Strumming & Rhythm
Patterns to play, and a metronome to keep you honest.
Strumming patterns
Metronome only
Beginners: start slowly. Once the pattern feels comfortable and you are not thinking about it, nudge the metronome up a few beats at a time.
bpm
Making it feel right
Quarter downs — D D D D
Down-up eighths — D U D U D U D U
The classic — D DU UDU
Pop and rock — D DU UD
Waltz — D DU DU
Ballad — D U D U
The first beat of each bar is the higher click.
Audio starts when you press Start.
Keep the hand moving — Your strumming hand swings down and up all the way through, even on the beats it does not hit. The misses are what hold the pattern steady.
Count out loud — Say "1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and" as you play. Down strums land on the numbers, up strums on the ands.
Start slower than feels right — Set the metronome around 60 and only move up once the pattern no longer needs your attention.
Ghost strums — Brushing past the strings without sounding them keeps your timing honest and adds a light percussive tick.
Know more, fret less — everything for guitar owners.
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