Easy strumming pattern for beginners
The easiest strumming pattern on guitar is four downstrokes per bar, one on each beat (↓ ↓ ↓ ↓), with beats 1 and 3 a little louder. It is the way to practise changing chords in time before moving on to patterns with upstrokes.
Now G Next D
4/4- downstroke
- > accent (louder)
Step by step
The whole pattern, with the accents.
Chords
Space bar: play/stop
The pattern as a table
| Beat | On the beat |
|---|---|
| 1 | ↓, accent |
| 2 | ↓ |
| 3 | ↓, accent |
| 4 | ↓ |
How to play it
- Count "1, 2, 3, 4" out loud and strum on each number.
- Move from a loose wrist, not the whole arm, as if shaking water off your hand.
- Change chords on 4 so you land on the new chord on 1. At first, it is fine to lift the fretting hand a little early.
- Once it is steady, move on to the pop pattern, which adds the upstrokes.
Common mistakes
- Stopping the strumming hand while the other hand changes chords: the beat does not wait. Lower the BPM.
- Gripping the pick too hard: the sound gets harsh and the wrist gets tired.
- Speeding up without noticing. Keep the metronome on.
Play along
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest strumming pattern?
Four downstrokes per bar, one on each beat. The next one is usually the pop pattern (↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑).
Do I need a pick?
No. You can strum with the side of your thumb or the nail of your index finger. If you want a pick, a medium one (0.6 to 0.8 mm) is a good start.
What BPM should I start at?
At a tempo where you make no mistakes: 60 BPM is a good starting point. Go up 5 at a time once you can play several times in a row without stopping.