Down-Up Strumming Pattern
Four down-strokes, then alternate. Stay relaxed.
Lesson
The fundamental strum: down-down-down-down
Before any pattern, just play four down-strokes per bar at 60 BPM. Hit all six strings (or whatever subset your chord uses). Listen for an even attack on every strum.
Adding the up-stroke
The classic eighth-note strum is "down, up, down, up, down, up, down, up" — eight strokes per bar. Count "1-and-2-and-3-and-4-and." Down on the number, up on the "and."
The biggest beginner mistake
Stopping the wrist between strums. The wrist should keep moving — even when you're not striking the strings, your hand is still pulsing up and down. This is called "ghost strumming," and it's how every steady strummer keeps their time even when the pattern skips beats.
Start with one chord
Pick an Em chord. Strum down-up-down-up at 70 BPM for two minutes. Don't change chords yet. Just lock the rhythm in. Speed comes later.