Mustang Sally strum pattern

[clare_bear]

I'm trying to learn Mustang Sally for the band, but I can't seem to get a decent sounding strum pattern. We'll be playing it with 2 guitars, a bass, drums, singist. Any suggestions on a strum pattern?

Cheers

[dudeiferous]

Its a funk rythmn if I remember correctly. Syncopation is always a tricky thing when it comes to rythmn I find. I would suggest listening to the guitar in 'Funky Town' as a starting point, trying to replicate that, and expanding on it. Its a similiar sort of vibe.

[clare_bear]

Originally Posted by dudeiferous

Its a funk rythmn if I remember correctly. Syncopation is always a tricky thing when it comes to rythmn I find. I would suggest listening to the guitar in 'Funky Town' as a starting point, trying to replicate that, and expanding on it. Its a similiar sort of vibe.

Thanks, dude, I'll do that.

[islater]

I don't remember for certain but I think it's down, up, down, up, down, up, down, up; mute all strums apart from the underlined ones.

[clare_bear]

Originally Posted by islater

I don't remember for certain but I think it's down, up, down, up, down, up, down, up; mute all strums apart from the underlined ones.

Ace, cheers

[Col.Decker]

we do that one too, you been robbing our set list?

I find it best playing it with my fingers using the top 3 strings only, doing a slide into the chords from one fret down each time. So the rhythm goes du dum ..... ding ding ..... du dum .... din ding (know what i mean?)

du dum (with my thumb on the "bass" 3rd string)
din ding (with my fingers on the top 2 strings)

its all pop & dig, dig with the thumb, pop with the fingers, chickin pikin style

Then do a full chord strum for the "you've been running all over town bits"

[clare_bear]

Originally Posted by Col.Decker

we do that one too, you been robbing our set list?

I find it best playing it with my fingers using the top 3 strings only, doing a slide into the chords from one fret down each time. So the rhythm goes du dum ..... ding ding ..... du dum .... din ding (know what i mean?)

du dum (with my thumb on the "bass" 3rd string)
din ding (with my fingers on the top 2 strings)

its all pop & dig, dig with the thumb, pop with the fingers, chickin pikin style

Then do a full chord strum for the "you've been running all over town bits"

OK, I'll attempt that! And, yes, I robbed your set list

[Vim Fuego]

bet she stole it at hatfield...

[dafuzz]

Originally Posted by Col.Decker

we do that one too, you been robbing our set list?

I find it best playing it with my fingers using the top 3 strings only, doing a slide into the chords from one fret down each time. So the rhythm goes du dum ..... ding ding ..... du dum .... din ding (know what i mean?)

du dum (with my thumb on the "bass" 3rd string)
din ding (with my fingers on the top 2 strings)

its all pop & dig, dig with the thumb, pop with the fingers, chickin pikin style

Then do a full chord strum for the "you've been running all over town bits"

That's exactly how I do it, except with a pick - one downstroke and a slide for du dum, followed by two upstrokes for ding ding

[sam_m]

I'd go for something (roughly) like this:



Don't know if that's helpful, but it's rather easier than trying to make my point with dums and dahs. I'd probably play with my thumb and fingers too, but if you prefer strumming with a pick I'd probably go down down-up down-up up in that rhythm. If you want to try it with thumb and fingers, I'd play the bass note with my thumb instead of a downstroke and pop the rest of the chords with my fingers in place of an upstroke. You might want to scrub out that tie if you're trying it with fingers as the extra bass note will make it a little choppier and funkier.