"Bluegrass Rhythm Patterning" - BLUEGRASS Rhythm Guitar Lesson with TAB

The first part of my Bluegrass Rhythm Masterclass series: "Bluegrass Rhythm Patterning". In this lesson, we take a look at 5 different strumming patterns I've used in many different musical situations. We're keeping it simple and just sticking to one chord (G) and on measure per pattern.
Using strumming patterns is a good way to create a different feel and dynamics between sections when playing rhythm guitar. You can also use these patterns as a way to keep a consistent tempo and pulse in your strumming.
Watch the full lesson video, MP3 Backing Tracks, PDF tab sheet and TEF file at ➜ brandonjohnsonguitar.com/prod...
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[@peterney2402]

Brilliant lesson. Everyone wants to solo...you are nothing without a great rhythm guitarist behind you.

[@dimwitsadvocate6264]

Yes! I want to play on the porch with having a nice intro and bridge while keeping the rhythm going.

[@Henry_Martin_Taylor]

Thanks for the good lesson! I came to the Bluegrass Rythm Guitar somehow throug the backdoor. One day I started playing clawhammerstyle with pure fingers, no picks which allowed me also a good speed. That helped me to find the way into the stuff when I started again playing with pick again after 20 years, the same as before with the fingers. But with the pick I was able to focus more on the bass strings, more than with the thumb - now they are my dear friends. I'm not sure but I'm not far from the "Rumble Rythm"/Jimmy Martin, I play a lot of eights, while singing mostly on the bass strings with a bit on the B string. And finaly I practice now some basics, pattern, essentials. I'm very familiar with down/up strokes because of the "Rumble" stuff, so no problem. Lot of greetings from Germany😊

[@thmanmohan]

These are great strumming patterns. Fun to practice at high speed. Thanks for helping me broaden my rhythm skills!

[@fixedrider5912]

Great presentation, thank you!

[@iloverumi]

love these. always wanting to improve, add interest to rhythm.

[@BrandonJohnsonGuitar]

Thank you! Wanted to do something different for this lesson. Hopefully I will make more videos like this in the future.

[@brazilhead]

To me this is one of the best videos on youtube. I mean how did I miss this all these years? Those added textures are incredible! Thank you sir! Any chance you might consider doing a follow up for the other chords?

[@BrandonJohnsonGuitar]

Thank you, John. I appreciate that! Yes, I'm planning on doing more videos like this for other chords, chord transitions etc.

[@peterney2402]

Driving rhythm is more important than any solo. Count Basie was lost without Freddie green.

[@StewartHines]

Right there with you...

[@matst432]

Wow best video ever ! Simpel but perfect

[@ronnielong6587]

Thank you and great job!

[@johnbox9649]

Thank you for the lesson!

[@thomastehan9477]

Absolutely fantastic lesson, thank you.

[@5150show]

Outstanding

[@alan4sure]

Man that guitar rings!!

[@mns8732]

Two Thumbs, Way Up!

[@als1023]

Excellent ideas, darn good teacher !!

[@BrandonJohnsonGuitar]

Thanks, Al!

[@Bienchen1966]

Great lesson!

[@TheRoadrunner1982]

Cool lesson. Thanks

[@kevinobrien8158]

Thanks for this!

[@SjaakShirly6559]

You are really awesome!

[@vwdlamont]

Great lesson Brandon.

[@BrandonJohnsonGuitar]

Thanks, David!

[@JohnnyRebKy]

Listen to that Martin ring 👍🏻. That is why they cost what they cost fellas.

[@jackhowland3737]

Yep, Martin's are where it's at. I've got an HD-28, D-28 and D-16GT. I won't part with any while alive and I've got designated owners for when I'm gone. There is a reason why they cost what they do. A nice low price guitar is the Ibanez AW series. Same dimensions as a D or HD-28. Quite impressive for less than $300.

[@bcp5296d]

Good stuff. You really like holding onto that high E with your pinky :)

[@skatetodeath666]

Most bluegrass players do for some reason I can't fit both my fingers that close and just use either my pinky on the E string or my ring finger for B and E string.

[@busby29]

Can you point to any of the great bluegrass rhythm guitar players who use any of these patterns?

[@tokyo-super-frog]

Am I missing something in the second example? The tab looks like the downbeat is on the high string strums, which really turns the standard bluegrass rhythm on it's head (and which I got super excited about when seeing), but in every count off it's clearly coming in on the upbeat of 4 with the down beat falling on the typical low G note, which makes it just a typical BG strum that's basically identical to the first pattern. Wish I could have heard with a metronome or some sort of backing to tell which was actually intended.

[@rob.taylor]

Nice video. You could add one more, the alternating bass.

[@LarryStallings-dk4rr]

been watching the lonsome river band you made a wreck of my heart , sre they doing a boom chick strum?

[@DonLemelin]

Quick question... seems like on the first pattern, the third time through at speed you no longer pick the low E string twice at the start of the pattern. Is that correct. Been trying to do it and seems darn near impossible at that tempo. Thanks

[@imannonymous7707]

So would I be incorrect to say most bluegrass time signatures are 2/2 ?

[@alan4sure]

2/4 time

[@myradioon]

Good patterns but it's not a truthful scenario to not show these patterns working over different transitioning chords. Your last strum on these "G" patterns is often an up strum on the top two notes you are holding tight on your "G" chord (d and g). Those notes will have to be let go of a second later after up striking them and will be cut short not ringing on the same notes when you transition (ugly sound) or most likely ring open (on the top b and e strings when you have to let go of position) before coming down on the next chord. This will only sound good transitioning to some chords This is where the messyness, overtones of open notes ringing and melody not fitting over a transition at that point will happen. Sometimes you can compensate with a walk to help the melody. But too many videos on the internet assume a pattern will work behind all sorts of chord transitions and it won't. That is where the artistry comes in.

[@j.d.leslie8458]

I am baffled as to why a capo is being used

[@alan4sure]

A is a popular bluegrass key, so is B. G, not quite as much. 😁

[@musik102]

Its not a good idea to have music playing in the background ( foreground?) when you're talking! Very distracting! Love the lesson, though.