Strumming Patterns

Keep your strumming hand moving and play a strumming pattern in time.

8 min

First time here, go for it!

FocusCurrent focus

Define what you want to work on now.

How to play it

Why this exercise

Rhythm is the first thing people hear. A strumming hand that never stops moving, down and up, makes any song sound good even with simple chords.

Pick a chord you already know, for example E minor, so you only think about rhythm.
Move your hand down on every click and up between clicks, all the time, even when you do not hit the strings.
Start with all downstrokes (↓ ↓ ↓ ↓), then down-up (↓↑ ↓↑ ↓↑ ↓↑).
Then try the classic pattern: ↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑ (down, down-up, up-down-up).
Once the pattern runs on its own, use it with two chords, then in a song.

Today's tip

Your hand never stops: down on the click, up between clicks.