Strumming the guitar is a fundamental technique that involves brushing the strings with your picking hand to produce sound.

1. Position Your Hand

• Place your strumming hand just above the sound hole (for acoustic) or pickups (for electric).
• Keep your wrist loose and relaxed; tension can make your strumming sound harsh.

2. Practice the Motion

• Downstrokes: Move your hand down across the strings. Use your wrist more than your arm for control. Remember, use gravity to let your thumb fall through the strings.

3. Strum Patterns

• Start with a basic pattern: Down, Down, Down, Down,. Count this as 1, 2, 3, and 4, and in your head.
• Gradually speed up as you become more comfortable.

4. Practice with Chords

• Start with simple chords like G and Em. Remember to place your finger in the middle of the frets and push down hard enough so the note will be heard! Be sure to use your finger TIPS when fingering a chord. If you flatten out your fingers to much, you will end. up muting strings that should be ringing out. Keep in mind your fingers aren't used to pressing down strings, so you may experience some finger pain as your callouses develop over time.

By practicing regularly, you'll develop a smooth and natural strumming technique. Once you're comfortable with basic strumming, you can experiment with more complex patterns and rhythms.