Strumming patterns in 3/4 time have three beats per bar, and the most common pattern is down, down, up, down, up, down, with a waltz feel, one, two, three, one, two, three. The first beat is the strongest, and the pattern gives the bar a lilting, dance-like rhythm.
What are strumming patterns in 3/4 time?
Strumming patterns in 3/4 time have three beats per bar, and the most common pattern is down, down, up, down, up, down, with a waltz feel, one, two, three, one, two, three. The first beat is the strongest, and the second and third beats are weaker, and the pattern gives the bar a lilting, dance-like rhythm, which is the waltz, and the waltz is the most common song in 3/4 time. The pattern is six eighth-note strums per bar, down on the beat and up on the offbeat, with the downstroke on beat one being the strongest. The 3/4 time signature means three quarter-note beats per bar, and the bar is shorter than a bar in 4/4 time, which has four beats, so the rhythm feels lighter and more dance-like, with the accent on the first beat and the other two beats flowing after it. The strumming pattern must fit the three beats, and it cannot be the same as a 4/4 pattern, because a 4/4 pattern has four beats and a 3/4 pattern has three, and the pattern must be rebuilt for the new time. The G major guitar chord and the C major guitar chord are the chords most players first strum in 3/4 time, and the metronome keeps the beat steady.
How 3/4 strumming works
A 3/4 strumming pattern works by dividing the bar into three beats, and each beat into two eighth notes, so the bar has six eighth-note strums: down, up, down, up, down, up. The downstroke on beat one is the strongest, because it is the first beat, and the downstrokes on beats two and three are weaker, and the upstrokes are the lightest, because they are on the offbeats. The pattern down, down, up, down, up, down, misses the upstroke after beat one, and the miss creates a lilting feel, with the accent on beat one and the rhythm flowing after it. The waltz feel comes from the accent on the first beat, and the two weaker beats after it, which is the one, two, three of the waltz, and the dancer steps on the first beat and glides on the second and third. The strumming pattern must follow the waltz, with the first beat strong and the other two light, or the rhythm will not feel like a waltz. The D major guitar chord and the A major guitar chord are the chords the 3/4 patterns are built on, and the I–V–vi–IV progression in G major can be played in 3/4 time, with three beats per bar.
Worked example — the waltz strum. Hold a G major chord, and count one, two, three, one, two, three, strumming down on beat one, down on beat two, up on the offbeat after beat two, down on beat three, up on the offbeat after beat three, and down on beat one of the next bar. The pattern is down, down, up, down, up, down, and the rhythm is lilting and dance-like, with the accent on beat one and the other two beats flowing after it. Now try the pattern down, up, down, up, down, up, which is six even strums, and notice how the rhythm is less lilting, because the accent is not as clear, and the waltz feel is weaker. The I–V–vi–IV progression in C major can be played in 3/4 time, with the waltz strum, and the chords change on beat one of each bar.
How to practise 3/4 strumming
Practise 3/4 strumming slowly, with a metronome, until the waltz feel is clear, with the accent on beat one and the other two beats flowing after it.
- Practise the waltz strum on a G major chord, down, down, up, down, up, down, counting one, two, three, and listening for the accent on beat one.
- Practise the even strum on a C major chord, down, up, down, up, down, up, counting one and two and three and, and notice how the rhythm is less lilting.
- Play the I–V–vi–IV progression in C major in 3/4 time, with the waltz strum, changing chords on beat one of each bar.
- Practise with the metronome at 60 beats per minute, set to 3/4 time, and increase the tempo by 5 beats per minute when the strum is steady.
- Practise counting one, two, three, out loud, while you strum, and then practise counting in your head, until the waltz feel is a habit.
Common mistakes
- Using a 4/4 pattern in 3/4 time — A 4/4 pattern has four beats, and a 3/4 bar has three, so a 4/4 pattern will not fit, and the rhythm will be wrong. Use a pattern built for three beats, with six eighth-note strums, not eight.
- Accent every beat equally — A waltz has its accent on beat one, and the other two beats are weaker, and accenting every beat equally will make the rhythm sound square, not lilting. Accent beat one, and let beats two and three flow after it.
- Rushing the third beat — A player who rushes the third beat will lose the waltz feel, because the bar is cut short, and the next bar starts early. Use a metronome, and keep the three beats even, so the waltz stays steady.
Quick reference
This table shows the waltz strum for one bar in 3/4 time, with the beat, the strum direction, and the count for each eighth note, so you can see the pattern and count along with it. The downstroke on beat one is the strongest, and the pattern is six eighth-note strums per bar, down, down, up, down, up, down.
| Beat | Strum | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Beat 1 | Down | 1 |
| Beat 2 | Down | 2 |
| Offbeat | Up | and |
| Beat 3 | Down | 3 |
| Offbeat | Up | and |
| Beat 1 (next bar) | Down | 1 |
Use the table to practise the waltz strum: count one, two, three, and strum down on beat one, down on beat two, up on the offbeat, down on beat three, and up on the offbeat, keeping the accent on beat one. When you can strum the table without looking, try the even strum, down, up, down, up, down, up, and compare the feel.
Frequently asked questions
What are strumming patterns in 3/4 time?
Strumming patterns in 3/4 time have three beats per bar, and the most common pattern is down, down, up, down, up, down, with a waltz feel, one, two, three, one, two, three. The first beat is the strongest, and the pattern gives the bar a lilting, dance-like rhythm.
What is the waltz strum?
The waltz strum is the pattern down, down, up, down, up, down, which is six eighth-note strums per bar, with the accent on beat one and the other two beats flowing after it, giving the bar a lilting, dance-like rhythm.
How is 3/4 time different from 4/4 time?
3/4 time has three quarter-note beats per bar, and 4/4 time has four, so a 3/4 bar is shorter and feels lighter and more dance-like, with the accent on the first beat, while a 4/4 bar is longer and feels steadier, with the accents on beats one and three.
Can I play a 4/4 song in 3/4 time?
You can, but the rhythm will change, because the bar has three beats instead of four, and the pattern must be rebuilt for the new time, and the song will sound like a waltz, not like the original.
What songs are in 3/4 time?
Waltzes, and many folk songs, and some ballads, which use the lilting, dance-like rhythm of three beats per bar, with the accent on the first beat and the other two beats flowing after it.