Learn simple strumming patterns from popular songs

Once you have mastered some of the basic open chords, there are a few songs that you can play.  Most of these songs on the pdf are the same strumming pattern for the entire song, using chords like Emaj, Amaj, and Dmaj.  Others have some odd chords, like “A Horse With No Name,” but they are all very easy to quickly learn.

A Horse With No Name

This one is probably the easiest of the five, although it is played with a shuffle feel that some students have trouble mimicking. The first chord is E minor, the second is formed by moving the first finger up one string and the second finger down one string.  It’s name? Don’t ask, it’s called Dadd9/F#.

Free Fallin’

So, a couple of notes about this song.  It’s capoed at the third fret, but you don’t need the capo to play the song by yourself.  You only need it if you want to play along with the original recording. Second, the strumming gets more complicated once the song kicks in, but you can keep doing the simpler strumming pattern along with the more complicated one and it will sound fine.

Love Sticks/The Hannukah Song

Once again, one of these songs requires a capo at the third fret (Love Stinks).  The strumming pattern is the same for both songs.

Stir It Up

I wrote this out in eighth notes, but the rhythm is actually 16th notes.  The whole song is this strumming pattern and these three chords.  The song was actually played on electric using higher inversion chords, but you can play along with the song using open chords.

What I Like About You

This one is the hardest, so save it for last.  It’s harder because it’s faster and switches chords more often than the other patterns.