3 Essential Strumming Patterns - Beginner Guitar Lessons

Learn 3 beginner guitar strumming patterns you must know! When you're first getting started playing guitar these 3 essential strumming patterns will help you become confident with simple chord progressions. In this beginner guitar lesson we'll break down three essential strumming patterns that every guitarist should be able to play as well as general tips like how to strum a guitar, changing chords while keeping the strumming going and some tricks to improve your rhythm.
► FREE EBOOK with these 3 patterns and everything else you need to know to get started playing guitar. Get your copy here:
goodguitarist.com/learn-rhyth...
► Need help with the basic chords and strumming? My beginner guitar course will help you build a solid foundation one step at a time:
goodguitarist.com/beginner-gu...
TABLE OF CONTENTS
0:00 - INTRO
1:40 - EASIEST STRUMMING PATTERN
2:29 - DEVELOPING YOUR RHYTHM
6:49 - MOST COMMON STRUMMING PATTERN
11:23 - MOST USEFUL STRUMMING PATTERN
13:21 - HOW TO USE A METRONOME
The lesson begins with the easiest strumming pattern you can play on guitar. But before we even try to learn the pattern, we need to figure out some mechanics of strumming, some basic counting and rhythm stuff, how to move your arm, how to strum the guitar... Basically, we're turning our arm into a living metronome so that we can keep a super steady beat.
Once you figure out the mechanics of strumming, learning patterns is really easy. I even share some tips and tricks that'll let you play along to real songs right away even, if you don't know the chords, and learn to feel the groove. It's kind of like being a drummer but with your guitar. These are the things that will make you an above and beyond musician faster than you thought possible.
Once we tackle those essentials of rhythm and strumming, the first pattern is incredibly easy. We break it down, count it out and then play it together a few times.
The second strumming pattern that we go over is the most common strumming pattern ever. It contains a missing beat - what we would call syncopation. This makes it a little trickier to feel but is one of those speed bumps that, once you overcome, your rhythm will hit the next level.
We break it down, we count it out and we go over my step by step strategy for developing your rhythm and learning strumming patterns. We attack it from multiple angles so no matter what your level and no matter what you how you feel about strumming, you will learn how to play it.
After breaking it down in every way possible, we put the strumming pattern back together and play it a little bit before moving on to the next one, which is one of the most useful strumming patterns ever. It is that classic rock and roll beat in strumming pattern form! "boom, Chuck, boom, boom Chuck" (just reading those words, you probably know which one I'm talking about!)
We learn how to play it using a root strum to add dynamics to our strumming, we break it down and then we put it together. The cool thing with strumming patterns is they share a lot of the same components. So once you learn a few it'll be really easy to learn more and more, and these three are the foundation of practically every strumming pattern, so investing the time in them and learning them like the back of your hand is going to make everything else so much simpler!
We conclude the lesson by playing these strumming patterns with a metronome because a metronome is like a rhythm master. It's like a player who plays so precisely and it is a privilege to play with "someone" who has such good rhythm. So, we are going to take advantage of that and learn how to play our strumming patterns with the metronome. We do it for each and every one covered in this lesson. And that's that!
If you want a printable pdf with everything we cover in this lesson, you'll find it in my free eBook: goodguitarist.com/learn-rhyth...
Enjoy!
-James
---
goodguitarist.com/3-essential-...
/ goodguitarist
#beginnerguitar #guitarlesson #guitartutorial

[@Good_Guitarist]

What other essential things would you like to see lessons for?

[@matthiasdaum4867]

First of all, great video (as always!). I followed the lesson in yuor course "mechanics of singing + strumming" lesson 35 strumming made simple. It would be nice and very helphful to learn more about this topic. Keep it up, you're great

[@anthonycarranza1055]

Maybe a video on things to learn by importance as a beginner. As a beginner that has only been playing a month, I find myself on information overload.

