Folsom Prison Blues Strumming Lesson
Learning to strum is one of the first hurdles beginners will need to overcome.
It can be frustrating for many guitarists, so it is always beneficial to keep the lessons interesting, by learning patterns within specific guitar songs.
This particular Folsom Prison Blues strumming pattern is relatively easy to play, employs a couple of interesting techniques and, most of all is lively and fun!
Folsom Prison Blues is an archetypal Johnny Cash rhythm and is there to hear on many of his classic recordings.
It is a simple down, down up pattern played at a relatively high tempo, although not all the strings are always played and, to emphasise the rhythm, you can employ a softening technique with your left hand so the notes do not sound.
This creates a percussive-type sound which gives the pattern a level of distinctiveness.
Not playing all the notes of a chord is a common technique employed by rhythm guitarists and it is worth trying this out for other patterns.
The Strumming Lesson
Folsom Prison Blues: That Ending Bit
OK I thought I’d show you the piece at the end which nicely rounds off the session. Have fun!
