How to Play a Shuffle Strumming Pattern

In this beginner guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play a basic shuffle strumming pattern—an essential rhythm in blues, rock, and beyond. The shuffle groove adds a laid-back swing feel that instantly makes your playing sound more musical and expressive. We’ll lock in the foundational version first, with strums landing right on the beat and just behind the ‘and’ for that classic shuffle feel. Once you’ve got it down, you can start exploring looser or tighter variations to match different grooves and songs.

[brendachristopher]

Thank you! I'm a beginner, this was very helpful.