Introduction to 8th Strumming

Here is an introduction to essential 8th note strumming! We are looking at the 8th rhythms and strumming motions that are most common strumming motions at the Beginner level.

All that has changed here from what we have learnt strumming-wise so far, is that the bar is divided into 8 whereas previously it was divided into 4.

In the time signature of 4/4, we always count 4 beats in a bar simply as 1 2 3 4 and we always count 8th rhythms as: 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &

8th Rhythms

We can play our 8th beats as all Down strums: D D D D D D D D or, as Down and Ups: D U D U D U D U

It's important to understand that with 8th rhythms, we don't play each beat of 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &, we might just play 1 Up like in this pattern D D DU D.

Common 8th strumming pattern