How To Play Acoustic Guitar Strumming

If you want to how to learn how to play acoustic guitar strumming, you've come to the right place.

There's nothing that will build your motivation to play guitar quicker than knowing some basic acoustic guitar strumming patterns. Soon you will be playing along to your favorite songs and even composing some songs of your own.

But first a WARNING. Learn some basic chords first.

You can learn strumming patterns without knowing any chords and even with your guitar out of tune, BUT if you do, you're going to get bored with your playing very quickly (and so will everyone else).

So first of all, make sure your guitar is in tune.

Now with your guitar tuned, make sure you learn the following chords if you don't already know them.

Am Em C D F E

O.K. Now you're set to learn how to play acoustic guitar strumming patterns.

The easiest pattern to learn is the simple down stroke.

In this article a down stroke is represented by a symbol that looks like this \/

Playing The Chord

Place each finger with care, following your chord diagram if you're using one. Make sure that each fingertip is placed as close as possible behind the fret.

First, pluck across the strings one by one with your pick, making sure that each string sounds clearly and is not muted or buzzing.

Once you are sure that you are holding your chosen chord correctly, practice strumming the chord in single downward strokes as indicated below:

PATTERN 1

While you're strumming, count out loud and evenly, 123412341234
If you have a metronome you could use that instead.

1 2 3 4

Down Stroke

\/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/ \/
Count 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4

Keep practicing until your strumming is clear and consistent.

OK. Once you've got this one down, try playing using the up stroke. An up stroke is represented by a symbol that looks like this /\

PATTERN 2

Now try using the down and up strumming motion.

Say "1" on the down stroke. Say "and" on the up stroke. Say "2" on the next down stroke. Say "and" on the next up stroke etc.

\/ /\ \/ /\ \/ /\ \/
So you will be counting: 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 repeat.

As previously, keep practicing until your strumming is clear and consistent.

PATTERN 3

Now for something a little different.

Up till now we have been using a rhythm that follows a quarter note tempo and a continuous up down stroke as in your count of 1234 but now we will move on to a new pattern in which you will learn an eight note tempo and introduce what we will call the silent stroke.

A silent stroke is represented here by the following symbol. /o\

When you see these symbols: /o\ \o/ you do not stroke the strings but let your strumming hand continue to move over the strings so that the down/up pattern of strum is not broken.

Try this pattern and count the beat out loud.

\/ /o\ \/ /\ \/ /o\ \/ The strokes you're actually playing here are: down - silent up - down- up - down - silent up - down.
1 and 2 and 3 and 4

Keep practicing until you get this really tight.

PATTERN 4

You've come long way. One more pattern to learn and you are on the road to writing your own songs.

\/ /o\ \/ /\ \/ /o\ \/ /o\ \/ /o\ \/ repeat.

Do you know the song "House Of The Rising Sun"? That last exercise was the strumming pattern to it. If you don't now it, I would strongly advice that you download it from the Internet and learn it. It's a great song.

Here's a guide for you:

Am
\/ /o\ \/ /\ \/ /o\ \/ /o\ \/ /o\ \/

C
\/ /o\ \/ /\ \/ /o\ \/ /o\ \/ /o\ \/

D
\/ /o\ \/ /\ \/ /o\ \/ /o\ \/ /o\ \/

F
\/ /o\ \/ /\ \/ /o\ \/ /o\ \/ /o\ \/

Am
\/ /o\ \/ /\ \/ /o\ \/ /o\ \/ /o\ \/

C
\/ /o\ \/ /\ \/ /o\ \/ /o\ \/ /o\ \/

Em
\/ /o\ \/ /\ \/ /o\ \/ /o\ \/ /o\ \/

You've worked hard and learned a lot, and when you're ready, you can learn more here. I hope you have great fun now you know how to play acoustic guitar strumming.

Play On.