The rhythmic backbone of "Pushing It Down and Praying" hinges on a 4/4 syncopated pulse that hovers between 76 and 78 BPM. Instead of sweeping a plectrum across the strings, use bare fingers to produce a soft, flesh-on-nickel tone.
Position your right hand with your thumb assigned to the root notes (low E, A, or D strings) while your index and middle fingers control the G and B strings. The verse uses a repetitive four-beat cycle:
- Beat 1: Strike the bass note with your thumb and simultaneously pluck the B string.
- Beat 1&: Let the note ring; do not rush the decay.
- Beat 2: Execute a quiet, percussive backbeat by resting your palm lightly back onto the strings.
- Beat 2&: Pluck the G and B strings together using index and middle fingers.
- Beats 3 and 4: Repeat the alternation, shifting the bass note down on beat 4& to lead into the next chord change.
Once the song explodes into its climactic final chorus, discard the delicate fingerpicking. Switch to an aggressive, dynamic strumming pattern: Down, Down-Up, Skip, Up-Down-Up. Keep your wrist loose and concentrate pick pressure on the middle strings to prevent the treble strings from shrillness.
