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Learn to play like a professional guitar player, with even, steady timing. With my simple exercise, you can start sounding like a pro, in a very short time.

Sample rhythm One

Start with a sample rhythm of one measure — four beats — which we shall repeat many times. So that there is no chance of the left hand calling for your attention, use an open chord, without using the left hand. The measure will be all eighth notes. So, here we go…

strum — down up, down up, down up, down up — to the count of — “one and two and three and four and.”

To keep the timing straight, use a metronome set at 66. Each click will represent an eighth note, meaning that every strum, up or down, will be accompanied by a click. This will make it very easy to keep the timing straight. It is very important to make sure that you can play this simple timing, evenly and easily, before going on to the next sample. Emphasizing the down strums slightly, will help you feel the beat and keep proper time.

Before we leave this sample rhythm, note the feel, of the even up and down motion, of your arm as you strum. Every up and down movement should be the same length, so that your arm movement is exactly the same each time.

In the follow exercises, whether you strum all the strums or not, keep that exact same motion going. Just don’t touch the strings if you’re not supposed to play, as in the next sample.

Sample rhythm two

In this sample, we are going to leave out one strum. That will be the “and” after count one. So, here we go…

strum — down ( ), down up, down up, down up — to the count of — “one ( ), two and three and four and.”

So, even though you don’t actually play on the “and” after count “one,” your arm still goes through the full motion. This keeps the movement of your arm smooth and even. It also helps to keep the timing right. When playing with the metronome, make sure that one click goes by, after count one — before — you play count two.

Sample rhythm three

In this sample we are going to leave out count “three.” You can use sample number one or sample number two and just take out the “third” count. I recommend you try both, as either one can be a good rhythm for songs.

For this exercise, we are using sample two. So, here we go…

strum — down ( ), down up, ( ) up, down up — to the count of — “one ( ), two and ( ) and, four and.”

You will notice that there are now two “ups” in a row. This takes a while to catch.

It is very important to keep that motion of the arm going all the way through the strumming, just as you did in the very first sample. In the beginning, it helps to tap your foot on count three, so that you can feel that beat that’s missing.

Make sure that you keep that arm movement smooth and don’t cheat on the count three, by making the movement shorter. If you do, chances are you’ll cut the time short too and then your measure will be off time. Listen for that click on count three, when you’re not playing, and make sure that your count four is right with the metronome.

Practice this for awhile before going to the final step.

Switching the metronome to real time

Turn the metronome to 40, now it will be equal to a quarter note. The metronome will now click only on the counts “one, two, three, four” and the “ups” will be in between the clicks. Make sure that your down beats are right with the metronome — exactly, and the upbeats should be exactly in the middle between two clicks.

Go right back to the first sample and practice all three with the new setting, perfect each one, before moving on to the next.

Timing is crucial in music. The right notes or chords don’t mean much without the right timing. Smooth even timing is relaxing and soothing to the listener. Timing that is slightly off can cause your listeners to be edgy and tense. Do your music a favor, improve your timing. You’ll become a much better guitar player.