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Over time, everyone develops their own style of playing and it matters little what anyone else does, except to pick up something new now and then. Just enjoy the instrument. Without sitting one on one, this is somewhat like trying to tell somebody how something tastes, but here it goes.
3/4 Straight Time
A 3/4 Straight Time rhythm is counted 1 2 3 1 2 3 and can be strummed with down strokes for each beat where the first beat is always emphasized as in the waltz tempo, i.e. 1 2 3 1 2 3. Another way to play the waltz tempo is to emphasize the first beat with a down stroke of your thumb and use a light upstroke for beats two and three. You don't even need to hit all of the strings, just brush up with your thumb. Some songs sound better if you add an upstroke between each beat, as in 1 & 2 & 3 & 1 & 2 & 3 & where the down and up strokes are evenly spaced with no syncopation and the first beat is still being emphasized. This is a straight 3/4 time rhythm.
4/4 Straight Time
A 4/4 Straight Time rhythm is counted 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 and can be strummed with down strokes for each beat where the first and third beats are always emphasized, i.e. 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4. An upstroke can be added between each beat, as in 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & where the down and up strokes are evenly spaced with no syncopation and the first and third beats are still emphasized. This is a straight 4/4 time rhythm.
Swing Time
A syncopated or Swing Time rhythm is created by sub-dividing the 1 & 2 & 3 & of the 3/4 Time rhythm into 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a or the 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & of the 4/4 Time rhythm into 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & 4 e & a where the upstrokes occur on the "a" of each sequence. It's like the rhythm of your youth when you used to simulate a galloping horse by skipping forward with the same foot in the lead and slapping your hip each time the first of your two feet hit the ground, i.e. Ta Dah, Ta Dah, Ta Dah, Ta Dah. That's a syncopated rhythm. Most of what I play is in a dead-beat Swing Time rhythm, but not all.
Dead-Beating
Dead-beating occurs when you lift pressure off the strings of the chord you are holding while strumming the chord. In a 3/4 Time rhythm you slightly dead-beat beats 2 and 3 while emphasizing the first beat and you change chords on the third beat. In a 4/4 Time rhythm you dead-beat beats 2 and 4 while emphasizing the first and third beats and you change chords on the forth beat.
Ragtime
A 4/4 Ragtime rhythm is a rather fast brush stroke, straight up and down, 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 with no syncopation, but the dead beat is on the "&" of "2 &" and the "&" of "4 &". Try it with the "When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob Bobbin' Along".
Spanish Style Strum
A 3/4 time Spanish Style strum is played 1 2 & 3 & 1 2 & 3 & by forming a soft fist and using your index finger to play the first beat with a down stroke and returning back up without strumming the strings. Now roll all four fingers (from pinky to index finger) smoothly down across the strings to play the second beat followed by an "up down up" of your index finger to complete the sequence of "& 3 &". Because this is a 3/4 Time strum the first beat is still the emphasized beat. Once you can do this smoothly, dead-beat the third beat and change chords on the third beat. Try this strum with "Vaya, Con Dios".
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