The following section will show you how to start strumming a guitar, with strumming patterns for you to practice and learn.
Basic strumming is fundamental to playing a guitar and I have found that most people need to be taught how to do it.
The following strumming patterns will show you the fundamentals of strumming and set you on the right path.
Your right arm is like the drummer in a band - it keeps time. You need to be able to move it up and down in strict time with a metronome.
Practice with a metronome, drum machine, free backing track or favourite CD, until you are confident that you can move your arm up and down perfectly in time with the music without touching the strings of your instrument, or playing a rhythm on your strings whilst having your left hand gently laid across them - so your treating your guitar as a percussive instrument.
Here is a click-track in case you don't have one. It's just a temporary measure, to get you started. It'll open in a new window or tab and take a while to download, so just minimise the window and read on. I say it's a temporary measure as you really need something that allows you to adjust the tempo (speed) - but this is better than nothing!
Now practice this first strumming pattern with any chord of your choosing:
Strumming patterns are like a loop - when you reach the end, continue from the beginning.
Pattern one is a basic pattern that is one bar in length. Count it in your head as 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &, with each 'up' being an '&'.
The arrows represent your right arm going up and down. Where the arrow is long, strum the guitar strings. Where the arrow is short, miss the strings - but still move your arm. If you keep your arm moving in time you will master the art of strumming guitar.
This is fundamental to being able to play in time - whilst learning to strum you should always keep your arm moving in time.
If you find your arm pausing at any time - you're doing it wrong (well...it's a rule of thumb).
Always practice your strumming with a metronome.
Once you are completely comfortable with this most basic rhythm, go through each of the following strumming patterns. I encourage you to master each prior to moving on to the next.
Pattern one is a basic pattern that is one bar in length. Count it in your head as 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &, with each 'up' being an '&'.
The arrows represent your right arm going up and down. Where the arrow is long, strum the guitar strings. Where the arrow is short, miss the strings - but still move your arm. If you keep your arm moving in time you will master the art of strumming guitar.
This is fundamental to being able to play in time - whilst learning to strum you should always keep your arm moving in time.
If you find your arm pausing at any time - you're doing it wrong (well...it's a rule of thumb).
Always practice your strumming with a metronome.
Once you are completely comfortable with this most basic rhythm, go through each of the following strumming patterns. I encourage you to master each prior to moving on to the next.
Strumming Pattern 2 Count = 1, 2, 3, 4 & | Strumming Pattern 3 Count = 1 & 2 & 3, 4 |
Strumming Pattern 4  Count = 1 & 2 &, & 4 | Strumming Pattern 5  Count = 1, 2 &, & 4 & |
This next one probably sounds best with a barre chord, and gives you the opportunity to develop left hand dampening - release pressure with your left hand (but don't stop touching the strings) whenever you're not stricking the strings (i.e. during the little arrows).
Strumming Pattern 6
Count = 1, 2 &, & 4, & 2, 3
Count = 1, 2 &, & 4, & 2, 3
Pattern six also demonstrates the importance of keeping your right-hand moving even when you're not strumming the strings. If you let your arm stop at the end of this pattern, even though there are three short arrows, you're likely to lose the timing.
By now you'll be getting the idea - so try making some patterns of your own.
These examples are using eighth beats = eight arrows to the bar. Try 16th beats, which will involve your arm moving twice as many times per bar.
Learn all the basics, from tuning by ear, essential chords + all you need to go from absolute beginner to competent strummer with my How To Strum Guitar Ebook. Contains links to 30+ MP3 files, including examples for all the included strumming patterns!
By now you'll be getting the idea - so try making some patterns of your own.
These examples are using eighth beats = eight arrows to the bar. Try 16th beats, which will involve your arm moving twice as many times per bar.
How To Strum Guitar - Ebook
Learn all the basics, from tuning by ear, essential chords + all you need to go from absolute beginner to competent strummer with my How To Strum Guitar Ebook. Contains links to 30+ MP3 files, including examples for all the included strumming patterns!
| Holding Your Instrument Right Hand/Arm Techniques Tuning By Ear Chords | Timing Strumming Patterns MP3 Examples Sixteenths & Triplet Feel |