Unlock Guitar Magic: 5 Must-Learn Strum Patterns Every Beginner Needs NOW

Unlock Guitar Magic: 5 Must-Learn Strum Patterns Every Beginner Needs NOW

Hey guys, Brad Litton from SimpleGuitar.com. This blog post transcribes my YouTube lesson on the five most essential strum patterns — not a giant list, just the ones that give you the most bang for your buck and actually build your internal sense of rhythm.

Strumming is the heartbeat of most guitar playing. A lot of people hunt for "the strum pattern for the song" and play the same pattern the whole time. That's not the point. A strum pattern takes a chord and gives it life. Think Wonderwall, Jumper by Third Eye Blind, I'm Yours by Jason Mraz — the rhythm is what makes those memorable.

Pattern 1: Whole Notes (Most People Skip This)

This is the most important skill in strumming. You can know a fancy pattern and still not be able to change chords in time. Music is noise in time.

Strum the chord on beat 1 and count to four. That's it. It actually gets used in real songs.

I'm on a G / G5: third finger third fret sixth string, first finger second fret fifth string, third and fourth strings open, ring finger third fret second string, pinky third fret first string. Too much? Simple G: third fret first string and the next three strings open.

Your body has to be moving before one so the strings speak on one.

If hitting a chord on beat 1 is hard, do not go on to other patterns until that's comfortable. Count to four at home. Metronome, tap your foot, whatever. Steady.

Then change: G to C, one bar each. Or G, E minor, C, D, one bar each.

Pattern 2: Quarter Notes

Play on 1, 2, 3, 4, all downstrokes. (I usually have students do half notes too — that's on my basic strum-patterns sheet — but you need to be able to leave beat 4 and hit the new chord on beat 1.)

All six strings on a full G (four strings on the simple G).

Then the progression G, C, E minor, D, one measure each. Goal: next chord right on beat 1. If your fretting hand misses one, keep the strumming hand going on the downbeats. That trains your brain to catch up.

Pattern 3: Eighth Notes (Down-Up, and All Downs)

Down on 1 2 3 4. And (the offbeat) is an upstroke.

Upstrokes do not hit every string. That makes you sound like a toddler. Hit two or three strings on the way up. Pick comes a little away from the guitar — not a huge motion.

Down up down up down up down up. Two notes per beat.

This is probably the most common pattern in the world. Play the downs and ups even, or add accents — hit harder on 2 and 4.

Other version you also need: the same eighth notes as all downstrokes. 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and, all downs.

Most other 4/4 patterns are derived from this motion. Get the down-up (and the all-down) feel in your hand.

Pattern 4: Down, Down Up, Up, Down Up

Based on eighth notes. Down on 1, down on 2 with up on the and, then a tie from the and of 2 over beat 3 — play the first of those and let it ring. Your hand still moves down on 3. Don't hit the strings. Then up on the and of 3, then down up on 4 and.

Count: 1 2 and and 4 and. That's down, down up, up, down up.

The ghost down on 3 throws people for a long time. If Pattern 3 is solid, this gets easier.

Practice on G, then a progression: G, D, E minor, C. This is probably the most common pattern kids play. Get it down.

Pattern 5: 3/4 (and It Helps 6/8 and 12/8)

Not every song is 4/4. Three beats per measure (or 6/8, 12/8).

1 2 and 3 and — down, down up, down up. Typically accent beat 1. Keep 2-and and 3-and a little smaller so the accent on one is easy.

Progression from the lesson: G, E minor, D, C, two measures each (pattern twice per chord). End on G.

How to Practice

Use G and C. Or G, C, D. Or G, Em, C, D. Or progressions from songs you like. Reps, consistently, each day. More repetitions = shorter window to comfortable — that's not about playing fast, that's about how long it takes you to own it.

Stay consistent and your strumming confidence goes up like a rocket. If you want a simple place to start, grab my free Top 10 Things to Learn on Guitar First at http://simpleguitar.com/top10.

And hang out with other adult guitar players in the Simple Guitar Facebook group: http://facebook.com/groups/simpleguitar.

About the Author
Brad from Simple Guitar helps adult learners play the songs they love without the frustration. Visit simpleguitar.com for more free resources and lessons.