Strumming is the heartbeat of a lot of guitar playing. Whether you’re jamming with friends or playing solo, your strumming technique can make or break a song. That’s why I’ve put together this A to Z guide on strumming with tips, tricks, and inspiration to help you become a more confident and expressive rhythm guitarist.
Here’s the A to Z of strumming. Let’s begin…
A – Attack
The way you “attack” the strings affects your sound. A soft, gentle attack creates a mellow tone, while a more aggressive attack adds bite and energy. Experiment with the force you use to match the mood of the song. (Tip: I find many guitarists strum a little too loudly, so if in doubt, keep it mellow and gentle to begin with).
B – Blues
The blues can be a treasure trove of strumming techniques. A great way to get good with the blues is to learn the classic 12-bar structure. The 12-bar pattern is the backbone of many blues songs, and once you’ve got it down, you can start experimenting with adding dynamics, timing variations, and your own flair.
C – Chords
Strumming is nothing without good chord transitions. Simplify your chords if you need to and practise moving between chords smoothly and clearly. A capo can also help make songs easier, as well as change the key to suit your voice, but they’re also great for getting different chord voicings and flavours.
D – Dynamics
Strumming isn’t just about hitting strings; it’s about expressing emotion. One way you can do this is to play softer during verses and harder in choruses to give your music a sense of rise and fall. Dynamics are great and a simple but highly effective way to bring your playing to life.
E – Elbow
Strumming uses a combination of elbow and wrist motion. For broader strums, you can rely more on your elbow; for finer control, let your wrist take over a little more. Relaxing the arm is essential for natural-sounding strums.
F – “Father and Son”
A classic song by Cat Stevens (aka Yusuf). It’s a fairly simple song based around the chords of G, Am7, C, D, etc. I mention it because it’s one of the songs my own father can play on the guitar (and he plays it really well). A very special song – what a voice, what a songwriter! (I’m talking about Cat, not my dad, haha).
G – Groove
The groove is the magic ingredient that makes people want to tap their feet. Timing plays a crucial role in creating a solid groove—if you’re not in sync with the beat, the rhythm won’t feel right. Practise with a metronome or tap your foot to “lock in” to the groove. Then, it’s about combining precise timing with dynamics to make your groove irresistible. Groove isn’t just about the rhythm; it’s about the feel that connects your playing to the pulse of the music.
H – “Harp” Strumming
Avoid the “harp” effect (uneven, jagged strums) by keeping your wrist relaxed and maintaining steady contact across the strings. Upstrums can be especially “harp-like,” so work on them on their own, over and over in a gentle, relaxed way until they sound good.
I – Improvisation
Don’t stick to the same old patterns—play around! Strumming can be a creative outlet. Try adding simple variations to a tried and tested strumming pattern, switching patterns mid-song, adding muted strokes, or accenting different beats for variety. Those street performers, buskers, and guitarists who can jam with ease (and who often impress others) tend to have developed this skill over time! There’s so much fun to be had here. Start slowly, but feel free to experiment!
J – Jamming
Strumming is one of the best ways to connect with others musically. Whether you’re at a campfire, a party, or a jam session, good strumming makes songs come alive and encourages everyone to join in. Learn a few simple patterns that work for popular songs to become the go-to rhythm player in any group.
K – Kurt Cobain
Although there are so many bands and guitarists I must give credit to for inspiring me, the first was Nirvana. It was on a school trip to Germany that I first really discovered their music, and I loved it. Watching their Unplugged in New York album took it to a new level – the acoustic playing (which is mostly nearly all simple but elegant stripped-back strumming) is still a joy for me to listen to today.
L – Levels
Strumming happens on multiple levels. These days, I like to teach strumming songs in three levels. You can start with a simple “level 1” version of a song where you get a simple strumming pattern, nail the chords, and build confidence. Then “level 2”, where you add more layers such as more groove and rhythmic variations. Then there’s “level 3”, which features all the bells and whistles, such as pick strumming, lead licks, muting, dynamics, and embellishments to bring your playing to life.
M – Muting
Muted strums are great for adding percussive rhythm. There are two main ways to do this. Either use the side of your strumming hand to hit strings where you strum to create a percussive sound… Or lift your fretting fingers slightly to mute the strings as you strum normally. They are two tricky things to master at first, but both will give that staccato groove to spice up your patterns.
N – Natural Motion
Strumming should never feel forced. Your hand should move like a pendulum, ideally staying in constant motion even when skipping strings. It’s all about the flow. This keeps the rhythm steady and smooth.
