How to Make Up the Coolest Strumming Patterns - 56

You don't have to learn hundreds of strumming patterns. If you just take a few and learn how to change them, a whole new world of guitar opens up for you.

Struggling with Strumming?

You’re not alone. A lot of players work hard to memorize dozens of strum patterns, only to feel stuck or mechanical when it’s time to play with feeling.

This lesson flips that on its head.

Today I’ll show you how to take one classic strum pattern and transform it into multiple creative, expressive patterns — without learning anything new. You’ll learn how to:

Use space and silence in your strumming
Add ghost strums for groove
Build drive and push in your rhythm
Add syncopation for personality

Let’s break down the original pattern and how we tweak it.

The Classic Pattern: Down, Down, Up, Up, Down, Up

This is one of the most common acoustic strum patterns. You’ll find it in hundreds of songs.

Pattern breakdown:

Beat 1: Down
Beat 2: Down, Up
Beat 3: (Rest), Up
Beat 4: Down, Up

Counted:
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
D D U U D U

Pro Tip:
Your hand should move up and down evenly, even when you’re not striking the strings. The pick only hits when you want it to — the rest of the motion continues silently.

Variation 1: Leave Out the Down on Beat 2

Remove the down strum on beat 2, and you instantly change the feel.

New count:
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
D ( ) U U D U

The space at the beginning creates a more open, syncopated sound.

Optional: Use a ghost strum (muted click) on the skipped downbeat to keep the pulse going. Mute with the side of your palm and strike lightly for a rhythmic effect.

Variation 2: Leave Off the Final Upstroke

Same pattern as the original, but this time we skip the final “&” of beat 4.

New count:
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
D D U U D

This creates a tighter, more resolved sound — perfect for verse sections where you want a little more control.

Combine the Variations

Play them back-to-back and the groove becomes instantly more musical. You’re not just playing patterns — you’re playing with feel.

Try:

Classic
Variation 1
Classic
Variation 2

You’ll start to feel how dynamics and space affect the mood of a section.

Next Strumming Base: Driving 8th Notes

Let’s build a second pattern to push the rhythm forward:

Down, Down, Down-Up, Down-Up

Counted:
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
D D D U D U

This gives you momentum — a "pushing" feel into the next bar.

Driving Pattern Variation 1: Ghost Note on Beat 2

Swap the second downbeat for a muted strum or ghost note.

This creates a snare-drum effect, giving the rhythm more bounce and punch.

Driving Pattern Variation 2: Drop Beat 3

Now we remove the down strum on beat 3 and play only the offbeats at the end.

New count:
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &
D D ( ) & 4 &

It sounds syncopated and funky — a perfect way to spice up the groove.

Try it with and without ghost strums to compare the effect.

Why This Works

Understanding how each strum falls across an eighth-note grid gives you the power to modify, simplify, or spice up any pattern.

Once you see how patterns are built — not just memorized — you’ll start hearing music differently. And your strumming will never feel stuck again.

Want to Get Even More Out of Strumming?

Download my Absolute Beginner’s Guide to Starting Guitar. It’s a free mini course that gives you:

A clear strumming roadmap
Printable reference sheets
Tips for building confidence fast

Final Thoughts

Strumming isn’t about memorizing patterns. It’s about knowing your grid, trusting your hand, and making musical choices. Experiment. Leave things out. Add ghost notes. Find your groove.

Thanks for playing along today, and thanks to all of our Academy members already working through the tab and profiles inside Play Guitar Academy.

See you in the next lesson — and keep strumming!

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