Daniel Aronowitz

  As an amateur guitarist playing in a band, it is crucial to be able to fully master a variety of strumming techniques. Strumming may seem simple enough on the surface: moving your pick or fingers across the strings. However, there is so much more to it than that. It is about expressing rhythm, emotion and style as well. This article will explore different strumming techniques and reasons behind them, and we’ll also go over examples from legendary artists who have made these techniques iconic. Downstrokes & Upstrokes Without mastering downstrokes (hitting the strings downward) and upstrokes (hitting them upward), you won’t be able to create the foundation for strumming necessary to bring your music to life. By combining downstroke and upstroke patterns, you can create various rhythms. Downstrokes generally give off a stronger sound while upstrokes are lighter. Johnny Ramone from The Ramones was known for his relentless downstroke strumming technique that possessed an energeti...

As an aspiring musician, I’ve spent countless hours strumming my guitar in the garage with buddies, and through all that time, I’ve really grown to love the instrument. It’s been around for centuries and played by countless people across the globe. In that time, it has served as a building block for a variety of genres including rock and classical music. First Steps The ancient versions of guitars we see today first started out as stringed instruments used in various ceremonies or events throughout civilizations long gone. After years of development, lutes and vihuelas were created in Europe during the 15th and 16th centuries. These two instruments had a big influence on how the modern guitar looks today. Volume Adjustments During the Renaissance and Baroque periods, there were several changes made to what would eventually become known as guitars. With a rounded body shape similar to what we see today and fretted necks with multiple strings like most modern instruments have now, these...

  The guitar has played a significant role in shaping the music and culture of societies all over the world. It has turned from being a musical instrument to becoming ingrained in our cultural heritage through its versatile sound and melodious strings. The Guitar in Folk Traditions Folk music is often seen as the soul of any culture, and it has been deeply changed by the guitar. In the American South, folk ballads and tales spoke of love, loss, life and were narrated by the acoustic guitar. The flamenco music of Spain used intricate melodies and passionate strums to express deep human emotions. The vibrant rhythms of Brazilian samba were made more vibrant with sounds from guitars, which also accompanied African soulful tunes. The Blues and The Birth of Rock and Roll The guitar took a major turn when blues emerged around the 20th century. African American musicians in Mississippi used their guitars to sing about their sorrows and hopes, creating a genre that will later lay down roc...