34
Playing Strum
Another technique to obtain partial strums consists in releasing strumming keys before the
strum is completed. In this way, the strings still not strummed, are not played. In other words,
partial strumming is achieved by playing staccato on the strumming keys while full strums are
obtained by playing them normally. This technique is easier to perform when the strumming speed
is relatively slow.
Music engraving by LilyPond 2.10.33—www.lilypond.org
Figure 20: Reducing the strumming range by playing staccato.
4.4.5
Bass & Chords
In certain musical styles, such as country and bluegrass music, one often finds rhythm-guitar pat-
terns obtained by switching between the root or fifth played on the bass string and a strum on the
remaining strings. To obtain this effect, it is therefore important that the lowest string is note in-
cluded in the stroked part of the pattern. In order to reproduce this effect with
Strum
, one must
first use the bass or alternate bass key (E5 or F5) and hold it while playing one of the stroke trig-
gers. Indeed, when
Strum
detects that a stroke key is played while the bass or alternate bass key is
depressed, it removes this string from the strum.
Music engraving by LilyPond 2.10.33—www.lilypond.org
Figure 21: Bass and Chord.
4.4.6
Stationary Bend
In this technique, the guitarists plays two notes simultaneously and bends one of the two notes. It
is possible to obtain the effect with
Strum
by taking advantage of the fact that only the last note
played is bended.
