How to Strum Guitar Chords

Wrist Movement & Technique

To strum cleanly without snagging strings, follow these simple rules:

• Keep Your Wrist Loose: Do not stiffen your hand. The rotation should come from a relaxed wrist, not a locked elbow.
• Angle Your Pick: Tilt your pick slightly upwards on the downstroke and downwards on the upstroke. This lets it glide smoothly across strings.
• Consistent Arm Motion: Keep your arm moving down and up like a pendulum, even if you are not plucking strings on every beat.

The Ultimate Strum Pattern

This pattern, known as the "Universal Strum," is written as:

(D = Downstroke, U = Upstroke). Strum down on beat 1, down on beat 2, up on the "&" of beat 2, up on the "&" of beat 3, down on beat 4, and up on the "&" of beat 4. Keep your arm moving consistently!