Guitar Strumming Patterns For Beginners

 looks easy!

These Strumming & Rhythm Videos will help me a lot 🙂

Would love to win this. Me and my son are struggling with this. I have to admit my 8 year old son is better at strumming than me.

hello i like what you are teaching i could learn a lot from you bye the way my name is wade

being a paralegic who has struggled to understand and learn guitar, i think this course would be a great help to me. the instruction is presented straightforwardly and is easy to understand

I love everything your doing. Rock on and keep coming!

Exellent lesson, I repeated with my guitar on hand, and I learn 80% of the lesson
thanks for the good work.
Manuel Bolanos.  

Hi, Colin
Thanks for all your help.  I keep catching you on Riff Ninja, and you’ve helped me tremendously.  This lesson has shown me a couple different strumming patterns using the same chords.  Really like how you take your time and go through it SLOWLY!  Unlike some of the others I’ve seen on YouTube, who fly through things without explaining how to play. 
I need to get my timing down and keep it the same through the whole song.  I can’t seem to keep it consistent.  Hoping plenty of practice will help that.
That’s where I think you would would help me with your Essentials of Strumming & Rhythem.  I think I need to know the basics, and have something to teach me the right way to strum.
Thx, Colin, and I’ll keep watching.
Fiss

How can something so complicated be taught so easily

As an “advanced beginner” I think I could use a strumming course. I spend probably too much of my practice time trying to pick out riffs on a pentatonic scale, when I could probably play something that sounds more like music if I focused more on rhythm.  I think it would be fun to learn to throw some arpeggios into a strummed rhythm too.

As an “advanced beginner” I think I could use a strumming course. I spend probably too much of my practice time trying to pick out riffs on a pentatonic scale, when I could probably play something that sounds more like music if I focused more on rhythm.  I think it would be fun to learn to throw some arpeggios into a strummed rhythm too.

Exemplary lesson…very helpful..thank you!

I found this lesson a very useful as a new guitarist. The video shows right where to place your fingers and the pace is very good for new as well as seasoned players. This would be a very worthwhile course to own. Thank you! A follower of these video. Rob 

 Not too difficult…just what I need…thanx! 🙂

Smooth strumming, a new pick thickness for me, confirmed how to use or mute bass strings, and liked the shirt !

Smooth strumming, a new pick thickness for me, confirmed how to use or mute bass strings, and liked the shirt !

nice I want one. 

Thanks for the lesson…your insight is most appreciated!

I just subscribed by Email (kejm9). I sing and read music and I have taught myself tab and I am doing ok with picking – but I can’t strum! The only advice I have had is ‘give up the guitar and start drumming!’. Please let me win your DVD course, I am desperate.

nice I want one. 

Thanks for the lesson…your insight is most appreciated!

I just subscribed by Email (kejm9). I sing and read music and I have taught myself tab and I am doing ok with picking – but I can’t strum! The only advice I have had is ‘give up the guitar and start drumming!’. Please let me win your DVD course, I am desperate.

I think this was an excellent strumming lesson. I’ve been having trouble playing with a pick and the tips you gave to hold lightly and to strum all strings well help me. Also the keeping count and position you hold pick on the down stroke and up stroke. So thank you for this video, I’m going to practice right now.

I think this was an excellent strumming lesson. I’ve been having trouble playing with a pick and the tips you gave to hold lightly and to strum all strings well help me. Also the keeping count and position you hold pick on the down stroke and up stroke. So thank you for this video, I’m going to practice right now.

My fingers don’t line up all nice and straight like that.  They look mangled and deformed compared to yours.  Not just that, but my fingers are long and thick and it’s very difficult to depress just one string, let alone do chord shapes on 3 or 4 strings.  Does that mean guitar is impossible for me? 

Hey Colin,
Excellent lesson. Now I know why I’m such a crappy strummer. It’s amazing how one short lesson can help with something I’ve been struggling with. I’ve got to mute that low E string on those Cmajor chords. Now, all I have to do is get my 62 year old fingers to cooperate. Love the video.
Dan D

Strumming and rhythm are skills often ignored when learning guitar.  It’s one thing to know your notes and chords, but it’s just as important to know a sense of timing within the musical framework.  Lots of players begin and end their journey in “shredding” mode.  True satisfaction and self-expression, however, lie in the basics of strumming and rhythm, for here is where the foundation for music is laid.  Colin is a great teacher of these concepts… needless to say, I’d love a copy of this course!

