How do I learn a strumming pattern from a video?

By the RepeatWatch team · Updated

Quick answer

Loop exactly one bar of the strumming pattern, slow it to about 0.6×, and say the strokes out loud ("down, down-up, up-down-up") while you strum. Keep your hand moving down and up on every beat, missing the strings on silent strokes. Then let the speed trainer bring the bar back to full tempo.

Try this now: mute the strings with your fretting hand and strum along with one bar looped at 0.6×. Can you say "down" or "up" for every stroke before you add any chords?

How to learn a strumming pattern with a one-bar loop

  1. Loop one bar. Set A on beat one and B on beat one of the next bar. Most pop and folk patterns repeat every bar, so one bar is the whole pattern.
  2. Slow it to 0.6× and count. Count "1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and" along with the loop. Note which counts have a strum and which are skipped.
  3. Strum muted strings. Rest your fretting hand lightly on the strings and play only the rhythm. Your hand moves down on the numbers and up on the "ands", even when it misses the strings.
  4. Add one chord. Hold a single easy chord and play the pattern with Stop after set to 10 loops. Chord changes come later.
  5. Climb to tempo. Speed trainer: Step +0.05×, Every 3 loops, Goal 1×. If the pattern turns into all down-strums, press minus to step back.
  6. Add the chord changes. Move B to cover two bars with the song's chord change and loop that. Save it as a section next to the one-bar pattern.

Try it now: paste a YouTube link.

5 common mistakes

  • Stopping the strumming hand on silent strokes, which throws off the timing of the next strum.
  • Learning chords and rhythm at the same time, so neither gets practiced properly.
  • Looping half a bar or a bar and a bit, which teaches a pattern that doesn't exist in the song.
  • Strumming from the elbow with a tight grip instead of a loose, steady wrist.
  • Guessing the pattern from the guitarist's hand while ignoring what you hear.

Frequently asked questions

How do I figure out a strumming pattern by ear?

Loop one bar at 0.6× and count "1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and" over it. Mark which counts carry a strum; numbers are usually down-strums and "ands" are usually up-strums.

Why does my strumming sound uneven?

Usually because the hand stops between strums. Keep a constant down-up motion on every eighth note and simply miss the strings when the pattern has a gap.

What speed should I practice strumming at?

Start at the speed where you can say each stroke out loud while playing, often 0.6× to 0.75×. Raise it 0.05× every few loops until you reach 1×.

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