Strumming is to scratch or brush the strings as blocks. We could call it a ‘whap’. When strumming, we don’t drag the pick or finger through the strings, rather, we give them a good whap [hit them as a ‘block’]. We can drag through the strings, & this is called a rake or a drag.
Our stated rule for strumming is that at the beginning, while training, the strumming hand never stops moving down-up – whether you are hitting or missing. At the start, log a lot of time strumming down-up while hitting on both the down & the up. This will lead to strumming and changing chords being relatively simple.
Becoming a reliable rhythm player is base level for becoming a guitarist. To do this, we train our strumming while synchronizing events to it [chords, types of touches]. We can evolve our strumming quickly by exploring the different facets of our overall strumming system.
And, rather than learning 'strumming patterns', we develop our rhythmic abilities by considering (training) different facets of the the overall strumming system.
The Strumsphere • The possibilities. The overall rhythmic sound shape from strumming includes combinations and mixing these things together: Hitting/Missing, Range, Dynamics [volume], Accents, Tempo, Double-timing and Touching [Muting]-Pressing. We can't possibly micro-manage all of these facets. Our goal is to develop our rhythmic self and skills by training in intelligent ways.
Strumming Opens & Mutes • "Pre-Chord" sounds for training [Core location is Chords].
Strumming Harmonic Blocks • More training sounds. [Core location is Chords].
Strumming D Major • Good starter chord - the "triangle" - to get your engine moving. [Core location is Chords].
Shape Connect • This is Faulkner's fail-proof chord switching system.
Start
Track One
Wave One • Em to G6 & G and Em to E
Wave Two • E to Am, Am to C, C to F, F to D7, & D7 to A
Track Two
Wave One • G, Cadd9, D, Em
Wave Two • E to B7, E to E7, Am to Bm, C to C7, C to G7, F to D, D to Dm, & A to A7
Bonus Puzzles
Palm Mute Strumming • Palm muting is using the soft fleshy part of the palm to dampen the strings, while still allowing the strings to vibrate. When we do this, we get a tighter sound from the strings.
Beyond Strumming Patterns • What we call 'strumming patterns' are the hitting/missing dimension to the strumming system. This is one component among many, for creating rhythms and rhythmic skills. The only strumming pattern is down-up.