I could use more knowldge about taking advantage of all 6 strings for chords.

Nice Strum! I can’t seem to grasp my memory for strums. I am trying to do it by ear and I get confused with other strums in the middle. This one was easy! Thank you.

I liked the explanation of using a thicker pick and the method of strumming. also the importance of strumming the proper strings germane to the chord being played. I teach kids at our church,  who are interested in learning,  beginning guitar, (Though I am not a professional teacher) and strumming is always an issue,  I am always looking for tools to help and this lesson course would be ideal to add to my program. I like the way you explain the methods.  They are clear and easy to understand.

I have been picking out tunes on a guitar for many years but never took the time to learn anything other than a couple of cords and parts of some tunes I often forget. I think that this will allow me to finally get past the ” I sound awful” stage.
wdncnvs

This is a good intro for strumming and I was able to follow along easily as I’ve played for many years. However, my daughter has recently picked up the guitar and doesn’t know as much about strumming patterns so I think there are a couple of concepts that were implied that may need more explanation before jumping in for true beginners.  
1) Introduce the 8th note counting more specifically (1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and)2) Show the 8th note counting with the right (strumming) hand more demonstrably to help ingrain the knowledge that the right hand is always moving even if not hitting the stringsAnyway, I hope this helps and maybe this is all covered in the entire course as I just watched this snippet.  Would love to win the course to share with my daughter as she learns this material!

Basic, simple and to the point!

Basic, simple and to the point!

The best part of this video is the three screen presentation.
Beginners are easily confused and having the left hand, right hand and composite shots all within the same frame makes it simple to see the relationships all at one glance.
Good job. 

Amazing how simple you make it look Colin.Keep Rockin Riffy

I watch Colin’s videos whenever they are sent to me.  Thank you from this struggling student who is in love with the guitar.

Took up the guitar at the age of 55 and suffer from short fat fingers.  But my strum patterns are holding me back.  I start out fine, but lose it while changing chords.   HELP!

Took up the guitar at the age of 55 and suffer from short fat fingers.  But my strum patterns are holding me back.  I start out fine, but lose it while changing chords.   HELP!

liked the tip about holding pick like a brush I never thought of it. It will help me from droping so many picks.Thank you Ninja

liked the tip about holding pick like a brush I never thought of it. It will help me from droping so many picks.Thank you Ninja

Hi Colin,
Thank you for this strumming preview. I am getting closer to a true intermediate level of playing and one of my challenges holding me back is having a smooth rythmic strumming technique and being able to maintain it. Your video taught me a higher quality playing ability may just lie in knowledge that masqerades as details. Counting is important and no longer a “detail” for me. The wrist is extremely important (i could not believe the thickness of the pick you like to use) in that the ability to execute great strumming is solely within me and not due to a particular pick. Your “detailed” tip on utilizing a C/G chord so I can strum all six strings has got me thinking how I may apply that thinking in other chords. Lastly, and just go with me on this, I get a relaxing “Zen-like” vibe from your teaching style. I learn a lot better when I can relax and just feel the right thing to do. I strongly believe I will benefit greatly from other insights and teachings on your DVD.
With appreciation,  Rick Haverland

Hi Colin,
Thank you for this strumming preview. I am getting closer to a true intermediate level of playing and one of my challenges holding me back is having a smooth rythmic strumming technique and being able to maintain it. Your video taught me a higher quality playing ability may just lie in knowledge that masqerades as details. Counting is important and no longer a “detail” for me. The wrist is extremely important (i could not believe the thickness of the pick you like to use) in that the ability to execute great strumming is solely within me and not due to a particular pick. Your “detailed” tip on utilizing a C/G chord so I can strum all six strings has got me thinking how I may apply that thinking in other chords. Lastly, and just go with me on this, I get a relaxing “Zen-like” vibe from your teaching style. I learn a lot better when I can relax and just feel the right thing to do. I strongly believe I will benefit greatly from other insights and teachings on your DVD.
With appreciation,  Rick Haverland

I am recommending this to a player I know. Awesome ear for music, but no concept of rhythm. I am so excited because having started playing a few years ago at 50, there are so many lessons, tabs and instructional videos now available that I could only dream about when I was first starting out. Your videos are awesome, easy to understand and concise. Thank you so much. So many aspiring guitarists just want to shred, play lead and wow everyone with noise. The concept of theory is one I learned as a child with piano lessons. These Riff Ninja courses are helping to refresh all that instruction. I wish everyone I know that is trying to learn how to play would watch!!