[@garyjinontariony]

Fingerpickicking 2 finger or 3 finger pickin how about it, thanks I like your channel

[@josephinestubbs7620]

Hi James, thank you again. I too still struggle to recognize the 3 or 4 count ,I am a slow learner ,thanks for your well explained lessons.

[@martinworkens6130]

Calm to the point voice and style. No ego.

[@swedishboy3]

Never even held a guitar, but have been thinking of getting started in my old age, and you have definitely opened my eyes and made me realize that it's definitely achievable. Bravo on a great tutorial! Perfectly explained with terrific pacing! Can't wait!

[@josephinestubbs7620]

Thankyou James you give confidence to Play. Your lessons Are amazing for beginners. This is the first time that I actually believe I can do this, thank you.

[@brendachristopher2693]

Thank you! I'm a 66 year old beginner, your tutorials are easy to follow and greatly appreciated. .

[@aureliomartinez2633]

I'm right behind you I'm 60 years old I started couple years ago Very good luck on this challenge journey

[@lk3309]

53 yo beginner here.

[@TAD3011]

Trifle. I'm 72 years old and I'm also learning to play my favorite tunes from the old days.

[@aureliomartinez2633]

@@TAD3011 Congratulations couple years back I feel lonely now I Know im not a lone

[@DennisFolsom]

I am a 77 year old beginner (5 weeks into it so far) I am getting past a lot of the frustration and starting to have fun. I am cheating (sort of) by using the Chord Buddy to make G, D, C and Em. James's videos are helping me learn strumming patterns.

[@rockon856]

Fantastic for teaching ! Thank you James for your content

[@inayatsama6059]

Top useful tips..great lesson thank you James..💯👍👍

[@MrA1582000]

Very useful lesson. Thank you.

[@otytrini]

You’re always motivational Thanks ✌🏾🥰

[@stevegunn9971]

Very good, thanks!

[@anthonycarranza1055]

Great video! Thank you!

[@tonehouseguitars]

Great lesson... gotta keep my rhythm.

[@steffic.b.4588]

BRAVO, pedagogical. Thank you so so much.

[@yaroslavabloshchynska1557]

Cool, thanks a lot!

[@MsLILYANA7]

Thank you so much!

[@akanesisitani6263]

This help me alot thank u

[@barkrussell4083]

Good lesson thanks for posting oh so like your guitar

[@sardarbelal3114]

I would love to see more tutorials like these thanks

[@nirmalamarak9386]

Great lesson

[@paDdywitha]

Thanks man. This is super useful for me. Idk why I haven’t focused on this yet.

[@aureliomartinez2633]

Very helpful video and very e Well explain I started couple years ago this journey so far I know all mayor and menors cords in the first position But my right hand still doesn't create music or at least don't hear it

[@netten47]

thanks!

[@rosefox4643]

Thanks

[@steveharvey556]

Great lesson - is there a place we can access the mapping you have done of various strum patterns to songs? That would be incredibly helpful!

[@michaelsacksteder7952]

Agree with this comment. A cross-reference would be great.

[@GMKA01]

Thx very helpful. Can you give the strumming pattern for "Try a little kindness" by Glen Campbell.

[@Relaxandlearnguitar]

Great lesson! Do you have any travis picking lessons?

[@josephinestubbs7620]

I would like to see the count as in 3/4 or 4/4 I still struggle with the timing, thanks 😊

[@ranjithkumara6888]

Always the best lessons....❤️❤️

[@timcaldwell4453]

What is your opinion of the Jhango method?

[@timcaldwell4453]

What is your opinion of the jhango method?

[@jimmunro2136]

Great lesson for a 73 year old "semi" beginner.

[@qdccc]

So when we want to switch the chord. We do it in second number?

[@cyrilmoussoki3193]

How to skip the strings when strumming guitar please ?

[@pranjaltaye3625]

1st one

[@SuperNova-Steve]

Great! Thanks!