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→Playing Off-beat
|Applying Rhythm to Chords#Puttin the Stank on Power Chords|Accents
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Playing off-beat is a form of <u>syncopation</u>, producing an unexpected, complex-sounding rhythm. It can be quite tricky to learn at first, as it breaks from the more typical approach of using predominantly downstrokes (on the beat). You still maintain the pendulum-like momentum to the right hand, strumming down on the beats and up between them, but not necessarily hitting the strings. This means we will have plenty of "phantom" downstrokes but played upstrokes.
Off-beat rhythms typically don't feature ''only'' playing off the beat, but start on the beat and venture off. Thus, we have to get used to the feeling of alternating between on-beat and off-beat strumming.
1 2 3 4 |1 2 3 4 |
q e q q q| e q e e q |
/ / / / / / / / / /
d d u u u u d d u d
Where this gets really tricky is when there are a greater variety of chord durations, such as dotted quarters, sixteenth notes, or even tuplets. And when combined with rests, muted strums, and quick chord changes, it begins to become overwhelming. It's best to practice this and other patterns on a single chord, getting
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