16th Note Strumming Patterns

Advanced Strumming Patterns

Introduction to Advanced Strumming Patterns

In this course on advanced strumming patterns, we will introduce our next note value, the 16th note. 16th notes can be used to create faster, and more rhythmically complex strumming patterns, especially at slower tempos. 16th notes are strummed just like 8th notes, however for every two 8th notes there are four 16th notes, so our strumming will have to be quicker as a result.

When a strumming pattern contains 16tth notes, the 8th notes become the new downbeats and are strummed with downstrokes. In the example below, Notice how each eighth note is now strummed using a downstroke. his is only the case when 16th notes are present in the strumming pattern 

With 16th notes, we now have four strums in the space of a single quarter note. We count these groups of 16th notes as “One -E And-A, Two-E-And-A…” and so on for each beat.

Remember, any strummed note that falls on a downbeat will be played as a downstroke, and anything falling in-between downbeats will be played as an upstroke. We are simply changing the upstrokes from the quarter notes as seen before to the 8th notes. 

accented downbeats in 16th note patterns

When strumming 16th note patterns, it is important to accent the first note of each beat in the strumming pattern. This gives the quarter note extra emphasis within the pattern and creates an imbalance between the accented 1st note and the unaccented remaining notes in the beat.

This is easily achieved by strumming the downbeat of each 16th note group with extra emphasis, as well as counting the numbered beat louder than the others.

For example, this pattern below would be counted “ONE-e-and-a, TWO-e-and-a, THREE-e-and-a, FOUR-e-and-a” to denote the accent within the pattern.

basic 16th Note Strumming patterns

In the pattern below, the 8th note downbeats are still strummed using downstrokes while the 16th note upbeats are strummed using upstrokes.

In the pattern below, we will play the 1st and 3rd beats of 16th notes with downstrokes, and upstrokes and beats 2 and 4 with eighth notes with downstrokes only.

16th Note strumming pattern exercises

Here are some 16th note strumming patterns. Pick any chord that you want to play (don't forget barre chords!) while working on these patterns so you can hear what they sound like. Repeat each pattern several times until you feel comfortable enough to play it through at least 4 consecutive times.   

16th Rests and Single 16th notes

Just like with other types of notes, 16th notes also have rests, that look very similar to 8th rests with an additional flag on the stem. Practice these examples to get used to 16th notes and 16th rests. It is important to make sure that you are using the correct picking directions, so write in the strumming patterns before you play each pattern. Start at a slow tempo before moving up to faster tempos as 16th notes will be much faster than 8th notes at slower tempos.  

16th note patterns with Ties  

Just like with other types of notes,

16th Note Strumming Patterns With Dotted Eighth Notes

Just like with other types of notes, 16th notes also have rests, that look very similar to 8th rests with an additional flag on the stem. Practice these examples to get used to 16th notes and 16th rests. It is important to make sure that you are using the correct picking directions, so write in the strumming patterns before you play each pattern. Start at a slow tempo before moving up to faster tempos as 16th notes will be much faster than 8th notes at slower tempos.  

Strumming Patterns WIth Dotted Eighth Notes

16th note strumming patterns and chord progressions

The following exercises combine our 16th note strumming patterns with common chord professions. Practice each pattern first, then add the chords in with the left hand once the strumming pattern is mastered.