Rhythm and Strumming: How to Play Your First Songs on Guitar

You’ve mastered the basic chords, but now the crucial question arises: how do you turn chords into real music?
The answer is rhythm. And I’ll show you that rhythm isn’t a gift – it’s a technique that can be learned.

I’d rather play with someone who knows 5 chords but has solid rhythm than someone who knows 50 chords and
can’t keep time. Rhythm is the soul of music. It’s what makes people tap their feet and feel the music in their
bodies.

4/4 time signature (most common):
• 4 beats per measure
• Count: 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4, 1-2-3-4…
• 80% of rock, pop, and blues is in 4/4

Other time signatures:
• 3/4: Waltz (1-2-3, 1-2-3)
• 6/8: Grouped in two (1-2-3-4-5-6)

For now, focus on 4/4.

Brutal truth: if you don’t practice with a metronome, your timing is a mess. You speed up on easy parts and slow
down on difficult ones.

Free apps:
• Soundbrenner
• Pro Metronome
• Google Metronome

How to use:

1. Set to 60 BPM
2. Play one chord on each click
3. Count out loud: 1-2-3-4
4. Gradually increase: 60 → 70 → 80 → 90 BPM

ALWAYS start slow. There’s no shortcut.

Pattern 1: All Downstrokes

↓ ↓ ↓ ↓↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
1 2 3 41 2 3 4

Most basic. Perfect to start.

Pattern 2: Alternating Down-Up

↓ ↑ ↓ ↑↓ ↑ ↓ ↑
1 2 3 41 2 3 4

Pendulum motion. Foundation of everything. Relaxed elbow, fluid wrist.

Pattern 3: Basic Pop/Rock

↓ – ↓ ↑ – ↑ ↓ ↑↓ – ↓ ↑ – ↑ ↓ ↑
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

Hand keeps moving in empty spaces (“ghost” movements).

Songs: “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door”, “Wish You Were Here”

Pattern 4: Reggae

– ↓ – ↓ – ↓ – ↓- ↓ – ↓ – ↓ – ↓
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

Only on “&’s”. VERY relaxed wrist. Lightly mute with palm.

Songs: Bob Marley

Pattern 5: Folk/Country

↓ – ↓ ↑ – ↑ ↓ -↓ – ↓ ↑ – ↑ ↓ –
1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &


No last upstroke. Creates space before next measure.

Palm Muting

Right palm lightly on strings near bridge.
Sound: “chunk-chunk” percussive
Used in: Rock, punk, metal

Dead Notes

Relax left fingers but don’t remove from neck. Percussive “tchk-tchk” sound.
Used in: Funk, R&B

I-V-vi-IV (Most Popular)
• In C: C – G – Am – F
• In G: G – D – Em – C
Songs: “Let It Be”, “No Woman No Cry”, “Someone Like You”

I-IV-V (Basic Blues)
• In E: E – A – B
• In A: A – D – E

I-vi-IV-V (50s)
• In C: C – Am – F – G
Songs: “Stand By Me”, “Every Breath You Take”

1. “Horse With No Name” – America
• Chords: Em – D (JUST THIS!)
• Rhythm: ↓ ↓ ↓ ↓ (all downstrokes)
• BPM: ~123 (start at 80)
• Difficulty: 1/10

2. “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” – Bob Dylan
• Chords: G – D – Am – C
• Rhythm: ↓ – ↓ ↑ – ↑ ↓ ↑
• BPM: ~60-70
• Difficulty: 3/10

3. “Wonderwall” – Oasis
• Chords: Em – G – D – A (simplified)
• Rhythm: ↓ – ↓ ↑ – ↑ ↓ ↑
• BPM: ~87
• Difficulty: 5/10

Tip: Use YouTube at 0.75x speed to play along slowly.

1. Speeding up on easy parts → Solution: Metronome mandatory
2. Stopping to change chords → Solution: Decrease BPM
3. Not counting out loud → Solution: Count. Always.
4. Wrist tension → Solution: Relax! Fluid movement.
5. Not playing with original song → Solution: Play along (reduced speed)
6. Giving up quickly → Solution: Break into sections, master one part at a time

Min 0-5: Warm-up (spider + stretching)
Min 5-10: Chords and transitions (C-G-Am-F) with metronome
Min 10-15: One strumming pattern in progression
Min 15-20: One complete song

Weekly Progression
• Week 1: Simple strums (all downstrokes)
• Week 2: Alternating down-up
• Week 3: Basic pop/rock pattern
• Week 4: Multiple patterns

Groove = when rhythm “locks in” and makes you want to move
Pocket = playing EXACTLY in time

How to develop:

1. Listen to lots of music (pay attention to drums/bass)
2. Move your body along
3. Play with backing tracks
4. Record yourself and listen back
5. Be patient

Rhythm is technique. It’s practice. It’s conscious repetition. In 30 days practicing with metronome, you’ll notice
a huge difference. Your songs will sound professional, you’ll be able to play with other musicians, you’ll
develop groove.

Golden rules:

• Metronome always
• Start slow
• Count out loud
• Play with original song
• Be patient

Grab your guitar, turn on the metronome, and let’s go! One chord at a time, one strum at a time.

Thanks for reading, and keep playing!

—

Written by Caio Barbosa / CB Audio
Want more? Check out our eBooks, sample packs, and online courses.