Blues in G — syncopated rhythm
The G7, C7, D7 progression with a syncopated strumming pattern (off-beat accents), more demanding than the basic steady pattern.
Tips
Count out loud and clap the off-beats before picking the guitar back up, to really feel the displacement.
Understanding this type of exercise
Shifting the accent off the beat
The same blues grid, but the accent lands on the "ands" rather than on the beats. Noticeably harder than the basic even pattern.
Practical tips and common mistakes
- Count "1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and" out loud and pin down exactly where the accent falls.
- The arm keeps its even swing; only the wrist's emphasis changes, not the speed of the motion.
- Isolate one syncopated bar on a loop before putting it back in the full grid.
Chord progression — G
Bar 1
G7
I
Bar 2
G7
I
Bar 3
G7
I
Bar 4
G7
I
Bar 5
C7
IV
Bar 6
C7
IV
Bar 7
G7
I
Bar 8
G7
I
Bar 9
D7
V
Bar 10
C7
IV
Bar 11
G7
I
Bar 12
D7
V
Chords
The same exercise in other keys
Related sheets
- Blues in E — alternating bass fingerstyle (Level 5)
- String-skip zigzag riff — D# minor (Level 5)
- Wide exploration riff — D# minor (Level 5)