Six and Eight Strumming Patterns on Guitar: Chart, Counting and Exercises
The six and the eight are the two most popular strumming patterns for beginners. Both are built on eighth notes and are easy to learn if you count aloud and play with a metronome. Names and versions differ a little between schools; below are the most common ones.
How to count a strumming pattern
Count in eighths: one-and two-and three-and four-and. The numbers are strong beats, the ands are weak beats. The hand swings down on the numbers and up on the ands without stopping, even when it does not hit the strings. That keeps the strumming even.
The six pattern chart
The six has six strokes per bar, and on one beat the hand passes through without touching the strings:
- Down on one, down on two, up on the and after two.
- Up on the and after three, down on four, up on the and after four.
- In short: down, down, up, up, down, up.
- On three the hand goes down but does not hit the strings: that is the skipped stroke, and it holds the rhythm.
The eight pattern chart
The eight is simpler: eight strokes per bar, down and up on every beat.
- Down-up, down-up, down-up, down-up.
- The hand swings without stopping, like a pendulum.
- You can accent the strokes on the strong beats and play the rest softer.
Practise with a metronome
Set the metronome to 60-70 beats per minute, switch the subdivision to eighths and play one pattern until it is even. Raise the tempo only after several clean rounds in a row.
Play it on a chord
Take Am: put your fingers as in the diagram and play both patterns on the single chord. When the rhythm is even, add a second chord.
What to read next
More strumming patterns: guitar strumming patterns and strumming on one chord. How to read rhythm: how to read rhythm on guitar. Changing chords without stopping: how to change chords without stopping the strum.
Try it in practice
Open the metronome