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The Best Country Strumming Patterns

Lesson ID: A0060

Ever wondered what makes a strumming pattern sound country? In this lesson video I’ll show you! We’ll go over several common country strumming patterns and I’ll teach you some awesome techniques to spice up your country rhythm guitar playing. These techniques will work with just about every country song you hear on the radio! If you like this lesson, you might also like our Classic Country Strumming Course.

Video Start TimeLesson Topic
00:00 minLesson Overview
00:24 minYour Choice of Guitar Pick
01:27 minBest Way to Grip Your Pick
02:39 minModern Country Strumming Pattern
03:31 minSmooth Out Your Strumming
04:10 minTraditional Strumming Pattern
04:55 minWhat Makes It Sound Country?
06:01 minPick D Pick D U
06:41 minPick D Pick U D U
07:57 minCountry Rhythm Hammer-On
08:46 minAlternating Bass Notes
10:40 minPick D Pick Pick D U

45 Comments
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Bryan
Bryan (@guest_3)

So helpful thanks a lot!

JB_Country
JB_Country(@jb_country)

Well explained and high quality video. I just found my new guitar teacher!

Paige
Paige(@paige)

My goal this week is to perfect this! Thanks so much!

martinfan
martinfan(@martinfan)

Best lesson on strumming I’ve found by far

kevinb
kevinb(@kevinb)

very good lesson, great sounding guitar!

Richard
Richard(@richard)

Great lessons , best online teacher I have seen. Keep of the good work

Lauren S
Lauren S(@lauren)

I just want to say thank you so much for this lesson! This is really helping my strumming

Eddie
Eddie (@guest_131)

I just found your website and wanted to say thanks for a great lesson! You really have a knack for breaking down the mechanics of playing. Looking forward to watching more of your videos.

PreezyFB
PreezyFB (@guest_132)

Wow, man that’s amazing video. You really broke it down to the basics.

09jitters
09jitters (@guest_133)

What a great job!! I learned more from you than I have with others. Great job of taking your time on the pointers of for us. I hope that other guitar instructors watch this. Thanks a million.

bossd13
bossd13 (@guest_136)

Your breakdown makes a lot of sense thanks i learned a lot from this. Joined! Looking forward to more lessons

Brandon
Brandon (@guest_143)

Really helpful thanks a lot

Suzie
Suzie (@guest_146)

very nice lesson

Joseph
Joseph (@guest_177)

Wow amazing lesson I learned so much from this thanks a lot man!

Trudy
Trudy (@guest_186)

Hi Devin,

I’m Canadian. I ordered the BlueChip STP 50 Pick. Thank you, thank you for this tip!! It improved my playing immediately!! I forwarded your video to them.

Sharon
Sharon (@guest_525)

Thankyou loved the lesson, has really helped me.

Clint
Clint (@guest_668)

Such a great lesson

Aaron
Aaron (@guest_694)

So awesome!! Thank you so much. Very helpful lesson.

Brice
Brice (@guest_853)

What kind of guitar is that? Sounds really good

dank1176
dank1176(@dank1176gmail-com)
Reply to  Devin

You just have to get the D-15M for solid genuine mahogany now. I have the 000-15M. It’s great!

John
John(@johnmyhandymangmail-com)

very interesting Devin , that pick looks like the one I suggested (cool pick phat cat) and you mentioned Brad Davis! Wow the same Brad Davis I remember from years ago trying to get his up down down up speed picking! 🙂 anyway like the grip too , Stephane Lucarelli holds his pick pretty much like that too even when he hybrid picks!, i sometimes do but yeah probable best now to keep that in mind so the pick don’t spin as much!

John
John(@johnmyhandymangmail-com)
Reply to  Devin

yes , I remember saving his youtube interview and short tutorial tried also but man Brad Davis owns that!, that is dizzy fast shredding,, he explained how he acquired his double down up technique from his brother a banjo player,, looks like economy picking to me but man that is crazy shredding indeed…Yes the cool picks have that bevel too and grip texture, harden nylon last long time easy 6 months ,fit perfect and think a buck each. Anyway, must say i appreciate your easy to follow tutorials . Enjoy!

Brandon h
Brandon h (@guest_946)

this was an awesome video, i really appreciate you man ive wanted to learn a country style rhythm for awhile and every video i came across was pretty much garbage, but today i stumbled apon this and was blown away with it. your awesome man. ill be canceling all my subrciptions to tab pros and all that because ive learned more from your video in 13 minutes then all of them combined

k4wk
k4wk(@k4wkcomcast-net)

Good lesson. I liked the tip to concentrate strumming on the top 4 strings and not the whole chord. But on the C chord, why not use the “old school” C of C/G and not bother with moving your ring finger around?

Connie
Connie (@guest_1093)

Thank you very much! Impressive….

Ariel
Ariel (@guest_1106)

That was very, very helpful. Thanks so much!!

Tasha
Tasha (@guest_1252)

Terrific instructor! Thanks so much – great pacing for the lesson, and excellent approach.

bjbobsprague
bjbobsprague(@bjbobspraguegmail-com)

Great lesson thanks!

Devin
Devin (@guest_1334)
Reply to  bjbobsprague

Thanks! Loving the hat by the way

William Taylor
William Taylor (@guest_1010363)

It’s easy to to show a strum but nobody shows how to play a song on the strum?

Geoff
Geoff(@geoff)

Yes William Taylor, Devin does a great job showing how to use strumming patterns in songs. His strumming course is excellent! I recommend you spend the $1 and try it for yourself!

Gene
Gene(@elbkpkryahoo-com)

Playing rock for quite awhile, I pretty much forgot the different country strumming patterns. Great job in bringing it back!

cassarta11
cassarta11(@cassarta11gmail-com)

i agree Glenn , so helpful to get different rhytmn … essential to make it less boring…
really calm and well explained

albert
albert(@albertdbrownhotmail-com)

Looking for an opinion. In this lesson (A0060) — strumming patterns, you mentioned (P D P P D U) as your favorite pattern. This is six attacks for a 4/4 measure and eight counts. Would it be too boring if one were to use (P P D U P P D U). This gives 1& 2& 3& 4& and aligns counts with attacks (down and up). Not sure if I am clear here. If not pass on by.

albert
albert(@albertdbrownhotmail-com)
Reply to  Devin

Thanks for the good feedback. I will work this.

Brad Cox
Brad Cox(@brad-cox)

Devin, is there a pdf sheet we can follow?

jennifer swad
jennifer swad(@jencswadgmail-com)

Help, I can’t tell if you are alternating the bass on the more complex pattern or sticking with the same bass note. Thanks for any clarity. Cheers