Strumming In The Style Of “Oklahoma Sweetheart”

While this is not a specific lesson from any of my DVD courses, it’s similar to the type of thing I cover in Beginning Blues Guitar and is definitely a fundamental skill you should get a handle on.

Basically this was a request. I had not heard the song before, but when I did hear it I knew it would make a great lesson so here it is.

There’s not a lot to it… no TABs or anything… this is all about following along with me in the video and getting the feel of it for yourself.

Leave A Comment And Tell Me What You Think...

119 responses to “Oklahoma Sweetheart Style Strumming”

  1. Matthew says:

    Once again another great video. I have special folder for email vids of yours. But I’m concentrating on BGU 2 and the acoustic blues unleashed. Some days are electric days and acoustic nights lol. I try to use the same type of guitar you use in each electric Dvd courses gives me a closer sound. Love to know what setting you keep on your amp set up. I use fender tube amps but my new orange 3 of 215 white AD30TC 2009 still in box from the vault of a music shop. Even orange amps wants a picture as was very special run for professional bands and some recording studios. White looks so cool all hand wired in England. Special 2 vintage speakers.

    • Ron says:

      I think that’s pretty cool , thanks Griff

      • PAUL says:

        I HEARD YOU HIT THE STINGS AND RING OUT ON THE HAMMER ON THE G STRING. THIS SOUNDS LIKE A SONG I WROTE IN G, CALLED ” CAN’T STOP LOVING YOU BABY”. I HAMMER ON THE D AND THEN THE A AND CHANGE TO D. PRETTY MUCH THE SAME , YOU KN,. THAT STRUM PATTERN WAS USE IN, NIEL YOUNG,S, SURGER MOUNTAIN .HE ACCUALY TOUGHT ME HOW TO PLAY IT. GREAT STUFF AGAIN GRIFF,THANKS.

    • Mark Curtis says:

      Thanks Grif! Your advice is well taken on strum pattern. Slow at first. Hey, George had some cool slide work like Delaware Slide and Madison Blues. It would be nice to see those. I don’t know if you’ve already done them. Thanks again.

    • PAUL says:

      THIS IS LIKE A COUNTRY SONG I WROTE.
      JUTS IT’S PLAYED IN G.

    • Richard Pool Sr. says:

      Despite of playing very large venues on his 50/50 tour George played my club, The Library Club, in Fayetteville Ark. for stop 43.When I asked him why, he said he demanded it of the booking agency. John Hammond Jr. and members of The Band had ask him to. All personal friends of mine. this was on Dec. 4 1981.

    • Ken says:

      I believe Thorogood wrote and released Oklahoma Sweetheart in 1991 on the Boggie People album.Good lesson,thanks Griff.

    • Robert says:

      So was Muddy Waters named Muddy because his playing style sounded a little muddy?

    • Chris H says:

      Puts me in mind of Tequila Sunrise

    • Russ says:

      Yeah this strum pattern is very reminisant to “Sunshine” by Jonathan Edwards.

  2. john Berg says:

    grate lesson,Who said an old man cant learn new tricks.(I,m 74) love all of you books, and I have. john

  3. Frank Cuellar says:

    I liked the lesson because it shows me that some simple tips explain, while I can do what you’re demonstrating, I now understand why it makes it sound good. It pretty much teaches the basics. Thanks
    Frank

  4. Joe says:

    Griff
    You have been so instrumental to my guitar playing. I’m 59 years old and started playing 1 1/2 years ago. I look forward every single day for your lessons. You never disappoint. Another great demonstration how sutlenes adds so much to the flavor of your music. Thanks for all your help.

  5. earl says:

    Great!

  6. Ross Jarvis says:

    Excellent as usual.

  7. I played about with the concept bout around the Aminor using one finger then two same with the G.. coming off the G into the C..great stuff,..added some lyrics,..I now have a song oriigianal..useing concept,..called Am I dreaming or am I awake,..well I am glad I was awake when I first saw your lesson on youtube,..and thought I wonder,..ty for everything Griff,..my new journey is slide,..even made a bottle neck from a Bud,..lol and so another journey begins,..mixing the blues you taught with slide,..again ty.

  8. jim gulley says:

    Thanks Griff. I can really see to to get some good mileage out of this lesson.

  9. Jimmi says:

    I found the lesson to be very helpful in strumming and hammering skills

  10. Harry says:

    Works with PROUD MARY too.

    • Kevin says:

      Yes! Once I started strumming, I thought, yes that sounds like it’ll work with Proud Mary too!! Wonder if George T thought the same thing?!

  11. jose Ortiz says:

    I like the lessons, i ordered biginer blues a few months ago, I am trying not making too much advance, but I will keep trying by watching the videos. Keep up the good work.

