Exploring Strumming

At this point in your beginner guitar journey, you can start making up different strumming patterns. How exciting is that? :) The best way of learning and creating new strumming variations is by picking a strumming pattern from a song you love.

In this lesson, you'll learn how to level up any strumming pattern you want! Let's explore some strumming exercises, best practices, and awesome tips to improve your guitar strumming!

Explore New Strumming Patterns

Some songs have specific strumming patterns. Others have a looser structure - and you can apply whatever strumming pattern you like to it! These songs are the best to explore different strumming options on the guitar.

It's key you remember that you can add in extra strums and leave others out. It really doesn't matter! Experiment with it - and let loose! :) This is how you'll learn to create strumming variations.

Always make sure you relax your arm! Keep going until you get that nice flow of strumming arm movement at all times. This is the foundation of all strumming - that continuous arm movement.

Generally, every four or eight bars, a slight rhythmic strumming variation should happen. This is an excellent time to start manipulating your strumming. Your strumming pattern should stay the same most of the time, but this change will make it pop! It'll make your sound more exciting to listen to and musically engaging.
 

How To Practice Strumming With A Metronome

To practice, find a few patterns you like, then just put in your own twist! Remove strums, and add strums - see how it feels and sounds.

Practice with the metronome as often as you can. This will develop a sense of time and help you stay on tempo. It might feel weird at first, but you want to feel relaxed with the metronome. If you don't have a metronome on hand, use my free metronome tool on the website.

When you strum to the metronome, it should feel like you're not chasing the time but anticipating the following tempo. The metronome clicking sound should feel comfortable. Relax as you strum into its clicking sound - just let it happen naturally! :) 

Add Dynamics To Your Guitar Playing

You'll want to be aware of your rhythm dynamics, which is how hard and how soft you strum. Start experimenting with playing really loudly and really softly.

A quick exercise you can do is to begin strumming on muted strings as soft as possible. Gradually increase the volume until you're playing as loudly as you possibly can. Then, make your way back down. We'll talk more about using dynamics to improve your guitar playing later on. For now, start being mindful of this!

Strumming Should Feel Automatic

I recommend you keep a record of strumming patterns you really like. Spend a bit of time working on those to make them stick with you! You'll be able to revisit your strumming patterns later on.

If you're a beginner guitar player, practice your strumming for two minutes each practice session with the metronome. Stick with a few patterns, and add more as you practice. These strumming patterns should feel so consistent that they almost become automatic. I recommend you add this lesson to Your Practice routine - and track your progress as you go!

Good luck, and have fun exploring strumming patterns. Next lesson, we'll take a look at some basic musical theory! :)