by Mickey Cochran
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Copyright ©1998-2004 Mickey Cochran
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We're continuing our strumming studies within the DAA ionian tuning. This will assist you in establishing good rhythm techniques...and timing the heartbeat of music. You'll want to follow the same procedure as you did in the last lesson. Once you become familiar with the chording techniques and the single downbeat strums, you might want to start experimenting with adding an upbeat (up-strum) as follows:
1 2&3 4 or 1 2&3 4& and so on...
Whereever you see the and, in between the numbers, strum upwards...this will vary your rhythm patterns and add more flow to your chordal progressions.
Be careful to follow the 4 beats as indicated below the tablature...To start, try counting to 4 repeatedly while tapping your foot. This will establish your innate sense of rhythm. Keep the tempo even such as when you clap your hands to a song. Now, let's do this while strumming the dulcimer on every count one down beat to one strum. To apply this to a chord progression, follow the chords indicated by the diagrams above the standard notation, and indicated by the finger positions on the tablature...each slash, in the standard notation, represents a down-strum...the "D" also indicates a down-strum--4 strums within each measure (divided by the vertical lines) equaling 8 strums for each chord.
Hold the pick steady and strum near the right position of your dulcimer...above or within the strum well.
Click here for the Video/Sound Sampler D Chordal Study #3
Click here for the Video/Sound Sampler Bm Chordal Study #1
D Chord Progression using the first lesson in strumming and keeping rhythm:

Click here for the Video/Sound Sampler D Chordal Study #3
Click here for the Video/Sound Sampler Bm Chordal Study #1
Copyright ©1998-2004 Mickey Cochran
Dulcimer Website Map Return to Lessons Section Return to Homepage