strumming

Strumming is a guitar technique in which a pick or the fingers brush across multiple strings to produce a rhythmic accompaniment, typically while holding chords. It is fundamental in many genres, including folk, pop, rock, country, and reggae, and is equally used on other strummed instruments such as the ukulele and mandolin.

Technique involves a roughly wrist- and forearm-driven motion. Downstrokes move from the index finger or pick toward the floor; upstrokes return toward the guitarist. The motion should be relaxed and controlled to avoid muted or choked tones. Players may use palm muting, light string damping, or percussive taps on the instrument body to add rhythm.

Patterns vary widely but share a basic idea of combining downstrokes and upstrokes over a measure. Common patterns include simple all-downstrums on each beat, alternating D and U on eighth notes, and longer sequences such as D D U U D U. Pattern repetition with a metronome helps establish a steady groove.

Variations and related techniques include rasgueado (a rapid flamenco-style strum with multiple fingers), palm-muted or percussive strums to create a choked or drum-like effect, and finger-strumming on the ukulele. Some players strum with a thumb-only or finger-picking hybrid approach, selecting strings to outline harmony without full-chord strums.

Learning strumming typically involves chord practice, rhythm counting, and listening to songs to feel the groove. Notation commonly uses letters D and U to indicate downstrokes and upstrokes. A metronome helps develop consistent tempo and dynamic control.