Up to this point, you have learned to play two songs using the basic strum – great for learning the basics, but a little too vanilla. Now let’s take you to the next level with the pick strum.
Let’s Learn the Pick Strum
Just like the name implies, the pick strum is as simple as removing a strum in a measure and picking a bass note, called the root. This simple change, though, can add depth to a song and give it that special feel.
For a song in 3/4-time, the first strum in a measure is replaced by a bass note pick. For a song in 4/4-time, the first and third strums in a measure are replaced by a picked root note of the chord. The following table illustrates the simplicity of the pick strum in 3/4 and 4/4 time:
3/4 -time 4/4-time
Basic strum ||: / / / :|| ||: / / / / :||
Pick strum ||: P / / :|| ||: P / P / :||
The only thing left to learn about the pick strum is which bass note to pick and which strings to strum.
G and E-minor chords
- Pick sixth string
- Strum bottom five strings
C chord
- Pick fifth string
- Strum bottom four strings
D chord
- Pick fourth string
- Strum bottom three strings
Now, practice the pick strum for each chord until you can do it without mistake and without having to think about it.
Let’s Play On Top of Old Smokey – A three-chord song
Video—Watch the video of On Top of Old Smokey in Video Lessons. Listen to the melody, get to know the song, and feel free to sing along. As soon as you are ready, it’s time to learn how to play our third song.
Required Chords—This song uses the G chord (blue button), the C chord (green button) and the D Chord (red button).
Strum—Notice that the strum marks for this song are played in groups of three. Practice strumming, using the pick strum pattern, and changing chords as indicated (without singing). This song is in 3/4 time.
Sing & Strum On Top of Old Smokey and change chords as indicated.
Up to this point, you have learned to play two songs using the basic strum – great for learning the basics, but a little too vanilla. Now let’s take you to the next level with the pick strum.
Let’s Learn the Pick Strum
Just like the name implies, the pick strum is as simple as removing a strum in a measure and picking a bass note, called the root. This simple change, though, can add depth to a song and give it that special feel.
For a song in 3/4-time, the first strum in a measure is replaced by a bass note pick. For a song in 4/4-time, the first and third strums in a measure are replaced by a picked root note of the chord. The following table illustrates the simplicity of the pick strum in 3/4 and 4/4 time:
3/4 -time 4/4-time
Basic strum ||: / / / :|| ||: / / / / :||
Pick strum ||: P / / :|| ||: P / P / :||
The only thing left to learn about the pick strum is which bass note to pick and which strings to strum.
G and E-minor chords
- Pick sixth string
- Strum bottom five strings
C chord
- Pick fifth string
- Strum bottom four strings
D chord
- Pick fourth string
- Strum bottom three strings
Now, practice the pick strum for each chord until you can do it without mistake and without having to think about it.
Let’s Play On Top of Old Smokey – A three-chord song
Video—Watch the video of On Top of Old Smokey in Video Lessons. Listen to the melody, get to know the song, and feel free to sing along. As soon as you are ready, it’s time to learn how to play our third song.
Required Chords—This song uses the G chord (blue button), the C chord (green button) and the D Chord (red button).
Strum—Notice that the strum marks for this song are played in groups of three. Practice strumming, using the pick strum pattern, and changing chords as indicated (without singing). This song is in 3/4 time.
Sing & Strum On Top of Old Smokey and change chords as indicated.
Up to this point, you have learned to play two songs using the basic strum – great for learning the basics, but a little too vanilla. Now let’s take you to the next level with the pick strum.
Let’s Learn the Pick Strum
Just like the name implies, the pick strum is as simple as removing a strum in a measure and picking a bass note, called the root. This simple change, though, can add depth to a song and give it that special feel.
For a song in 3/4-time, the first strum in a measure is replaced by a bass note pick. For a song in 4/4-time, the first and third strums in a measure are replaced by a picked root note of the chord. The following table illustrates the simplicity of the pick strum in 3/4 and 4/4 time:
3/4 -time 4/4-time
Basic strum ||: / / / :|| ||: / / / / :||
Pick strum ||: P / / :|| ||: P / P / :||
The only thing left to learn about the pick strum is which bass note to pick and which strings to strum.
G and E-minor chords
- Pick sixth string
- Strum bottom five strings
C chord
- Pick fifth string
- Strum bottom four strings
D chord
- Pick fourth string
- Strum bottom three strings
Now, practice the pick strum for each chord until you can do it without mistake and without having to think about it.
Let’s Play On Top of Old Smokey – A three-chord song
Video—Watch the video of On Top of Old Smokey in Video Lessons. Listen to the melody, get to know the song, and feel free to sing along. As soon as you are ready, it’s time to learn how to play our third song.
Required Chords—This song uses the G chord (blue button), the C chord (green button) and the D Chord (red button).
Strum—Notice that the strum marks for this song are played in groups of three. Practice strumming, using the pick strum pattern, and changing chords as indicated (without singing). This song is in 3/4 time.
Sing & Strum On Top of Old Smokey and change chords as indicated.
Up to this point, you have learned to play two songs using the basic strum – great for learning the basics, but a little too vanilla. Now let’s take you to the next level with the pick strum.
Let’s Learn the Pick Strum
Just like the name implies, the pick strum is as simple as removing a strum in a measure and picking a bass note, called the root. This simple change, though, can add depth to a song and give it that special feel.
For a song in 3/4-time, the first strum in a measure is replaced by a bass note pick. For a song in 4/4-time, the first and third strums in a measure are replaced by a picked root note of the chord. The following table illustrates the simplicity of the pick strum in 3/4 and 4/4 time:
3/4 -time 4/4-time
Basic strum ||: / / / :|| ||: / / / / :||
Pick strum ||: P / / :|| ||: P / P / :||
The only thing left to learn about the pick strum is which bass note to pick and which strings to strum.
G and E-minor chords
- Pick sixth string
- Strum bottom five strings
C chord
- Pick fifth string
- Strum bottom four strings
D chord
- Pick fourth string
- Strum bottom three strings
Now, practice the pick strum for each chord until you can do it without mistake and without having to think about it.
Let’s Play On Top of Old Smokey – A three-chord song
Video—Watch the video of On Top of Old Smokey in Video Lessons. Listen to the melody, get to know the song, and feel free to sing along. As soon as you are ready, it’s time to learn how to play our third song.
Required Chords—This song uses the G chord (blue button), the C chord (green button) and the D Chord (red button).
Strum—Notice that the strum marks for this song are played in groups of three. Practice strumming, using the pick strum pattern, and changing chords as indicated (without singing). This song is in 3/4 time.
Sing & Strum On Top of Old Smokey and change chords as indicated.
