Master Guitar Strumming Patterns
The secret to solid timing and rhythm with 11 progressive patterns every guitarist needs
Interactive Audio Guide: Each pattern below includes playable audio examples. Click the play button to hear how each pattern sounds.
Use the metronome to hear the pulse of each beat - especially helpful for patterns that don't start on beat one.
The Secret to Strumming
Strumming patterns are the heartbeat of guitar playing and one of the most crucial skills for beginners to master. But here's the secret that many guitarists miss: great strumming is about consistent hand movement.
The Golden Rule of Strumming
Your strumming hand should move up and down in a steady, continuous motion, like a metronome. This constant movement is what keeps you perfectly in time.
The magic happens when you realize that not every movement needs to connect with the strings.
Think of it this way: every strumming pattern is built on a foundation of down-up-down-up movements. Sometimes your hand moves down but doesn't touch the strings (a "ghost" downstroke), and sometimes it moves up without making contact (a "ghost" upstroke). Your hand never stops its rhythmic motion—it just chooses when to make sound.
Why This Approach Works
- •Consistent timing: Your hand becomes a natural metronome
- •Easier transitions: Moving between patterns becomes seamless
- •Better feel: You develop an internal sense of rhythm
- •Faster learning: Complex patterns become combinations of simple movements
The patterns below will teach you this fundamental concept, starting with basic movements and building to more complex rhythms. Focus on keeping your hand moving constantly—that's the key to mastering every strumming pattern you'll ever encounter.
How to Strum: The Fundamentals
Before diving into patterns, let's cover the essential strumming technique that will make all the difference in your playing.
Downstrokes
- • Hit all strings unless specifically avoiding one (like the low E string)
- • Use your wrist, not your whole arm
- • Strike firmly and consistently
- • These create the strong, accented beats
Upstrokes
- • Often only hit 3-4 higher strings (D, G, B, high E strings)
- • Lighter touch than downstrokes
- • It's natural to miss some strings - this is correct!
Why This Technique Works
This natural difference between downstrokes (fuller, all strings) and upstrokes (lighter, fewer strings) automatically creates musical accent and rhythm. The downstrokes emphasize the strong beats (1, 3) while upstrokes provide the lighter "and" beats. Don't fight this - embrace it! It's what makes strumming sound musical rather than mechanical.
🎵 Understanding Beat Subdivisions
Before diving into patterns, it's crucial to understand how beats are divided and how this affects your hand movement:
8th Note Patterns (Most Common)
- • Count: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
- • Hand: D U D U D U D U
- • Beats 1,2,3,4 = Downstrokes
- • "&" beats = Upstrokes
- • Used in Patterns 1-8
16th Note Patterns
- • Count: 1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a
- • Hand: D U D U D U D U D U D U D U D U
- • 1,&,2,&,3,&,4,& = Downstrokes
- • e,a,e,a,e,a,e,a = Upstrokes
- • Used in Patterns 9 & 10
Key Point: In 16th note patterns, the "&" beats become downstrokes, not upstrokes! This is because your hand maintains its continuous down-up motion, but over faster subdivisions.
Pattern 1: Basic Alternating - The Foundation
Start here! This establishes the continuous down-up-down-up hand movement that forms the foundation of all strumming. Your hand never stops moving - this is the core principle.
Pattern 2: All Downstrokes - Ghost Upstrokes
Your hand still moves down-up-down-up, but now the upstrokes become "ghost strums" - your hand moves up without hitting the strings. This creates strong downbeat emphasis.
Pattern 3: Folk Pattern - Your First Real Pattern
This classic folk/country pattern introduces the concept of "missing" strums. Your hand still moves down-up-down-up, but some movements don't hit the strings.
Pattern 4: Skipping an Up and a Down
This pattern is everywhere in pop and rock music! It has a distinctive rhythm that's both driving and musical. Notice the double upstroke that gives it character.
Pattern 5: Skip the Down
This pattern creates a unique syncopated feel by skipping the downstroke on beat 2. Your hand still moves down, but doesn't hit the strings - it's a ghost strum!
Pattern 6: Down Beats and Syncopated Ending
This pattern emphasizes the strong downbeats (1 and 2) with a syncopated ending that creates forward momentum. Great for driving rock and pop songs.
Pattern 7: Upstroke Emphasis
This syncopated pattern heavily features upstrokes, creating a lighter, more flowing feel. The emphasis on off-beats gives it a distinctive rhythmic character.
Pattern 8: Skank Pattern
The classic skank rhythm emphasizes beats 2 and 4 along with their off-beats. This creates a distinctive rhythmic feel used in ska, reggae, and punk music.
Pattern 9: 16th Note Pattern with 3 Ups in a Row
This intermediate 16th note pattern features three consecutive upstrokes on beat 3. It's a great stepping stone to more complex 16th note patterns, building coordination between your picking hand and rhythmic accuracy.
Pattern 10: 16th Note Pattern
Ready for a challenge? This pattern uses 16th note subdivisions. Each beat is divided into four parts: "1-e-&-a". This creates a more complex, flowing rhythm.
Pattern 11: Funk 16th Note Pattern
This advanced funk pattern uses complex 16th note syncopation. It's all about the groove - the strategic placement of strums and ghost strums creates that infectious funk rhythm.
Create Your Own Patterns
Now that you've learned these 11 essential patterns, why not create your own? Use our interactive Pattern Generator to build custom strumming patterns. Just click on the grid squares and the down/up strokes are automatically assigned!
Strumming Pattern Generator
Use the interactive Pattern Generator to build custom strumming patterns. Just click on the grid squares and the down/up strokes are automatically assigned!
Click squares to add strokes
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Stopping hand movement
Your hand should never stop moving, even when not hitting strings
Tense arm/wrist
Keep your wrist relaxed - tension kills rhythm and causes fatigue
Rushing the tempo
Start slow and gradually increase speed - accuracy before speed
Heavy upstrokes
Upstrokes should be lighter and often hit fewer strings
Picking too hard (digging into strings)
Use a lighter touch - let the pick glide across the strings rather than digging in
Ready for Your Next Challenge?
Once you've mastered these strumming patterns, you're ready to tackle full songs and more advanced techniques. These patterns form the foundation for most of popular music!