Strumming Patterns
For the songs in this book, these few strumming patterns cover most of the repertoire. The detailed teaching is in the book; here is the summary.
1. Simple downstrokes
↓ ↓ ↓ ↓
For the first songs and children's songs.
2. Boom-chuck (Esztam)
↓₂ ⇓₄ ↓₂ ⇓₄
Two strings unaccented, four strings accented — Hungarian folk songs, csárdás.
3. Standard strum
↓ ↓ ↑ ↑ ↓ ↑
Pop-rock songs, campfire classics.
4. Slow asymmetric
↓ ↓
Two downstrokes per bar, the second slightly "rushing": a 40–60% ratio — slow lyrical folk songs.
5. Four-stroke with mute
↓ ↓ ✕ ↓〜 ↓
Two quick + mute + a long ringing stroke + a closing stroke — songs with a special rhythm.