strum

/strʌm/

Thân thiện

A musician strums a guitar on a small stage.

Definition

1. Verb:

   • To play a stringed musical instrument, such as a guitar or ukulele, by brushing the fingers or a pick across the strings in a continuous, often rhythmic, manner. This action typically produces a series of chords or a non-melodic accompaniment.

2. Noun:

   • The sound produced by the act of strumming a stringed instrument. It is often a rhythmic, sweeping, or brushing sound.

Usage and Examples

• Verb:

  • He likes to strum his guitar while singing folk songs.
  • She sat on the porch and began to strum a gentle tune on her ukulele.
  • Can you strum the chords for this song more softly?

• Noun:

  • The soft strum of the acoustic guitar created a relaxing atmosphere.
  • From the next room, I could hear the familiar strum of his practice session.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• "Strum away": To play a stringed instrument idly or continuously.
  • He would just strum away for hours, lost in his own thoughts.
• "Strum along (to something)": To play a stringed instrument in accompaniment to something else, like a recording or another musician.
  • Put the song on, and I'll try to strum along.
• The verb "strum" often implies a less formal, more casual, or rhythmic style of playing compared to precise fingerpicking or classical technique.

Variants and Related Words

• Strumming (n/gerund): The action or technique of strumming.
  • Her strumming pattern is very distinctive.
• Strummer (n): A person who strums, often used informally.
  • He's not a virtuoso, but he's a decent strummer for campfire songs.

Synonyms

• Verb: Pluck, brush, sweep (across the strings).
• Noun: Strumming, strumming sound.

Related Phrasal Verbs / Constructions

• Strum on (something): To play a particular instrument by strumming.
  • He was strumming on an old banjo he found in the attic.

Idioms and Common Phrases

• While there are no major idioms with "strum," it is commonly used in musical contexts. A phrase like "strum and sing" is a natural collocation describing a common activity.
  • We gathered around the fire to strum and sing our favorite songs.

Học thuật

Noun

1. sound of strumming
   • the strum of a guitar

Verb

1. sound the strings of (a string instrument)
   • strum a guitar

Từ đồng nghĩa

• thrum