I am recommending this to a player I know. Awesome ear for music, but no concept of rhythm. I am so excited because having started playing a few years ago at 50, there are so many lessons, tabs and instructional videos now available that I could only dream about when I was first starting out. Your videos are awesome, easy to understand and concise. Thank you so much. So many aspiring guitarists just want to shred, play lead and wow everyone with noise. The concept of theory is one I learned as a child with piano lessons. These Riff Ninja courses are helping to refresh all that instruction. I wish everyone I know that is trying to learn how to play would watch!!

i like this because cents i was a little girl i been wanting to learn the guitar and know i could learn slow and in my time thank you

Thanks for the lesson Colin. I’m self taught, so the counting aspect, which I overlooked, helped alot. Keep up the fine work!

i’ve been playing for 40 years and your video still showed me things to inprove my playing’ thanks for your lesson and shareing it with my fellow players

 Strumming is not like drumming, its like using a brush! I would like to remind that it takes time to learn and sleeping over an issue can help alot!

Great informative video, for beginners and players. Now I’ll be able to strum to pretty much everything. Look out X Factor!!

I always find it amazing at how easy it is to follow along with Colin and retain what he is teaching. His method of describing the need for proper counting has opened up things that I seem to have missed when having other instructors explaining. I left the short video with an ability to play something that has gone over my head in the past. I do feel that the teaching method can be a very positive influence in moving forward with my playing and Colin’s method doesn’t make me feel like I am a blithering idiot and keeps me from simply giving up on something I have always sought to do.
Thanks,
Mike

I’ve been making it to hard, your ability to explain to me the count has helped me alot. Thank you

Thx for the lesson, ive learned to play by myself so I really need to fix my technique xD. Knowing this is necessary. Ive benn playinf for 7 years and I realize I got a lot to improve.

Thanks for a clear and enlightening lesson. I’d never heard of the thick pick benefits; I, as a rule, use fingers rather than pick but the analogy of the pick and the nail of my index finger popped into my head as you spoke of holding the pick loosely. I liked the multiple views but, somehow, with my soft-/hard-ware the strumming screen and the sound were not coordinated; however, your commentary made things quite clear. I’d love to get a free copy of the course.

I learn more and more each time you post a lesson all i can say is thankyou.

I learn more and more each time you post a lesson all i can say is thankyou.

I am a newbie! I understand why I have to readjust my pick so often. I could use this course because I am tired of doing the same DDDUDUDU pattern for every song. The numbers make more sense than D’s and U’s also! I have been trying to tach myself how to play for the last 4 months and I really could use some solid direction …. Can’t figure out which direction to start at and even more scary… Then what?

I realise after watching this video that counting and strumming are essential and not just an option!

Hey Daniel,
I guess what I liked the most about your lesson is the fact that I could see you strumming as well as the chords that you were playing.  I have a difficult time with my rhythm but I found it was extremely easy to follow along on my own,

First of all… sorry for my bad english… i’m an italian guy….
Even if i’m 53 years old, i would like to learn to play and strum our wonderful “ware”.. and you are helpin’ me just right now… thank you Maestro

I want to win the DVD. Good looking old veterans look better with guitars.

Iam a beginner. I know the chords used in the video but have never played a song yet . After seeing the video and practicing it , sounds like iam playing a song . Don’t know what song but it sounds like music to me . Thanks !

Hello,i would like to say that the courses you show online are very helpful,but one thing i have windows xp and the video freezes sometimes ,and i think if i win the instruction dvds that i would learn very much,hopefully i will win one Thanks

Hello,i would like to say that the courses you show online are very helpful,but one thing i have windows xp and the video freezes sometimes ,and i think if i win the instruction dvds that i would learn very much,hopefully i will win one Thanks

I’ve been a “beginner” for years.  I have no problem learning the chords but I struggle to know really what to do with them.  The counting with the strumming and tips such as using the pic like a brush and knowing what strings to mute may seem basic to some but these are the things I need to work on.. I’ll be giving these a try tonight.
Thanks!Dan

A lot of great tips here, something I will try to incorporate into my practicing more.

This is one area I have troubles with and with practice and this video I will find it very helpful .

