Cool Guitar Strums
I’ve gotten a lot of emails requesting help in learning some basic guitar strums.
So I’ve made some revisions to this “Cool Guitar Strums” document, trying to make it more
understandable
(especially
to
those
people
who
have
no
clue
where
to
start).
Essentially, in order to learn strumming patterns, you have to hear them.
What I’ve detailed here is a graphical representation of each strum, so that when
you hear it in the example songs listed you can recognize it and learn the CORRECT
pattern faster.
I’ve been asked if it’s possible to write them out in a sort of musical
note form; the problem is that the beats are often swung, and swing notes can’t really be
denoted well on paper.
But
measure.
for
starters,
the
strums
always
have
a
downstrum
on
the
downbeat
of
the
And in case you’re curious, the names come from the people (or their nicknames)
who first taught the strum to me.
As a last note, these strums are just guidelines- you
can change them, swing them, add or subtract, or throw them out completely.
Have fun!
Let me know how it goes!
M@
 upstrum
 downstrum
___ pause
_ short pause
--- end of pattern
Strum Name
“Example Song” (Album, Artist)
Strum Pattern
Nicki
“Boy On A String” (Jars of Clay (JOC), (JOC)
_______---
“He” (JOC, JOC)
“Liquid” (JOC, JOC)
Andy
“Love Song for a Savior” (JOC, JOC)
______---
Matt
“Like a Child” (JOC, JOC)
______---
Flood
“Flood” (JOC, JOC)
___---
Pickles
“Weighed Down” (JOC, JOC)
_________---
Newsboys
“Lord (I Don’t Know)” (Thrive, Newsboys)
____---
Dell
_____--
Matson
______---