3/4 Strumming Pattern: How to Master Waltz Time on Guitar
Most guitarists start in 4/4 time and never leave. That’s a shame, because the 3/4 strumming pattern opens up a completely different feel—one that works for ballads, waltzes, and some of the most recognizable songs ever written. In this lesson, Lauren Bateman breaks down 3/4 from the ground up.
3/4 vs 4/4: The Feel Difference
3/4 time has three quarter-note beats per measure, creating that distinctive “ONE-two-three, ONE-two-three” pulse. While 4/4 feels like a march, 3/4 feels like a waltz or sway.
Basic 3/4 Strumming Pattern
Beat: 1 2 3 & Strum: D D D U
Three downstrokes on the beats, with an up-strum on the “and” after beat 3 leading into the next measure.
Songs Using 3/4 Time
“House of the Rising Sun,” “Norwegian Wood,” “The Times They Are A-Changin'”—all use 3/4 strumming patterns to create that floating, circular feel.
Video credit: Lauren Bateman Guitar