Great Overview

Well, after cutting my nails -vain granny that I am – I gave this little snippit of expertise a view and strummed right along.  I’ve been playing a long time, but took a couple of years off and am now trying to re-learn.  This was a very good refresher.  Slow at first and then more speed as it went along.  Great little thing to keep a person in shape and grounded in the basics because no matter how fancy you get you must always have good solid basic skills to keep it consistent.  Thanks for the workout.  It would be a great thing to have in my arsonal.

Excellent video & lesson. Rythm and timing plus chord changing are things I really need to practice more. If the rest of the coarse is as helpful as this it should be great. Looking forward to its release

I need this course.

I REALLY need this court and have never won anything in my life. Please change that.

good deal!

Although I’ve got pretty good rhythm and usually can feel the strum, I really liked seeing the breakdown of the strums, especially the “brush” analogy. It’s always good to go back to the basics!

What I have learned is:
1. That strumming is organic and fluid to playing chords
2. That counting out loud does help t
3. That I have little sense of timing yet (Help)
4. That is why practicing slow is so important
I would be grateful to win a copy of these DVD teachings on this important aspect of guitar playing. Thanks. Victor

Could not see the video, even though I turned hardware acceleration off. But, I did listen to it. Sounds like good advise. I agree strum timing is my weakest point. I’m sure the lessons could help. Unfortunately, I’m not working and unable to afford it. However, I like the teaching style.

Seeing that clip has given me a better understanding of some techniques that you explained in a way I could grasp and move myself forward,  I can play a number of chords, but before it was sounding unrecognisable, this clip has plugged a gap which makes it sound like I am playing music!! At Last.  It would be so good to get the new course to further progression. Thanks a lot.
Andy

I have been trying to learn mostly on my own and it is a very slow process.  Your Guitar Strumming Patterns for Beginners looks to be what I need to help me  progress . Thank you for putting together this course.   

helpful and informative. i like the concepts.
 

Really like how you have three screens going at the same time.
why I think this would be helpful for me: I took lessons finger style folk music for 2 years. My guitar teacher has since moved far away. I live in RURAL Idaho. So getting another teacher is highly unlikely. I now volunteer once a week working with a kids bluegrass music group. I am working with beginner guitar players, flat picking fiddle backup. Its been a challenge transitioning to flatpicking/strumming. It feels foreign to me. I think this video would help me at home be a better teacher for these kids.
 

Thanks for this initial video. I’m off to start practicing the first strum pattern and chord progression…

That was very interesting. Toy do show a lot in the rythm area otstanding thanks….
Earl

pretty cool – nice quality tutorial!

I am in the process of teaching a left handed player the basics. It is rather easy to teach a left handed person for they mirror you. BUT.. He needs the inspiration and teaching at all times during his practice time when I am not there. Right now is the perfect time to introduce rhythm and strumming to him. This DVD would be spot on in my training. I do not charge for lessons so getting this DVD would really help me in my training… Thanks for all you do.. Fred Sweatfield..

This course sounds really cool, and the split screen views are sharp and clear.
Some rhythm challenges are when strums get complicated, become frustrating and end up being abandoned. I’d like to get back to paying more attention to rhythm and strumming, having been on a lead and note playing direction for so long,

I really need to:   Start Trying Riffs Ultimate Musiclessons 

A cool way of marketing. I must say I feel lucky this time. Line, sinkers and bait in the water!!!! You never know.

Great lesson.  Especially the way your strum and count match.

First of all, I love the three screens.. watching others play to figure out strumming patterns is very difficult because I cannot “hear” the chords yet – I have to watch where a person’s fingers are on the fretboard..then I can’t pay attention to the strumming. Fantastic idea on your part! Honestly tho, I know chords, bar chords.. I need some rhythm. I’ve been playing acoustic for almost two years now and I am frustrated. I get a little depressed now when I play guitar… I can never get down the strumming. I feel as if I have locked myself into my first strumming pattern I found enjoyable. I will start new songs with new patterns and then next I realize I transitioned back into “my” pattern again. I do play guitar everyday. I love finger-picking (only because I can do that well) I am bored and flustered with this plateau I have reached. I feel like 2 years is too long to only be where I am. I need some “feel” in my life…it gets me so excited! If you could help me out with this DVD that’d be awesome. I need some percussion mutes, slaps, and beats incorporated into my music….that would make me so happy. I cannot figure out how to get em’ in there. Thank you 🙂

My daughter learned from this lesson. Thanks

I have a hard time keeping time when strumming and playing rhythm guitar, so this might be a great thing for me.

