SAC 2 (AOS 1 – Performance)

For this performance technique study, I am choosing to focus on strumming patterns. Some
strumming patterns are quite simple and easy to overcome. In this case, I am choosing to
analyse strumming with unusual patterns that can either seem quite off beat, involving
strumming then arpeggiating, or even where the strumming just seems come in, whenever the
composer just simply strikes a chord. This technique will be mainly focus on electric guitar.

This is an example of what a strumming pattern looks like. This example shows a single strike
down, and from the 2 beat, an alternating strumming of down and up.

Some strumming patterns can put a lot of tension on the wrist, you aren’t technically supposed
to be moving the wrist around. Strumming involves relaxing the arm, allowing the wrist to be at
ease and loose (Justin Guitar, 2020). This is especially important when the pattern involves
repeatedly strumming down (or up) without alternation.

I am going to take this idea of the strumming technique and put it towards a song to work on.
The song I have chosen to focus on is ‘Psycho Killer’ by the ‘Talking Heads’. Listening to intro of
the song, after the bass comes in, the strumming pattern of an A major chord (although the key
during the chorus is A Minor). Listening to the live version of Psycho Killer, the strumming is
roughly the same as the studio recording but looking at David Byrne’s alternation of the
strumming, he is putting a lot of effort into his wrist. Which Justin Guitar does not suggest at all.

 26sec mark, clear view of Byrne’s

strumming technique.
 SAC 2 (AOS 1 – Performance)

Plan of how to practice this strumming technique:

1. Begin practice simply strumming patterns using Justin Guitar’s relaxed arm position
2. Once comfortable, start playing around with the Psycho Killer chords whilst still relaxing
arm and wrist
3. Begin to work the motion that Byrne uses when the play’s chords
4. Find a loop using technology (such as Electric Keyboard – RD 800) to loop over and
practice guitar track of just me

(Strumming Mechanics, Justin Guitar, 2020)

https://www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/strumming-mechanics-b1-204

(Psycho Killer, Live, 2002)

https://youtu.be/dRNh_qdNB5c

(Psycho Killer Cover, Andrew 2023)

https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSL9QDWcJ/