Challenge Week Three Recap: Mastering Strumming and Rhythm
In Episode 235 of the Beginner Guitar Academy Podcast, host Paul Andrews recaps week three of the “Five Minutes a Day in May” guitar challenge, and trust us, it’s packed with essential wisdom for anyone developing their rhythm and strumming skills.
Week Three Focus: Strumming & Rhythm
Paul kicks off by reminding us that strumming and rhythm aren’t just hurdles for beginners; even seasoned players can find their timekeeping a bit shaky. That’s why dedicating quality practice to these basics pays off no matter your skill level.
Day 15: Fundamentals & Foot Tapping
The key tool of the week? The humble metronome. Whether you use a free online tool like metronomeonline.com, a nifty phone app, or a standalone device (Paul recommends the digital Korg MA-2 or MA-1), you’ll want one in your practice arsenal. The big takeaway here isn’t just hearing the click, but actually feeling the beat: tapping your foot and nodding your head to internalise a steady pulse. Starting at 60 BPM (beats per minute) is perfect for beginners, just slow and steady, one beat per second.
Day 16: Diving Into Note Values
Next, Paul lays out the building blocks of rhythm: whole notes, half notes, and quarter notes. Practicing these with a simple chord progression (like G, strummed just once per bar for whole notes or every beat for quarter notes) makes the concept concrete. Understanding these note values sets the foundation for syncing your strumming with music.
Day 17: Putting It Into Practice With “Save Your Tears”
Time to apply what you’ve learned! Using “Save Your Tears” by The Weeknd (with a C, Am, Em, G progression), you’ll experiment with whole, half, and quarter note strumming patterns. Start simple, then gradually build complexity as you feel the groove.
Day 18: Unlocking Eighth Notes
Here’s where it gets interesting. Eighth notes introduce down-up strumming, a staple of countless songs. Paul emphasizes counting out loud (“1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and”) to lock in how ups and downs fit within the beat. Various combinations stretch your rhythm muscles and add tons of character to your playing.
Day 19: Four Essential Strumming Patterns
Paul shares four must-know strum patterns, perfect for most music styles. The key isn’t just the motion of your strumming hand but also counting the beats, which gives you a stronger sense of phrasing and helps when playing faster or slower. Plus, by experimenting with different strum patterns, including some with “missed” strums or all downs for a rock feel, you get to taste the versatility that great rhythm brings.
Day 20: Dynamics—The Secret Ingredient
Finally, Paul introduces dynamics: turning up the volume in the chorus, pulling back for a soft verse, or accentuating certain beats to express emotion. This transforms your playing from mechanical to musical. Use dynamics to punctuate the “pop” of a chorus or dramatize a solo section, just like the pros do.
Why This Challenge Matters
As Paul says, mastering rhythm and strumming isn’t just about keeping time; it’s about making your guitar sing. By starting slow, focusing on fundamentals, experimenting with patterns, and using dynamics, you gain tools that pay off in every song you play.
If you haven’t joined the challenge yet, it’s not too late! Sign up at bgachallenge.com for free and start your journey from day one. And if you’re already participating, get excited: week four will dive into lead techniques and improvisation.
Happy practicing, and remember, even five focused minutes a day can add up to huge progress!