Watching your arm going up and down gives me the rhythm feel. I have struggled with keeping time and using the arm technique instead of the wrist seems to help.  Complex strumming patterns give me trouble still, but these demos help a lot.  I look forward to watching all your demos.

Very good strumming lesson. I’ve been learning for several months now (group class) and we have not even touched on strumming yet. I’m concerned because it does not come natural to me. Thank you.

Good to actually see how speed affects strumming and how strumming hand never stops moving.  It is one thing to read this but quite another to see an actual demonstration. The three screen approach is most useful for following strumming hand and timing on chord changes.

Good to actually see how speed affects strumming and how strumming hand never stops moving.  It is one thing to read this but quite another to see an actual demonstration. The three screen approach is most useful for following strumming hand and timing on chord changes.

Very Good Lesson,   Really help me understand the 1/4 note strumming

I want to win a copy of the DVD please!

great lesson to strum and count fantastic thank for your help .

The best visual aid I have seen; using the three screen method.It can be difficult to follow what a lot of other folk  are laying down in their videos. Great stuff!

I think your course will help me to keep my strumming time while I am singing and playing. Thats what I struggle with the most.

Definitely on my Christmas wishlist!

Hi,Colin. This helped me alot.As a newbie, I’ve been struggling a bit on the stumming patterns and rhythm.Thanx.Wildrick!!!

Wow, great lesson!  You’re a fantastic teacher.  What I learned from this lesson is how to get a smoother strum out of my pick by holding it lose and pointing it up as I strum down then pointing it down as I strum up.  Great tip.  Thank you.  By the way, that pick looked like a stone.  Is it a real stone or just made to look like one?
My biggest challenge is strumming and trying to count at the same time.
I love the three-way split screen.  That makes it real easy to see everything and we need that advantage for learning.  I think strumming doesn’t come natural to anyone who’s first starting out so this is going to be a BIG help, because the better we strum the better we’ll sound.  Also the more strums we learn the more songs we can play and hopefully the easier it will become to learn more strums! I think this new course will simply improve all my playing.  Thank you!

I believe that counting out the strum will be of benifit, rather than relyingh on my internal clock.

glen203@hotmail:disqus .com
Colin I’m a grandad in Tennessee and want to learn to play guitar, my grandson lives in Florida and is taking guitar lessons there, so I would love to be able to play rhythm guitar while he plays lead and surprize him when they come to visit.
The Essentials of Strumming & Rhythm sounds like what I need to get started to learn the strumming patters and chords at the same time. I had always wanted to learn to play but was to busy making a living for my family and never got the chances. Thanks for giving the chance now to be able to play with my grandson.
 Glen

Good stuff.  Thanks I’m learning more everyday.

Hi Colin,
your course is very important for everybody who can understand that Strumming & Rhythm is one of the essentials parts of the knowledge which must have all the guitarists for becoming great ones. This lesson learns that making a great song is important to find the appropriate Strumming & Rhythm for making a hit. As much somebody knows and develops more tips of strumming, as more chances he has to become a great guitarist. That is why from now I”ll look in my mind for many other strumming tips which will be my personal fingerprints in my music.Have a nice dayOctavian

hey Colin your new coursefor guitar is awesome!!from Ger the Guitarman in Galway in Ireland

I am an EXTREME beginning guitarist, and the best thing (EUREKA!) I got from this lesson was your tip on holding the pik…I have aTERRIBLE time trying to strum while holding a pik and this was REALLY helpful.  Also, I could NEVER figure out that little “catch” or “hitch” in the sound of the strumming until you explained about the  counting (eighth and quarter strums….who the hell KNEW?)…a whole new world has opened up, ha! 
Thanks!

I have played guitar for more years than I will admit. I never really had the time to dedicate to learning the proper way. I just tinkered with it between work, wife, kids and all the things that we are busy with in our day to day living. But now that I am retired I have more time and desire to dedicate to my playing.  A free lesson DVD would be a wonderful kick-start.

This lesson is awesome. If the whole course is half as good it is a must for those struggling with strum patterns and making the guitar sound good and not the same pattern with everything they play. I am confident that with this course, I would greatly improve, especially when “trying” to sing while playing. Keep the lessons coming, you are appreciated more than you know.
Thanks and God bless
PI

Well new at at the guitar, and hope you can teach a old dog new tricks,(68 years young). Unemployed with time on my hands so always want to play guitar but you spot on about strumming. Big problem for me and yes I can count to 4. Looking forward to your new class, and tips so I can master my short comming. Michigan here.

