downstrokes
Downward writing motions
Downstrokes are strokes made in a downward direction, whether in handwriting, painting, or playing a stringed instrument.
In calligraphy and penmanship, downstrokes are typically heavier than upstrokes, creating the characteristic thick-thin variation of traditional scripts.
A guitarist's downstroke moves the pick toward the floor: alternate between downstrokes and upstrokes for speed.
Pen's writing tip
- inkWriting fluid
- pressureForce upon contact
- baselineStandard for comparison
- descenderLetter part below baseline
ascender · flourish · swash · slant · lettering · script · cursive · gothic
Rhythmic pulse or strike
- stickThin piece of wood
- snareDevice for catching prey
- hi-hatPedal-controlled cymbal pair
- cymbalStruck metal percussion disc
tempo · pulse · groove · backbeat · rhythm · timing · rudiment · accent
Fretted stringed instrument
- strumBrush strings rhythmically
- pickPointed breaking tool
- plectrumString-plucking implement
- rhythmPatterned stress and silence
chord · acoustic · electric · ukulele · banjo · attack · muting · fingerstyle
Manual letter formation
- pressureForce upon contact
- loopCurve closing on itself
- cursiveJoined handwriting style
- legibilityClearness of text
formation · practice · grip · consistency · spacing · alignment · letterform · tracing
nib
Pen's writing tip
descender · ascender · flourish · swash · slant · lettering · script · cursive · gothic · italic
beat
Rhythmic pulse or strike
cymbal · tempo · pulse · groove · backbeat · rhythm · timing · rudiment · accent · power
guitar
Fretted stringed instrument
rhythm · chord · acoustic · electric · ukulele · banjo · attack · muting · fingerstyle · bass
handwriting
Manual letter formation
legibility · formation · practice · grip · consistency · spacing · alignment · letterform · tracing · copybook
crawl
Move slowly, low
- freestyleWithout prescribed technique
- pullForce toward oneself
- propulsionForce driving movement forward
catch · arm · paddle · water · technique · recovery · butterfly · efficiency · drag · rotation
- handwritingcursive, block letters, penmanship, print letters, legible