Syncopated Strumming Patterns 

Syncopation is used to give emphasis to the weaker upbeats in our rhythms and strumming patterns. This is a very common sound in music and can create more unique sounding strumming patterns. Syncopated patterns, however, are much harder to read at first glance, so we will go over some of the most commonly used syncopated strumming patterns.

Let’s examine the pattern below. If we remember our rules about strumming, we can easily understand this seemingly complex pattern.  

The first note is a single eighth note on the beat “1," which means it will be played with a downstroke. The next note, a quarter note, will land on the “+ of 1” which is upbeat, and therefore will be played with an upstroke. This quarter note will last for the “+ of 1” and beat “2.”

The next note, another single eighth note, lands on the “+ of 2,” which again, is an upbeat and will be played by an upstroke. This rhythm repeats on beats “3” and “4” with a downstroke on beat “3,” an upstroke on the “+ of 3” and an upstroke on the “+ of 4.”

Syncopated Strumming Pattern Example With Labeled Strumming Pattern Directions.