Strumming

A 'strum' means to play a bunch of strings by brushing your fingers or pick across the strings. Often, musicians play a series of strums in a rhythmic pattern. This lesson explains some strumming patterns you can play.

A "D" written above the tab means to strike the strings using a downward motion of the hand (hand moves towards the floor). Similary, a "U" means to play the srings using the upward motion of the hand (hand moves towards the ceiling).

When playing these patterns, you will hold the pick as was shown previously. When strumming, keep your wrist loose. The motion should come from both the wrist and the elbow. You may find strumming with a thin pick (about 45mm) easier.

Pattern 1:

Listen: slow - normal

   D  D  U  U  D  D  D  U     D  D  U  U  D  D  D  U
E--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--|--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--|
B--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--|--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--|
G--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--|--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--|
D--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--|--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--|
A--3-----------------------|--3-----------------------|
E--1-----------------------|--------------------------|

   D  D  U  U  D  D  D  U     D  D  U  U  D  D  D  U
E--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--|--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--1--|
B--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--|--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--3--|
G--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--|--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--|
D--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--|--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--0--|
A--2-----------------------|--------------------------|
E--3-----------------------|--------------------------|

Pattern 2:

Listen: slow - normal

  
   D  D  D  U  D  D  D  U     D  D  D  U  D  D  D  U
E--------2--2--------2--2--|--------2--2--------2--2--|
B--------3--3--------3--3--|--------2--2--------2--2--|
G--------4--4--------4--4--|--------2--2--------2--2--|
D--4--4--4--4--4--4--4-----|--4--4--4--4--4--4--4--4--|
A--2--2--------2--2--------|--4--4--------4--4--------|
E--------------------------|--2--2--------2--2--------|

   D  D  D  U  D  D  D  U     D  D  D  U  D  D  D  U
E--------0--0--------0--0--|--------0--0--------0--0--|
B--------2--2--------2--2--|--------0--0--------0--0--|
G--------2--2--------2--2--|--------1--1--------1--1--|
D--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--|--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--2--|
A--0--0--------0--0--------|--2--2--------2--2--------|
E--------------------------|--0--0--------0--0--------|