What you’ll learn
- Keep a steady pulse.
- Coordinate downstrokes and upstrokes.
- Practice with a metronome.
Before you practice
Tap your foot with the metronome and keep the strumming hand moving even on strokes that miss the strings.
In 4/4, count 1 2 3 4 evenly. Begin with a downstroke on each beat, then add upstrokes on the offbeats: 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and.
Keep your strumming hand moving through chord changes so the groove stays steady.
Lesson exercise
- Play ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ for two minutes at 60 BPM.
- Practice ↓ ↑ eighth notes on muted strings.
- Use the pattern on Em and G, four beats per chord.