As well as traditional music notation and tablature, guitar music sometimes uses rhythm notation. This is similar to traditional notation, except that the notes have a diagonal line instead of a notehead. This tells you that instead of playing individual notes, you will be strumming chords.
This is a half note strum.
It lasts for two beats.
There are two half note strums in one bar of * time.
This is a quarter note strum.
It lasts for one beat.
There are four quarter note strums in one bar of * time.
This is a pair of eighth note strums.
Each strum lasts for half a beat.
There are eight eight note strums in one bar of * time. Play the larger downward strum louder.
These are sixteenth note strums.
Each strum last one quarter of a beat.
There are sixteen sixteenth note strums in one bar of * time. Play downward strums louder.