lucky that there are a lot of low end guitars that will keep a tune. When I was first learning, low end guitars wouldn't keep in tune long enough to get through a song. For starting out, a low end should get you by. Good luck saving & learning.

[@schabukow]

@@jupitercyclops6521 thx man

[@texsuncolly]

That’s a great tip about your pinky on the c chord. Sometimes that open E string sounds so jarring to me lol

[@martingilmore]

Yeah. A lot of times I play chords differently to make changes more efficient. Good luck!

[@brianh3698]

Your suggestions are very welcomed . Yes more lessons thanks.

[@martingilmore]

More to come! Working on ideas now!

[@claudioortiz5830]

Hey thanks for all the tips, great video. Do you have a video doing this bluegrass strum really fast? Like Billy Strings On the Line fast? Any tips on that?

[@robmiller3464]

Hi Martin, great lesson. Really like the playing enhancements you illustrate. What Martin guitar are you playing, sounds very nice.

[@martingilmore]

Thanks! That's my old 000-18. It's been refinished and is kind of a mess inside, but it sounds good. I use it a lot when I'm teaching so I don't have to reach over my dreadnaught all day.

[@RonHansen-vi5ug]

You sound great! I am just starting to learn BG guitar. When I try to play this Bass up down up bass it just does not sound like you. So when do you use this Bass up, down, Bass or do you switch back and forth? Thanks

[@martingilmore]

Great question. I don't do the down-up-down-up strum all the time. Usually I just use it to "punctuate the phrases". Lyrics can be broken down into phrases which are usually represented by lines on a lyric sheet. For instance: I lost all my money but a two dollar bill [phrase 1] Two dollar bill boys, two dollar bill [phrase 2] I lost all my money but a two dollar bill [phrase 3] I'm on my long journey home [phrase 4] When the singer is singing the words of the phrase just play bass-strum-bass-strum. But when they reach a long note or the end of the phrase you can add in the extra up-strokes to fill the space. In "Long Journey Home" the best place to add the down-up-down-up strum is at the end of the second phrase, when the word "bill" lands. Then when you go on to the next phrase go back to just bass-strum. Most of the time I just play bass-strum-bass-strum, and only some of the time do I play the down-up-down-up strum. I always play the upstroke after the strum on the down-up-down-up strumming pattern. Keeping it steady and even is what gives it the bluegrass drive. Hope that helps. Keep it up!

[@nobnobnobnob]

I never imagined in my life that strumming is hard until now

[@martingilmore]

I remember learning that down-up-down-up strum and how tedious it was to practice it slowly. Best of luck!

[@nobnobnobnob]

@@martingilmore thanks mate

[@browser9571]

Martin, thank you, great lesson! Is that a Martin 000 or OM? I am considering getting one of those instead of a dread, have shorter arms, is that ok for bluegrass? I had heard not.

[@martingilmore]

Thanks! It is an old 000-18. I love it and use it a lot for teaching and sometimes for solo performance. It definitely won't keep up in a bluegrass context. It doesn't have the volume or boominess of a dreadnought. It's hard to reach over a big dreadnought all day, but if you practice shifting it over to your other leg (when sitting) that might help. An OM has a longer scale so that might have a little more string tension and a louder sound as well. This guitar would be fine in a small jam, but not in a big one or on stage with a bluegrass band playing full-blast. Good luck!

[@lookforbriansjazz7832]

Thanks! What pick are you using?

[@martingilmore]

I am using a Wegen TF140 in this video. I use those most often, but any pick thicker than 1mm would work. Really you just want a pick that doesn't flex so you can get the big volume required when you're backing up fiddles and banjos. I also use Bluechip picks, Toneslabs, and Dunlop Primetones from time to time, but I always have a Wegen in my pocket. Have fun!

[@alan4sure]

​@@martingilmore same 3 pick brands I use👍. Fwiw, I find Dunlop Primetones compare well to the other two name brands for about 1/10th the price.

[@tangtokkonyak899]

Can i have online class, sir❤

[@martingilmore]

Send me a message through my website www.martingilmore.com and we can see if we can work it out!

[@toneydavis9802]

I was playing for my wife while she was fixing breakfast. She said "you know any bluegrass"? No..I said. Too bad...she said. I like breakfast...so here I am.😊

[@martingilmore]

Ha ha! Glad to help! Best of luck!

[@adri-to7tg]

Hey Martin, I love your lessons, they are absolutly incredible. I wanted to ask if you have considered to play some Bob Dylan tunes from his early years. I am really drawn to his guitar playing in some tunes but struggle to understand what he is actually doing. And somehow your lessons and strumming/picking style reminded me of his playing. Would love to hear your opinion on his style and if this is like the bluegrass you demonstrated. I added some songs/links I really dig. Thanks and best regard kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHzWZXxups-ibs0 kzbin.info/www/bejne/nX-wqoJ8f6-ag9U (here I really love the G6 G7 shift between verses but dont get how he is doing it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/a3XJe6aAe9mVftE kzbin.info/www/bejne/hYqrlaSPnr9jprc

[@martingilmore]

I will check these out and see what I can do with them. Thanks for asking!