Song Bike - jkehew1, Mar 31, 2013
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Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part IV of a four part pancocojams series on the American children's camp song "Boom Chicka Boom" (also known as "I Said A Boom Chicka Boom".
A YouTube video about the instrumental music pattern known as "boom chick" or "boom chicka" is showcased in this pancocojams post along with information about this guitar strumming pattern.
This post actually isn't about that camp song, but the term that is used to refer to this guitar strumming pattern is very similar to the "Boom Chicka Boom" title of that children's camp song.
A YouTube video about this guitar music pattern is showcased in this pancocojams post along with information about this guitar strumming pattern.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/08/three-songs-with-title-boom-chicka-boom.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That post presents information about three songs other than the repeat-after-me children's camp song "Boom Chicka Boom" that have that title or a similar title.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/08/the-origin-of-boom-chicka-boom.html or Part II of this pancocojams post. That post showcases three YouTube videos of the "Boom Chicka Boom" repeat-after-me children's camp song. This post also presents information about the origin of that camp song.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2025/08/some-examples-of-childrens-recreational.html for Part III of this pancocojams series. That post presents a compilation of children's recreational rhymes or cheers that include the phrase "boom chicka boom" or a very similar phrase.
The content of this post is presented for entertainment purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
ONLINE QUOTES ABOUT THE BOOM CHICK BOOM (BOOM CHICKA) STRUMMING PATTERN
These quotes are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.
1. AI Overview [retrieved August 1, 2025
"The "boom-chick-a" or "boom-chick" pattern in music is a strumming technique that creates a distinctive rhythm, often associated with country or folk music. It involves alternating between a low bass note (the "boom") and a strumming pattern (the "chick-a" or "chick").
[…]
Here's a breakdown of the pattern:
Boom:
This is a single, low note played on the bass strings of the
guitar (usually the 6th or 5th string).
Chicka/Chick:
This is a strumming pattern that typically follows the bass
note. It can be a downstroke and/or an upstroke on the higher strings.
How it sounds:
The "boom-chick-a" pattern creates a rhythmic
drive, emphasizing the downbeats with the bass note ("boom") and
adding a lighter, rhythmic feel with the strumming ("chicka").
Example:
A common way to count the rhythm is: 1 (boom), 2 and
(chicka), 3 (boom), 4 and (chicka). The numbers in bold represent the bass
notes, and "and" represents the strumming.”…
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2. AI Overview [retrieved July 31, 2025]
The term "Boom Chicka Boom" is often associated
with Johnny Cash's distinctive guitar strumming pattern, which is characterized
by a bass note followed by a down-up strum. This pattern is commonly used in
many of his songs and is a defining element of his musical style.”…
[…]
Here are some examples of songs where the "Boom Chicka
Boom" pattern is prominent:
"I Walk the Line":
This classic Johnny Cash song features a strong "Boom
Chicka Boom" strumming pattern throughout, driving the song's rhythm and
energy.
"Ring of Fire":
While not exclusively defined by the pattern, "Ring of
Fire" incorporates the "Boom Chicka Boom" strum, particularly in
the verses, to create a powerful and driving feel.
"Folsom Prison Blues":
This iconic song also utilizes the "Boom Chicka Boom" pattern,
contributing to its raw and gritty sound.
Many other Johnny Cash songs:
The "Boom Chicka Boom" strumming pattern is a
fundamental part of Johnny Cash's musical style and can be found in numerous
other songs from his vast catalog."
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3. AI Overview [August 1, 2025]
"Johnny Cash's signature "boom-chicka-boom" sound,
particularly evident in songs like "I Walk the Line" and "Folsom
Prison Blues," originated from the interplay between his backing band, The
Tennessee Two, specifically Luther Perkins' guitar style and Marshall Grant's
basslines. Perkins, using a Telecaster with a muted technique, created a
rhythmic pattern that, combined with Grant's steady bass, produced the
distinctive train-like chugging. This minimalist approach, emphasizing rhythm
and Cash's powerful vocals, became a hallmark of his early recordings.
[...]
Here's a more detailed breakdown:
The Tennessee Two:
Cash's backing band, initially composed of Luther Perkins on
guitar and Marshall Grant on bass, played a crucial role in developing the
signature sound.
Perkins' Guitar Technique:
Perkins' use of a Telecaster with a muted technique, often
achieved by resting his hand on the bridge to dampen the strings, produced the
"boom-chicka-boom" sound. He would also play freight train rhythms
while palm muting.
Grant's Bassline:
Grant's basslines emphasized the first and third beats of
each measure, reinforcing the "boom" part of the rhythm.
Minimal Instrumentation:
The focus on simple instrumentation, with Perkins' guitar
and Grant's bass, allowed Cash's deep, resonant voice and storytelling to take
center stage.
Influence of Trains:
The rhythmic pattern was inspired by the sound of a train
moving down the line, further emphasizing the chugging effect.
Early Sun Records Recordings:
This sound is prominently featured in Cash's early
recordings at Sun Records, including "I Walk the Line" and
"Folsom Prison Blues".
****
4. From https://www.reddit.com/r/country/comments/1ij9liy/where_did_johnny_cashs_signature_sound_come_from/
r/CountryMusicStuff
GoHardForLife, 2025
"Where did Johnny Cash's "signature sound" come
from?
I'm talking about his signature "boom-chicka-boom"
beat in his country songs that he released for Sun Records in the 50's. Ex.
"Cry, Cry Cry", "Folsom Prison Blues", "Walk the
Line", "Rock Island Line".
I haven't heard anyone that sounds like Johnny Cash before or since, so I can't really pinpoint it.
**
Reply
AutisticAndBeyond, 2025
"It comes from his guitarist from the Tenessee Three: Luther
Perkins. He would play these freight train rhythms while palm muting. He muted
his strings so the low end frequencies from instrument wouldn't get in the way
of the bassist."
**
Reply
camdunce, 2025
"While this is correct, Luther's style was not
original. He would've been drawing a lot of influence from earlier western
swing music like Bob Wills"
**
Silent-Middle-8512, 2025
"Johnny’s original guitarist was Luther Perkins who played a
telecaster. Teles at the time had a cover over the bridge and players would
rest their hand on the cover. Luther’s guitar had no cover and he was too poor
to replace it so when he rested his hand on the bridge it muted the strings. It
was originally Johnny Cash and the Tennessee Two, no drummer. Johnny liked the
sound of the snare drum so he would put a piece of paper through the strings to
make the chuka sound. They just did the best they could with what they had and
sounded pretty fine."
**
canadian_bacon_TO, 2025
“Depends on what specifically you’re talking about. On guitar, it’s a “down,
down, up, down, up,” pattern with alternating bass notes and an accent on 2 and
4.
On the drums it’s a 4/4 time signature with the bass playing quarter notes either on each beat or on 1 and 3. The snare plays 8th notes with accents on 2 and 4. It gives that “boom-chicka-boom-chick-boom-chicka-boom-chick” sound you’re describing.
While this is happening, the bass player is playing quarter notes emphasizing 1 and 3 to reinforce the “boom” part of the beat.
This is a very common country beat and was around well
before Johnny Cash and is still widely used. What made it different with Cash
is that he didn’t have a drummer for a lot of those recordings so the
percussion parts were mimicked on the guitar and bass."
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This concludes Part IV of this pancocojams series.
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