    • Jeff says:

      Just keep at it Jose. Like Griff says, you don’t have to play a lesson perfectly before you move on to the next. Just when you start to get it move on. Keep coming back and it’ll get better. Pretty soon the stuff you thought you’d never be able to play will become so easy you don’t have to think about it.

      • john says:

        Great advice.

        After starting the 4 Note Solo book, I became seriously frustrated and it absolutely was not working for me.

        Thought about asking for a refund and decided to put it on the shelf for a few months and work with a couple of other courses.

        Now six months later, I can sight read everything but the last two solos up to speed in the 4 note solo book and am working on the memorization ……

        So, Griff’s method of memorizing and counting does work. Persistence and practice does pay off. And if you can’t do, come back it it.

  12. Ray kopp says:

    Thanks Griff, and like you say speed it up ,its easier,cause its almost like the best strum in the world w/ the scractcth on 2 &4…this is good ,raytuned88

  13. rob lee says:

    Thanks, that sounds nice, will try it!

  14. Michael Chappell says:

    Hi Griff,
    As always such a great Strumming Lesson..In fact I now have purchased several Acoustic BGU Courses to add to the others. I am even now looking to upgrade from my current Acoustic /Electric by purchasing a new Acoustic /Electric Epiphone EJ 200 CE Jumbo Acosutic /Electric.. Just love all the BGU lessons..Now 3 years with BGU and reaching soon 70 years going on 40 still got it.
    Great lesson.
    Michael-Sydney-Australia July 2016

  15. BB says:

    I feel happy with this video as I will be able to play easily and build speed for practice . Thanks Griff . We learn so simply with you .

  16. Tom says:

    Great! But….. How do you achieve
    The muted sound on beat two.
    Are you raising the fingers of your left hand? If so I don’t see it on the video .
    Thanks
    tommus@aol.com

  17. Larry says:

    Just one more example of why Griff is the absolute best teacher out there. Thanks Griff.

  18. rich tiberio says:

    hey Griff, fantastic, I’m a beginner , intermediate player, this was great, doable for me. I agree can be used in many songs. u should do more of these . most guitarists are not at your level, but picking up strums like this add up. appreciate u your efforts to help us, thanks. rich

  19. Mark d. says:

    Thanks Griff!…my advice for Jose, don’t quit no matter what! And keep listening to Griff. I played for 40 years and didn’t feel like I couldn’t progress past just the open chords and a few simple songs. Then I found Mr. Hamlin! You should hear me now!….don’t quit, listen to Griff! B-)

  20. Legoge47 says:

    Fine lesson!

  21. Mark a Wales uk says:

    Cheers Griff
    For the lesson
    You must have access to what I’m working on ie right hand at moment
    Love that Taylor
    😎🎶
    Ps those who have doubts
    Believe 👍

  22. Rich Cibelli says:

    Griff, once again thank you for sharing a nice video showing what awesome sounds can be produced by just adjusting your fingers and strum patterns. I look forward to your next lesson…

  23. Jimh says:

    Thanks griff once again a slight jab when one was needed

  24. Sonny Griffith says:

    Good lesson. I’m just starting to learn strumming patterns and this is a very good lesson for me now.

  25. JohnnyB says:

    Very nice, I use this sometimes. Very similar to Proud Mary, Stuck In the Middle with You and many others.

  26. Boston Jack says:

    Thanks Griff! Grew up going to club 47 in Camb. Could have used this then). 67 + back playing :).

  27. Russell says:

    One of the all time great lessons!
    Griff is the master of teachers, not just a bloody great guitarist!
    Well Done! I will perfect this as it is an impressive sound.
    Russ

  28. Joyce Knake says:

    A lesson that is easy to follow and gives the strumming a little flavor.

  29. Mark says:

    Fantastic lesson really makes me want to practice that pattern keep them coming please
    I’d buy the course if there are more cool percussive patterns

  30. Judy Lloyd says:

    Just love everything you send my way and thanks for todays lesson. When you think you know quite a bit something new always pops up.Griff you are the best guitar teacher so thorough. Kind regards Judy (A rock and blues playing grandma,

  31. Greg Hounchell says:

    TY for another lesson from just another blues an’ boogie man …you are well blessed instructor …Again TY

  32. Dave Rice says:

    That’s a great song with a great chorus. I’d never heard it before but I looked up on YouTube so it’s now in my repertoire. A nice easy-flowing strum pattern too and hammer-on and damping adds some nice colour.

