Feel The Groove
Theory tells you which chords — rhythm tells you when. Pick a strum pattern, set the tempo, and play along until the groove is in your hands.
The bedrock. One down-strum on every beat — count out loud: 1, 2, 3, 4.
Strum along to
The Method
Down-strum
Brush from the low strings down toward the floor.
Up-strum
Brush back up, usually only catching the higher strings.
Muted strum
Rest the palm on the strings for a percussive “chunk”.
Rest
No contact — keep the hand moving in time, just don't hit.
The number under each beat group is the count (1 2 3 4). Keep your strumming hand swinging steadily like a pendulum — down on the beats, up on the off-beats — and simply miss the strings on rests. A violet dot marks an accent: hit that strum a little harder.