Another great lesson, have been absorbing as much as possible in the small dose, lesson forms you present, which, of course has me sounding much more accomplished all the time! Thanks

You make it look so easy. Your course is probably a must for any seriuos beginner.

excellent its like the light bulbs came on.nough said.bill

Just took up the guitar at 64. Believe me….I need all the help I can get. This lesson was easy for me to understand and would really enjoy the whole course. Thanks. Clint

Great stuff and just what I need. I have always been the
strummer/rhythm guy in our jams while everybody else runs scales on me. The
problem is that I never learned how to count properly and my repertoire of
strums patterns was very limited. In essence I didn’t know what I was doing! I
somehow sounded okay because in between the mistakes I somehow kept some kind
of timing.  To make matters worse — I
really like the rhythm part of playing the most. I have been playing around 10
years and always knew that I had/needed to go there (learn counting & strum
patterns). I need/want this course bad and hope I win it. Colin is my type of
teacher and his way of explaining and showing the lessons really clicks with me—I
get it! Please LORD let me win.
Walt Warren

yea –strumming well explained colin and the count helpd understand the rhythm===ger/guitarman

Would love to use this in our guitar club at middle school. Well put together and the kids could really benefit from it’s instruction…would be a great addition to our program…

This is awesome, I’ve been teaching myself guitar with help from your self and Jonathan Boettcher for a year and a half, and the one thing I couldn’t get was the strumming, it just sounded boring and repetitous. Ive observed other amatuers at partys and stuff and you could almost always tell what they were going to play a few bars into the song, but all I could sound like was some guy strumming and changing chords, not very distinctive from one song to the next. I already feel like
I’ve improved more in this one lesson than in the last year and a half, at least to my ear anyways. Thank you very much and please keep it up……………..Barry Larence

Strumming is so cool!  It adds an entirely new dimension to the music you can make.It makes “basic” sound like polished, even if it’s basic strumming.  I’m so glad to add this to my beginner’s capability.

Rhythm is the essence of any style of guitar playing. ‘Nuff said!

Great lesson this shows that you dont always have to play barre chords to sound good.Its a little more difficult for me to strum because of short fingers so I would like to see that subject addressed and how to cope with it.I would love to win a free course so I could see how to put chord patterns ahd strumming together so I could  get some new and original patterns to give me diffrent ideas.

This  video is exactly the type of training information I need.Looking forward to the “Essentials of Strumming & Rhythm ” course.

colin: good stuff if you are not counting you are not playing   I am having playing the bass strings and the chords at the same time on “I am a man of sorrow” if you get time look at it  Thanks Ed

Hi Colin
Thanks for that video concerning strumming, It has helped me very much with my strumming.  You mentioned in the video that the pattern was in several song progressions, can you please tell me what songs the are?
Thanks 
Trevor

A great lesson for beginners and more advanced players. You have made me aware of the importance of counting.
Nick

The strumming was easy the way you showed us. I’m left handed and have had a bad time.keeping my easy strokes.. I have trouble with ounting. I have been wanting to learn for many years I beleive you DVD would help .  I can sing I WANT TO LEARN TO PLAY,

I liked how you explained the counting aspect. I was always confused as to what the “and” meant in the counting, but seeing how you always counted “and” on the up-stroke helped a lot.

I like the divided screen. It makes it easier for me to follow the whole process. Holding the pick correctly has always been a problem for me when varying the tempos.  I have gone more to fingerpicking because of this. I think the course could move me in the right direction. Your detail is good.

hi thanks for this video.it is so useful ,I’ve been having trouble with timing during strumming and also hitting strings when performing up strokes.This is of great use, thanks again. cosmas from Uganda

 thank you so much I am a 61 yr old trying a new thing teaching a old dog new tricks is not easy but you make it so thank you again for beinnd and enjoyable to this old goat I love the guitar mtormanen@yahoo,com

  Really good lesson. At first i was disappointed that you didn’t give the times of the strums but,you did later. 1/4 down,1/8 down ,1/8 up. Very important to me at least. It explains the rhythm of the strums. As an intermediate player. I sometimes still struggle with strum pattern of certain songs. Elpasso,by Marty Robbins for example. These lessons look to posses real,Aha moments!
  Thanks. I’m going now to go give it another try.