    Here are the words:
    Driftin’
    West to California
    On highway 66, my truck broke down
    Yeah, and I found my pot of gold
    In the heart of the dustbowl
    Western angel, in a cowboy town

    And I remember
    The first day that I saw her
    Standin’ all alone in the rain
    And when I looked into her face
    There was not a trace
    Of heartache, of sorrow, or of pain

    She’s my
    Oklahoma sweetheart
    The pride of Tulsa town
    She never quits, and she never lets me down
    She’s my
    Oklahoma sweetheart
    My raw-boned Okie girl
    Enough love to fill the whole wide world

    And I remember
    The time I had to tell her
    The factory where I worked was shuttin’ down
    Yeah, but she just looked at me
    And said what will be will have to be
    She said it with a smile and not a frown

    She’s my
    Oklahoma sweetheart
    The pride of Tulsa town
    She never quits and she never lets me down
    She’s my
    Oklahoma sweetheart
    My raw-boned Okie girl
    Enough love to fill the whole wide world

    Now whatever comes along
    I’ll know we’ll handle
    No problem’s too big or too small
    Yeah, with her right by my side
    It’ll be an easy ride
    We may stumble
    But we’ll never fall

    She’s my
    Oklahoma sweetheart
    The pride of Tulsa town
    She never quits and she never lets me down
    She’s my
    Oklahoma sweetheart
    My raw-boned Okie girl
    Enough love to fill the whole wide world
    She’s my
    Oklahoma sweetheart
    The pride of Tulsa town
    She never quits and she never lets me down
    She never quits and she doesn’t let me down

  33. Bill Tomaselli says:

    Like the way you explain …… how to play rhythm guitar…nice work…

  34. Hello Griff you give very good lessons I thank you very much this is the best on the web .I wish you a good day Griff .

  35. Big Dan says:

    Big Thorogood fan,and I had never heard this song. It will be added to THE list. For a rockin’ blues album check out George on 2120 S. Michigan Ave. Great CD, and yes I still listen to CD’s

  36. Keith mills says:

    I really enjoyed that. Sounds good, thanks again.

  37. Chuck Kelly says:

    Love the strumming. Learn something new on every video.

  38. Axman says:

    I can’t get the video to play. Usually I just tap play from my phone and it goes. This particular video will not play. Love to hear it thou! Give me some love Geetar players!
    AXMAN!

  39. Ross Knox says:

    Griff, your teaching technique is absolutely brilliant – one of the best videos of the many I have looked at.

    Ross

  40. Bob S. says:

    First off: RIP Chuck & my sincere condolences to his loved ones. I could never see his smile because his walrus mustache always was in the way!

    Second, great video highlighting the wonders of percussion created by strumming. I also use my pinky to hit the D (3rd fret on the B string) during the F chord while muting the open D string with my ring finger.

    Thanks for keeping the BGU community aware of the news, sad & happy, Griff.

  41. A “sweetheart” of a lesson for sure. Thank you for another technique to add to what I do (or try to do) on my guitar.

  42. Lary Dixon says:

    Dear Brother Griff, I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your dear friend Chuck! Please accept my heart felt condolences.. Unfortunately we are in the age group where we all are facing a shorter space of time ahead of us than we are comfortable with, and we are all experiencing the untimely loss of those people who are close to us. My heart is with you, at this time! Take care, my friend, and please tell your family just how much you love them! Lary

  43. Jerry says:

    Another great video Griff, thanks

  44. Lee says:

    I didn’t know Chuck, but my condolences to you and all of his friends and family.

  45. Grant Reid says:

    I love this sound, I kind of did it naturally after I’d been playing for a while, never moving up a string though, and loved the sound! Always found it hard to keep it going at full speed though, great lesson, really broke it down well, so simple but so effective! Thanks!

  46. Grant Reid says:

    Also love the way in your videos, you talk about “and” strums, helps a lot!

  47. Ken says:

    I’m very sorry for your loss Griff.
    It’s not easy dealing with the death of someone we’re close to . I find comfort in Rev. 21:3,4 “death nor mourning nor outcry nor pain the former things have passed away “!
    Enjoyed the lesson tks Griff

  48. chris clemans says:

    The video was great Griff. I am so sorry for your loss. Yesterday I had the service for my wife who I recently loss to cancer, loosing a friend still hurts the same! Iam 71, I have all but a couple of your courses. Love that Taylor I have a CE 414 Awesome guitar!!

  49. Ralph R. Resine says:

    Griff, Oklahoma Sweetheart is an njoyable song on acoustic. You explaining all the individual added information to play this song is most beneficial for everyone to learn. A big shout out to fellow Delaware native George Thorogood for the song.

  50. Mike Kennedy says:

    When purchasing a beginner’s guitar, there are many things to consider. Price, sound quality, size, tone, sound amplification, and comfort are all factors to consider. When all of these factors are considered, learning to play could be simple. There are lots of online resources you can check out that provides basic guitar lessons. Check this out- https://nationalguitaracademy.com/

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