If you’ve been through my Beginning Blues Guitar or Strumming And Rhythm Mastery courses, then you’ve undoubtedly heard of the “Most Popular Strum In The World” (and make sure to imagine the voice of the most Interesting Man In The World guy from the commercials when you say it…)
Well, someone asked me how to find songs that could be used with that strum, so I took to the airwaves and thought I’d show you some options today…
BUT – I’m hoping you’ll help a little too…
After you watch the video, if you can think of a specific song (Title and Artist) that you know works well with that strum pattern, put it in the comments below. By the time we’re done, we should have a nice long list of songs that we should all be able to play fairly easily.
43 replies to "Finding Songs To Play"
Neil Young’s version of 4 Strong Winds. C, Dm,G,F. Good campfire song that even the likes of me can play.
Thanks for the videos Griff. After watching this video, Take It Easy by the Eagles is playing over and over in my head. Played this song a lot from a song book I’ve had for years and years now..
San Francisco Bay Blues by Clapton
Pat Garrret and Billy the Kid – several themes – Dylan Soundtrack
Someday Soon – Suzy Boguss
Bryan Adams – This Time has a 2 measure pattern. The first measure is TMPSITW
You may not be a uke player, but this is the popular “island strum” pattern we use (I went from guitar to uke and now I’m back to guitar).
I love this pattern, especially when doing it through a 12-bar blues
Hey Ya! by OutKast
Great lesson Grif, thank you!
Here’s a good song using the strumming pattern…
San Francisco by Scott McKenzie
“Rambling Man” By: The Allman Brothers.
I’m a church worship leader, would love to find a lot more blues worship guitar!
In Dreams ! Roy Oberoson. Eagles, Peaceful easy feeling.
Scott Underwood, Vineyard music has some OK blues tunes. One that I did was “Jehovah Never Sleeps”
Griff, Thanks for this important lesson!
George Harrison, My Guitar Gently Weeps
Eagles. Tequila sunrise.
great lesson
Thanks for the strumming update, I typically refer to this as d-d/u–u/d/u but I never counted while strumming. The Swing suggestion and counting is a great tip!
Hi Griff ,
I have loved this series it been a help. I’ve been playing for more years than I care to remember and have developed more bad habits than you can shake a stick at, but manage to get through most just following my instinct maybe not correct but works.
It would be nice if you could include some ¾ time rhythm suggestions though.
Griff, are you using the XL version of the red Jazz 111 on this or the small one. It looked like the XL.
As always most appreciate your great attitude and teaching skills.
Thanks
Hotel California?
Sister golden hair by America
Peaceful easy feelin
Eagles peace easy feelin
Is there any problem if I bar the first and second string on the G?
It seems to work better for me when I change to C or G7.
Mazzy star Fade into you Is a good strumming song that’s not to difficult
Sounds like the opening of a joke, Griff….
Two chords in a bar. The I chord says….
Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton G D C D slower tempo. it work’s!
Girl buy the Beatles and many more from the Beatles Complete Chord Songdook
Get the spiral bound edition and you will love it!
Bob Seeger’s “Night Moves”.
I haven’t tried it yet, but I *think* Melissa by the Allman Brothers would sound ok with this strumming pattern.
Rayando el sol – Maná
I saw her standing there. The beatles
What kind of strings do you recommend for a acoustic guitar? I have Ernie Ball super slinky on my electric. But need to change strings on my acoustic.
Hey Jane, if you’re using Super Slinky’s on your electric, I’d say just use Regular Slinky’s on your acoustic. I’ve been using EB Reg.Slinky’s on my 1972 Maton FG100 dreadnaught probably since the guitar was brand new. I also used Tomastik-Infeld strings for a long time on other acoustics, but I don’t know whether you can get them any more – we used to call them “Doctor Tomastik”. Both the EB Regulars and the Tomastik’s have 10-gauge first strings. I think your Supers are 9-gauge?
BUT, the Regular Slinky’s are definitely heavier than your Supers, so be ready for sore fingers if you put them on your acoustic – especially if the action on the acoustic is higher than your electric.
I have used 9-gauge string sets on acoustic guitars, but they tend to rattle a bit, and they are not very loud, so I quit using them.
I also use EB Regular Slinky’s on my Epiphone DOT so I don’t notice the difference between playing the electric and the acoustic.
Cheers from sunny Australia,
Chris G.
Martin sp lights. Sound great. I used these for years and constantly get asked about how i get that great sound. Easy to play and stay in tune.
Agree. Have had good results with the Martin light acoustic strings.
Also: try a unwound G string. Smooths out sliding.
For electrics with a short scale (Les Paul, Dot, PRS), I use 11s,.. .. for the long scale (Strat etc) use 10s.
Roundwound wrap is a bright tone, and gives off more string noise due to their ribbed texture…
and a Flatwound wrap is a warmer tone, it has a smoother feel and much less string noise, almost none,
Elixir strings are amazing for feel, tone, and longevity.
Take it Easy by the Eagles. I’v been doing the Most Popular Strum in the world for years and I didn’t know it. Thank you Griff for all of your fantastic lessons.
Great stuff Griff! When was the live video done? Sorry I missed it.
I’m disappointed you don’t know Devil In Her Heart and Carl Perkin’s Honey Don’t.
I agree Griff has to up his game when it comes to those kind of songs. But remember,he is a blues guy! 😊