  Really good lesson. At first i was disappointed that you didn’t give the times of the strums but,you did later. 1/4 down,1/8 down ,1/8 up. Very important to me at least. It explains the rhythm of the strums. As an intermediate player. I sometimes still struggle with strum pattern of certain songs. Elpasso,by Marty Robbins for example. These lessons look to posses real,Aha moments!
  Thanks. I’m going now to go give it another try.

I liked the way he laid it out. It seemed alot easier to understand for me. alot of guys dont communicate it as well, thats for sure. this could be a huge advantage for my strumming patterns as i’m recovering from my second stroke an its not all just falling back into place as quickly as i’d like. anyway it seems to be a very understandable lesson that even a beginner could get. thanks J. Caeton

Hi Colin.  This is good useful stuff.  I find this video helped confirm for me that I can strum basic rhythm patterns but I still need help on complex rhythms and patterns.  Maybe you can help?

This video is so helpful! Many of the songs I’ve been learning contain various strumming patterns and your technique has allowed me to play my favorite songs! 

I wanna win!

By the way, I love the guitar you’re playing.  I am a very basic beginer guitarist but I thought you’re chords were awsome because you showed where to put you’re fingers and showed you’re strumming at the same time.  You strum very gently with one fluid motion.  I like the way you teach guitar.  You show it in a way that makes me understand what is going on in the background of playing.  Like the rythem and timing of you’re strokes or strums.  But on that guitar the video shows everything I think I would need to see clearly and learn how and where to time my strums and chords at the same time.  I am really glad I watch your video’s.  You are a skillful player and better teacher.  Really, you’re cool. David Rice.

Hey Mr. Colin,
It’s good to see someone FINALLY address strumming issues.  I am a music teacher, and have always drawn up my own “charts,” and done my own demonstrations.  I would love to have a copy of your “Essentials” to compliment my teaching materials.  As a teacher, you are aware that the more illustrations you can give a student, the more likely they are to pick it up in less time.  I thoroughly enjoyed your lesson, and would love a copy of it.

I play rhythm guitar in a praise band at church and fine tuning my timing, counting, and strumming patterns would be really helpful in spreading the word of God through our music. Thanks for the lesson! 

Finally someone addressing strumming! I find so much material on other aspects of guitar playing but not strumming. This is what makes a song! This would tie so much together for me and give a big stride in my playing. Thanks  so much for the video lesson.

That’s going to be a great course for some one like me that;s been trying to teach there self to play the guitar a big part of it is strumming and trying to learn to get the rhythm part of playing down it’s not as easy as some say it is I have looked at a bunch of guitar courses this one is the best one I have looked at so for so if I am not one of the ones that gets to win one I will be sure to buy one.

Hey Colin, Just watched your video and am thrilled at how helpful it was!  At 55 I am finally living the dream of learning how to play both the guitar and the ukulele this winter and I am struggling with the strumming!  Well, strumming troubles are no more, thanks to you!  I sure hope I win a copy of your new course – it’s AWESOME!! 

Thanks… strumming was a deep mystery when I first started to learn to play, as everyone just told me to “make it fit the music.”  I’ve gotten better at finding a strum that works but my fundamentals are still a bit hazy and this lesson was very helpful!

Get the basics right and everything else falls together! A
must for every budding, and even more accomplished guitarists.

I would REALLY like to receive one of the new course copies as strumming is one of my weak points even after aboot 4 years practice. I know Colin knows what he’s doing cause he has been at this since the beginning of Time. (well, almost.) I humbly submit my request in the hope of being a winner and developing my skills to much greater levels.  Thanks for ALL the videos you have posted previously.

This strumming lesson with three in one picture made me understand it far-far better than learning from books or from a (my) teacher.
My weakness is that I dont count while strumming. I wish to get over this shortcoming.
The course could help me improve my understanding of strumming because it is nicely shown and explained.
Kailash Pant

Thanks Colin for the strumming lesson.
I have been playing guitar for some years now and haven not progressed. I then thought I need to learn some theory.
I started with Jonathan Boettcher with the 1-iV- V to understand music patterns & combinations of notes, and then progressed to  Griff Hamlin learning guitar blues to which I am a third of the way through.
I found that the strumming & counting the beats and using a metronome  to be the up most important to  make the music sound right.
Your 10 minute lesson which is clear & concise  showed precisely the way its done.
Nice work
Mark
Sydney
Australia
 

I’d love to win this it is a real problem area in my playing

I love the sound of the chords, especially due to the fact that you explained how to add a G to the C chord so that all six strings can be strummed. I wish I had time to play my guitar more often but I definitely will practise what you demonstrated. I have learned sooooo much from you. Thanks. I look forward to receiving all of your e-mail. Keep up the great work.
Geri Urquhart

It’s great the way you break it down like that!  Very helpful.

