What is the difference between upstrokes and downstrokes while strumming a guitar?

Question

One of the most basic guitar skills are strumming up and down freely. And I have noticed in songs that there usually appears to be a difference in sounds between the two strokes. But when I'm practicing I don't feel that difference between my strokes. My upstrokes and downstrokes sound more or less the same. Which brings me to my question.

What exactly is the difference between the two strokes, in general, apart from the fact that the pick goes in different directions? Do we alter pressure while doing upstrokes? Or do we trace a curved path touching only few of the strings each time for upstrokes and refrain from playing all the 6 strings? Or do we apply more pressure on the bottommost strings and less on the top ones?

Answer 1

Upstrokes and downstrokes do sound totally different.

Upstrokes are "lighter", and you hear the high notes first, and they are hit the hardest, which tend to dominate the sound.

Downstrokes are more "closed", also hear them referred to as "meaner", and the lower notes tend to dominate the sound as they are hit the hardest.

For example, the first bar of Wonderwall, is played with 3 downstrokes. If you play it with 3 upstrokes, it gives the song a strange sounding "lighter" feel, which is incorrect.

Answer 2

Technically there is nothing different, just a slight difference in sound. If you play an upstroke, you are likely to be placing more emphasis on the higher strings, which can be useful in some situations. Playing a downstroke will place more emphasis on the bassier notes, and give good background rhythm while accompanying another player, or recording a song. Using the two techniques together can create good rhythm to another player, or while playing solo.

This video here provides good information about how to use both techniques to create good strumming patterns.

Hope this helps

Answer 3

In an interview in Bass Player Magazine, Jason Newsted talked about how, when he first joined Metallica, James Hetfield insisted he play as much as possible with all downstrokes (until then, he'd played using alternate picking). According to Newsted, Hetfield strongly believed that downstrokes made the rhythm parts sound more powerful, for both bass and guitar, since you could put the whole weight of your arm into it.

For example, the rhythm part on "Master of Puppets" is all downstrokes, which makes it fiendishly more difficult to play than if you use alternate picking. But it sounds heavy and powerful.

Answer 4

When strumming quickly, upstrokes and downstrokes are generally not going to sound different on their own, although struming with only one or the other can sound forced and a little robotic. Reasons to use one one or the other:

Convenience: If you're strumming a chord immediately after, say, playing on the higher strings, you'll probably play an upstroke, or moving the pickup switch, since you don't have to move your hand as much. This sort of thing comes into play a lot more when picking individual notes.

Arpeggios, or strumming across the strings very slowly: The downstroke, or from lower to higher notes, is probably more common when playing a single chord. Playing an upstroke in this manner can sound a little odd and out of place, and this is often used for effect.

Answer 5

My first guitar teacher always tried to convince me volume was the difference, because we somehow had the help of gravity on the way down. I changed guitar teachers shortly thereafter.

In my opinion, the differences are almost always purely tonal quality due to the higher strings being set in motion first. I have very little knowledge of acoustics, but I suspect the sympathetic vibrations of the other strings before you hit them also have something to do with the resulting tone. As a result the upstrokes will have a somewhat lighter feel than the downstrokes. HOWEVER: I believe that it depends on what style you're playing in, how fast you're strumming, how many upstrokes there are where there "should" be downstrokes, etc. I think that a good guitar player, can, in many styles, use his/her choice of strum and still make it sound as desired. Depends on a million different musical aspects of course; hard rock would be more difficult to work it. Light strumming on an acoustic guitar in a quick folk-style song would be easier.

This is my experience as a musician and music educator, not as a professional guitarist, so your mileage may vary. I'd say a general rule would be to use whatever combination results in the sound required without being too difficult or detracting from other elements. If playing all downstrokes even slightly changes the regularity of the pattern, then (in my opinion) you should alternate and focus on getting an even-ness of sound.

Answer 6

Everything they said plus the fact that you probably won't be up to tempo since most people don't make it a habit of playing with upstrokes.