Strumming Lesson For Beginners

Why Up Strums Feel So Hard for Beginners

If your strumming feels jerky or “hiccups” when you add up strums, it’s usually not a coordination issue—it’s tension.

Common causes include:

• Tight forearm, bicep, or wrist

• Overthinking the strumming motion

• Rushing to get back up for the next strum

• Gripping the pick too tightly

The good news is this is completely normal—and fixable.

Your Strumming Hand Is a Moving Metronome

One of the most important concepts in this strumming lesson for beginners is this:

Your strumming hand should never stop moving.

Even when you’re only playing down strums, your hand is still moving down and up—you’re just choosing when to hit the strings.

Think of your strumming hand as:

• A metronome

• A heartbeat

• A pendulum that keeps steady time

When your hand stops or jerks, tension creeps in—and smooth strumming disappears.

Start Simple: The Down-Strum Exercise

Begin with a very simple pattern using an easy chord like E minor.

Strum:

• 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 (all down strums)

Focus on:

• Relaxed shoulders

• Loose wrist

• Even motion

Notice how your hand naturally moves back up after each down strum—even though you’re not hitting the strings yet.

Adding Up Strums Without the “Hiccup”

Now let’s add up strums:

1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and

Played as: Down - Up - Down - Up - Down - Up - Down -Up

If your strumming sounds choppy, slow it way down and over-exaggerate the motion.

Key tips:

• Let your hand fall instead of forcing it

• Breathe while you strum

• Think loose and relaxed, not precise and tight

Once your hand feels relaxed away from the guitar, bring it back to the strings and gently tighten the motion.

Pick Technique: A Huge Beginner Strumming Fix

Another big reason beginner strumming sounds harsh—especially on up strums—is gripping the pick too tightly.

What Should the Pick Do?

The pick should:

• Stay secure in your fingers

• Still have flexibility

• Float through the strings, not dig in

Beginner Pick Recommendations

• Use a thin pick (around .5mm)

  • Softer on up strums

  • More forgiving while you build control

• Consider max-grip picks

  • Especially helpful for older beginners or anyone who struggles to hold onto the pick

As your technique improves, you can experiment with thicker picks—but thin picks are excellent training wheels.

I really love these Tortex Guitar Pick Packs which have a variety of sizes and thicknesses to try.

Relaxation Is the Secret to Better Strumming

Smooth strumming doesn’t come from strength—it comes from relaxation and repetition.

To improve:

• Practice slowly

• Over-exaggerate the motion

• Focus on looseness, not speed

• Keep your hand moving continuously

Fast, confident strumming is impossible if your arm and wrist are tight.

A Simple Daily Strumming Warm-Up

To see real improvement, add this to your practice routine:

• 2–3 minutes per day

• Slow down–up strums

• Focus on breathing and relaxation

This small habit will dramatically improve your rhythm over time.

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Mastering Strumming Takes Patience

Every guitarist—no matter how experienced—went through this stage. Strumming smoothly is a skill that develops gradually as your body learns to relax and move naturally with the rhythm.

If you’re struggling, it doesn’t mean you’re doing something wrong—it means you’re learning.

Stick with this strumming lesson for beginners, stay relaxed, and keep your hand moving. Your up strums will catch up.