Simple rhythms lesson 
                                                                                                                                                 #2
                       Playing rhythm guitar is as easy as counting to four!
                       When you play a chord on your guitar, it is called strumming.  You can strum in 
                       two different directions: up and down.
                       The easiest rhythm is one where you play a single down stroke.  Start by counting 
                       to four.  Everytime you say the number “one,” play a down stroke.
                      The following page has more easy rhythms. Here’s how they work.
                                • Say the numbers and play them with down strokes.
                                • Say any “+” signs as “and.”  Play these with up strokes.
                      The patterns are easiest to play and to learn when they are said and played together. This 
                      is a very important part of learning rhythms ...if you can SAY IT, you can PLAY IT!
                      For example, look at rhythm B on the next page. You will SAY, “ One, two, three and 
                      four. One, two, three and four…”  while you  PLAY down down down up down, down 
                      down down up down,
                                                                                                                                              ©2006 Little Kids Rock
          © Copyright 2011 Little Kids Rock          More cool stuff at: www.littlekidsrock.org                                           www.littlekidsrock.org
                                Simple rhythms lesson 
                                                                                                                                         #2
                                        A)   1    2   3   4  
                                                        down                 down                 down               down
                                        B)   1   2   3  + 4  
                                                        down                 down                 down    (up)  down
                                        C)   1   2 + 3  + 4  
                                                         down                down   (up)    down    (up)  down
                                        D)   1   2   3 + 4  + 
                                                        down                 down                 down    (up)  down  (up)
                                        E)   1 + 2 + 3   4  
                                                         down   (up)   down  (up)    down                            down  
                                        F)                  1  +  2   +                             3  +  4
                                                        down   (up)   down  (up)    down   (up)    down  
                                        G)   1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +
                                                         down   (up)   down  (up)    down   (up)    down (up) 
                                        H)   1 + 2   3 + 4  
                                                         down   (up)   down                       down   (up)    down   
                                        I)   1   2 + 3 + 4  +
                                                         down                 down   (up)    down    (up)  down  (up)
                                        J)   1 + 2   3 + 4 +
                                                         down   (up)   down                        down  (up)  down   (up)
                                        K)   1 + 2    3    4   
                                                         down   (up)   down                       down               down
                                             
                                                                                                                                      ©2006 Little Kids Rock
          © Copyright 2011 Little Kids Rock   More cool stuff at: www.littlekidsrock.org                                                  www.littlekidsrock.org