O – Open Chords
Strumming open chords is a staple of rhythm guitar. They’re full, bright, and easily sound great. Spend time mastering their transitions to keep your strumming seamless. There’s a whole world of wonderful sounds to be had from just a handful of chords such as G Em C D Am. Remember, it’s not the amount of chords you know, but what you do with them that truly counts.
P – Patterns
Learning a variety of strumming patterns is key. From basic down-up strokes to syncopated rhythms, building a repertoire of patterns helps you tackle any song with confidence. You should ideally have a few patterns in your locker – a simple pattern to sing over, a groovy pattern, and later, even an intricate pattern for instrumental sections. That’s a useful way to think about it, but of course, if you’re a hardcore strummer, you’ll want a few more.
Q – Quiet
Your strumming shouldn’t be too loud. The quiet moments—soft strokes or even pauses—create contrast and tension, making the louder sections feel more powerful. Plus, soft and elegant strumming over clear chords sounds great. If in doubt, strum softly (a good volume to strum at is one where you can talk over the top without having to shout!)
R – Relaxation
Tension is the enemy of progress and it kills the possibility of smooth strumming. Keep your strumming hand and wrist relaxed. If you feel tightness, take a breath, shake out your hand, and refocus on staying loose.
S – Swing
Straight strumming isn’t always the answer. Swinging your strums—adding a “long-short” feel to the rhythm—can give your playing a groovy, bluesy or even jazzy vibe. Experiment with this technique to add style.
T – Triads
Triads are three-note chord shapes that open up new tonal possibilities. They’re lighter and more focused than full chords, making them great for jangly, intricate strumming. For example, take a D chord shape and slide it up the fretboard to create fresh sounds. Mix in picking and strumming to add texture and depth to your rhythm playing. Triads are great for spicing up progressions without overwhelming the sound.
U – Upstrokes
Don’t neglect upstrokes! They often carry less weight than downstrokes but are just as important for rhythm. Focus on making them even and clear to balance your strumming. Spend time working on them in isolation if you’re not happy with how they sound!
V – Variation
Avoid monotony by varying your strumming. Mix in accents. Use what I call “bass/treble” strumming (where you keep the pattern the same but strum different strings in the chord)… And be willing to try different things. Subtle changes keep the music fresh and will help to make your playing feel alive.
W – Wonderwall
The Oasis classic “Wonderwall” is a rite of passage for countless strumming guitarists. Whether you love it or roll your eyes at the mention of it, there’s no denying the song’s iconic rhythm and its place as a favourite among beginners. It’s easy to see why—fairly simple, catchy, and fun to play. Of course, for guitarists, it’s also become the subject of countless guitar memes and jokes online, but despite all the humour, “Wonderwall” is still a fun song to play.
X – X-Factor
Great strumming has that indescribable X-factor—a mix of confidence, creativity, and connection with the rhythm. Focus on mastering the fundamentals and adding personal touches to discover your own unique X-factor. Turning basic patterns into something truly unique is very exciting!
Y – You
Strumming is highly personal. As you learn, aim to develop your own style. Whether it’s the way you accent certain beats or your preferred rhythm patterns, let your personality shine through, and, of course, enjoy the journey – strumming is an art that takes time to truly develop. In fact, it’s something I enjoy working on even now, and no doubt always will.
Z – Zeppelin (Led)
Led Zeppelin’s Jimmy Page is a master of both subtle and powerful strumming. Songs like “Over the Hills and Far Away” and “Ramble On” showcase his dynamic range and brilliant use of rhythm. He is great at many things, but his acoustic strumming is as wonderful as his big riffs and solos (at least for me). I find him to be a great guitarist to study for many aspects of guitar playing – including his strumming.
…And there you have it!
The A to Z of Strumming.
That was fun to write, and I hope you enjoyed reading it.
If you’re ready to improve your strumming and take it to new heights, my Superhuman Strumming Course is still on sale as part of my “Father Riffmas” sale…
…but only until tomorrow at 6 PM (UK time) / 10 AM (Pacific time).
You can find out more about it on the link below.
Check out the Superhuman Strumming Course
Let’s keep strumming!
Cheers,
Dan Thorpe
Guitar Domination
P.S. This post was originally taken from Dan Thorpe’s private email list. To get blog posts like this sent to you which are full of great tips to make fingerpicking, strumming, and learning guitar more enjoyable (especially if you are over 40) join Dan’s list. It’s 100% free, HERE.
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