Strumming pattern · Beginner · 4/4
D DU UDU — the most common strum
Down, down-up, up-down-up: the strum behind countless pop, folk and campfire songs, sometimes called “Old Faithful” (and, on ukulele, the island strum). If you learn one pattern, learn this one.
1↓
&
2↓
&↑
3
&↑
4↓
&↑
D – D U – U D U · down, miss, down, up, miss, up, down, up
ChordG
Chords (guitar)
Change chord every
How to play it
- Keep the pendulum going: down on every number, up on every “&” — you just miss the strings on beat 3.
- The missed downstrum on 3 is what gives the pattern its lilt. Don’t stop your hand there — just swing past the strings.
- Say it as you play: “down, down-up, up-down-up”.
- Start slowly — around 60 BPM — and only speed up once the pattern feels automatic. Use the chord loop to practice changing chords without breaking the rhythm.