I liked the video because strumming is definitely one of the areas that I’ve found quite challenging. While I may know or find the chords associated with a particular song, invariably my efforts to apply the chords even if I’m reading or following the chord breaks on tabs or music don’t produce the desired result; i.e., that the song sounds as it should and is recognized by someone who’s listening, not just me. If the course goes beyond the video and applies the strumming patterns to actual songs, that will be quite beneficial and help me advance my playing immensely. Thanks, GerryO

i find chord structure of songs easy to pick up but if i cant get the strum pattern right it just doesnt ‘play’ well. i sing in a band and would love to do rythmn guitar too but as my strumming needs work i cant commit to it i think this course will finally get me over the platuea i have been on for some time great in depth lessons i can relate to and understand and put into practice

If this vidoe is any indication, sounds and looks like the course would be very helpful

This would make the perfect christmas gift for a guitarist of my  ability

Watching the video, I learned something about brushing the strings with my pick.
My challenge is control and having the right rhythm is control. .
Your new strumming and rhythm course would help lift the barriers to me being a GUITAR PLAYER. 

I asked for guitar skills not scales for Christmas ,  Thanks !

When I started playing, my biggest struggle was strumming. I could handle the rhythm. But, identifying and maintaining regular patterns were my demise. The counting technique is probably were I am most deficient. I mainly strummed by “feel”; which worked great for a limited set of strum patterns. This clip is really driving me to pick up my guitar and start trying out the concepts you presented. 

Big Fan makes me want to play better daily…….

There’s absolutely no way to reach your musical goal(s) without the tempo (beat) or (time signature) and understanding how quarter, half, eighth and sixteenth’s etc…notes tie in to form measures. As a senior guitar student this type of course would have shaved years off of the time it took me to become a better player. Back then you might hear a lesson on public radio or a tapeand yes there were pictures in some learning material but very little. To have the DVD with both audio and video with the ability to pause rewind, fast forward slow at anytime you need more time is still the best method to get to the next level. Thanks for the lesson

Interesting take on a simple strum pattern … makes all the difference in the world to old ears and tired fingers … Cheers Mate ! … Keep up the good work !

Your explanation is awesome and very down to earth. I struggle with strumming and to listen to someone who can is music to the ears.
I’ve heard other clarifications, but this is awesome. To see the smoothness and clarity in this, I started to get a grasp right away of it and started to strum along with you with rhythm and understanding the beats. I have never put the strumming and the beats together like this, but this gives me that insight.
I have tried to learn strumming in a slower approach and have lost it as I go along, and this was just the perfect speed to keep me focused with more confidence in moving forward.
I believe your course, without a doubt, will assist me in attaining my goal on the guitar. To be able to watch all the action at once on the screen is very helpful, meaning the strumming, chords, and bringing it together. If your DVD is clarified in this manner, there is no ceiling in how far a person would go.
Thank You for this awesome video as it is a gift to correct my mistakes.
James

Thanks very much I have been trying on and of for many years and had a few lessons over the years and this was an eye opener and alway had difficulty with counting the beats I have lots of things but just thought it sounded rubbish.I will try to do your strumming video and hope I can see some kind of improvement.
Cheers Art Ferguson .

Hi Colin,
Very good lesson! If this is an indication of the course I reckon it will be a marvelous help to anyone who struggles with strumming.
Keep up the good work.
Cheers
Einar

 one of the best way to play guitar it is observing how it is well
the sound ,teacher must be to try to investigate  the different
way to many people share your interest into it like a little child

Video is great,thanks for the lessons !!!

I like the idea that by taking a standard I-IV-V progression, you can build on this so many ways by altering the strumming patterns.  Or by showing another way of playing the C major chord with the added 5th on the 6th string, it not only sounds better but reinforces why the standard I-IV-V progression is so important to know.  And what a great way to reinforce these chord progressions by trying out some different strumming patterns.

Just what I’m looking for “HELP’  with strumming & rhythm, but more to the point-able to stay in time with the beat.