Sweeping across the strings to sound a chord, the rhythmic heart of guitar playing.
Strumming is the technique of brushing or sweeping across multiple strings of a guitar — with a pick or the fingers — so the notes of a chord sound together and ring out. It is the rhythmic engine of most acoustic and rhythm-guitar playing, and a strumming pattern (the specific sequence of downstrokes and upstrokes, and which beats they fall on) gives a song much of its groove and feel. Mastering relaxed, even strumming with a steady sense of timing is one of the first big milestones for a beginner guitarist, because once a few chords and a solid strum come together, you can accompany singing and play a vast number of songs.
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