Pop strumming pattern
The pop strumming pattern is ↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑ (down, down-up, up-down-up): down on 1, down and up on 2, up on the "&" of 3 and down and up on 4. Counting "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &", on beat 3 the hand goes down in the air without touching the strings. It is the pattern behind most pop, acoustic rock and folk songs in 4/4.
Now G Next D
4/4- downstroke
- upstroke
- > accent (louder)
- · the hand moves in the air without strumming
Step by step
The whole pattern, with the accents.
Chords
Space bar: play/stop
The pattern as a table
| Beat | On the beat | Offbeat (&) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ↓, accent | · |
| 2 | ↓ | ↑ |
| 3 | · | ↑ |
| 4 | ↓, accent | ↑ |
How to play it
- Your hand is a pendulum: down on every number, up on every "&", strumming or not.
- On 3 the hand comes down without touching the strings (a "ghost" strum) and strums on the way up.
- On downstrokes, catch the low strings; on upstrokes, just the top three or four.
- Accent 1 and 4 to give the pattern its swing.
Common mistakes
- Stopping the hand on 3 instead of moving down in the air: the next upstroke comes late.
- Hitting all six strings on the upstroke: it gets muddy. The top strings are enough.
- Rushing the "↑↓↑" at the end. Count out loud.
Play along
Frequently asked questions
Why does the pop pattern skip beat 3?
It does not skip it: on 3 the hand moves down without strumming. That ghost strum puts the next upstroke on the offbeat, which gives the pattern its swing.
What songs use the pop strumming pattern?
Most mid-tempo songs in 4/4: pop, acoustic rock, folk, country and worship songs. In slow songs, play it more softly.
What tempo should I use?
Start at 60 BPM with the metronome. Pop songs usually sit between 80 and 110 BPM.