In this article we’ll look at 5 beginner strumming patterns that you can play along with. Each of them have been taken from a popular song and are extremely common so you’ll come across them time and time again.
We’re going to use the same two chords throughout, G and Em, so you can focus on the rhythm rather than worrying about changing chords.
We’ll look at each pattern individually, then you should play it along with the drum backing tracks .
You can start with the first one and work your way through, or just jump to whichever pattern you want to practise.
- Songbird Rhythm – D DU DU DU 1 2 + 3 + 4 +
- Paperback Rhythm – D D DUDU – 1 2 3 + 4 +
- Zombie Rhythm – D D D DU = 1 2 3 4 +
- Knocking Rhythm – D D DU = 1 3 4 +
- Riptide Rhythm – D D UDU = 1 2 + 4 +
1. Pattern 1 – Songbird
The first pattern comes from the Oasis song ‘Songbird’ and is played, down, down, up, down, up, down, up.
The reason this pattern works so well is because it creates a constant flow. The hand keeps moving, and the rhythm feels smooth and natural.
This is one of the first patterns where your strumming starts to sound less like an exercise and more like actual music.
Try playing one bar of G Major then one bar of Em on repeat over the drum backing tracks below. Stick to the pattern throughout and focus on hitting beat one right on the pulse.
2. Pattern 2 – Paperback Writer
The second pattern comes from the Beatles song ‘Paperback Writer’ and is played, down, down, down, up, down, up.
This pattern is similar to the first one but it skips an extra upstrum on the and of 2.
3. Pattern 3 – Zombie
The third pattern comes from the Cranberries song ‘Zombie’ and is played, down, down, down, down, up.
Again this pattern is similar to the first and second ones but it skips a further upstrum on the ‘and’ of 3.
4. Pattern 4 – Knocking On Heaven’s Door
This fourth pattern is based around a different idea. Instead of filling every moment, we leave room in the rhythm. This particular pattern is taken from Knocking on Heaven’s Door by Bob Dylan.
The pattern here is, Down, Down, Down, Up.
The main difference here is that first downstroke lasts longer than it has in the other examples. That the gap is an important part of the rhythm.
Those new to guitar often think better strumming means playing more. But often, the opposite is true. The spaces between the strums are what create the groove.
Your hand keeps moving, but you choose when to hit the strings. This idea is incredibly important because rhythm isn’t just about the sounds you make. It’s also about the sounds you leave out.
5. Pattern 5 – Riptide
The final pattern is one you’ll hear constantly in modern acoustic guitar. The pattern here is taken from Riptide by Vance Joy.
The pattern is, Down, Down, Up, Down, Up.
This one feels different because the up-strums create more forward movement.
Again, the hand movement stays relaxed. The difference comes from where the strings are being played. This is what makes your strumming musical.
The same basic movements can create completely different feels depending on how you use them.
If you struggled with some of these, don’t worry about moving on too quickly. Pick one pattern and spend a few minutes playing along with it.
Want to follow along with a video version of this article? Click the link here, https://youtu.be/Dmy0hWWX18c
If you’re looking for a structured way to learn guitar, check out my Progressive Guitar Program: https://andrewhowes.podia.com/the-progressive-guitar-program
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