Strumming a guitar should feel as natural as tapping your foot to your favorite song. Experienced guitarists often describe strumming as instinctive, something they “just do” without thinking. But every guitarist starts somewhere, and learning to strum well takes practice and understanding. If you’re finding guitar strumming patterns challenging, you’re not alone!
Think of learning to strum like learning to ride a bike. At first, it feels awkward and difficult, requiring conscious effort for every movement. However, with consistent practice, it becomes second nature, an effortless and enjoyable skill. The key is to tap into your natural sense of rhythm.
So, how do you unlock your inner rhythm and apply it to guitar strumming patterns? Let’s break down a simple, step-by-step approach to learning new strumming patterns and making them feel intuitive.
Before we dive in, here’s a quick insight into the fundamentals of rhythm. This is a core concept we explore in detail in our Strumming Skills Bootcamp course. (Members of StringKick All Access enjoy full access to this course as part of their membership!).
Let’s begin with the most basic strumming rhythm: strumming on each beat. How can we internalize this rhythm and make it a part of our playing?
Here’s a simple, effective three-step plan to master any Guitar Pattern Strumming!
Learning a New Guitar Pattern Strumming: 3 Simple Steps
Step 1: Vocalize the Rhythm Before You Play
Guitar strumming patterns involve a combination of downstrokes and upstrokes. While mastering the mechanics of when to strum down and when to strum up is important, many beginners get too focused on these technicalities and lose connection with their natural sense of rhythm.
To truly grasp a rhythm, you need to hear it in your mind first. Before you even pick up your guitar, and before you worry about downstrums or upstrums, focus on internalizing the rhythm. You should be able to imagine the strumming rhythm in your head – to hear it clearly in your mind’s ear.
A powerful way to check if you truly “know” the rhythm is to vocalize it. Sing it, hum it, beatbox it, tap it out, or say it aloud. In essence: say it before you play it. If you can’t vocalize the rhythm, creating a solid guitar pattern strumming groove will be incredibly challenging.
For a practical demonstration of this technique with our simple rhythm, take a look at this video, excerpted from our comprehensive Strumming Skills Bootcamp.
Step 2: Practice the Strumming Pattern on a Single Chord
Once the strumming rhythm is ingrained in your mind, it’s time to translate it to your guitar. When learning any new skill, it’s best to focus on one element at a time. Therefore, avoid trying to learn a new strum pattern while simultaneously grappling with chord changes.
Instead, dedicate your practice to playing the strum rhythm on just one chord. This focused approach allows you to concentrate all your attention on perfecting the strumming technique itself. Below is a short “one-chord song” from the Strumming Skills Bootcamp, played entirely on a G chord. Grab your guitar, form a G chord, and play along to internalize the strumming pattern.
Step 3: Apply the Strumming Pattern to a Real Song
After you feel comfortable executing the strumming rhythm on a single chord, the next step is to integrate it into a real song. The challenge here is maintaining the strumming pattern while smoothly transitioning between different chords.
The song “Summer Wine” by Lee Hazlewood utilizes our simple “strum on each beat” pattern and involves chord changes. Try playing along! As the video plays, the correct chords will illuminate, guiding you through the progression.
(Note: The chords have been slightly simplified for beginner accessibility. For a more advanced version including the Dmaj7 chord, toggle the switch in the top right corner of the chord progression!)
7th Chords
No 7th Chords
D
Em
D
Em
D
Em
D
Em
E
Am
E
D
Em
Dmaj7
Em
Dmaj7
Em
Dmaj7
Em
Dmaj7
Em
E
Am
E
D
Em
We hope you found this example helpful! To explore a wider range of guitar pattern strumming and techniques, we invite you to check out our comprehensive Strumming Skills Bootcamp course!
This course is fully accessible to StringKick All Access Members. If you’re not yet a member, you can still sample the first few lessons of the course for free. Take a look and start improving your strumming today!
Get Your Free Strumming Lessons >
Want to learn more about what the course offers? Discover more details here.
