Learn to Strum Your Way to Perfect Rhythm!

30 Days of Guitar – Day 9

Welcome back to Day 9 of 30 Days of Guitar! It’s time to add upstrokes to your strumming! I want to show you how to play downstrokes and upstrokes with a good strumming sound, and how to make the proper motions with your arm so you can play with steady rhythm. Turn your arm into a built-in metronome!

Improve your strumming sound

You can improve your strumming sound by ensuring the strumming motion comes from more than just the elbow. Don’t forget to keep the pick angled properly and your hand close to the strings.

How to strum downstrokes and upstrokes

Start with the fretting hand and play the chord you want to strum.
Position your picking hand so the pick is angled slightly downwards, and your thumb is close to the bridge.
Swing your arm in a down-up motion. The downstrokes usually start on the beat, while the upstrokes will be between the beats. Focus on keeping your wrist and pick movement slow, steady and consistent.

ESSENTIAL exercise for steady rhythm

Start with a basic four-count rhythm. Strum each chord 4 times, starting with a downstroke on the first count and then alternating between downstrokes and upstrokes. Start slowly and gradually increase the tempo as you get more comfortable with the rhythm.

Practicing with a metronome is also a great way to nail down your upstroke and downstroke technique. Start at a slow tempo, and focus on keeping the beat and playing in time. As you get more comfortable, increase the tempo until you can play at a moderate speed.