Guitar Strumming and Arpeggio Patterns

A guitar rhythm editor that plays while you edit it. Draw the pattern on an eighth- or sixteenth-note grid, pick any chord, and watch all six strings vibrate on every hit. You can play them yourself too — drag your finger or mouse across the fretboard.

How to read the grid

Every 4/4 bar is split into eight slots — 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & — or sixteen if you turn on sixteenth notes. A down arrow is a downstroke, an up arrow is an upstroke, and the ✕ is a muted, percussive hit with no defined pitch. Empty slots are silence: your hand keeps moving but doesn't touch the strings.

Strumming or arpeggio

In Strum mode, every slot moves your hand across all the chord's strings at once. In Arpeggio mode, the grid opens into six rows, one per string, so you can write string-by-string patterns — alternating bass notes, Travis-style fingerpicking, or ascending arpeggios. Switching modes doesn't erase the other pattern.

Practicing with the tool

Slow the tempo down until the pattern comes out clean, then raise it five BPM at a time. The 4-beat count-in lets you start right on the loop, and the highlighted active slot shows you exactly where you are in the bar. Use the ↓ and ↑ arrow keys to strum along with the loop without touching the mouse.

Frequently asked questions

What is a strumming pattern?

It's the sequence of downward and upward strokes your picking hand repeats across the strings within a bar. It's written on a 1 & 2 & 3 & 4 & grid, where each slot is an eighth note.

What's the difference between strumming and arpeggio?

In strumming, you hit several strings at once with a single motion. In an arpeggio, you play the chord's notes one at a time, string by string — usually with your fingers.

Can I edit the pattern while it's playing?

Yes. The editor applies every change on the next loop cycle, so you can hear the result without stopping playback.

Do I need a guitar to use it?

No. The sound is synthesized in the browser, and you can play the strings with your mouse, your finger on a touchscreen, or the arrow keys.

What chords can I use?

Any chord — pick a root and a quality, and the tool works out a comfortable fingering near the nut and shows it on the diagram.

Does it work on mobile?

Yes. The fretboard responds to touch: drag across the strings to strum, or tap a single string for a single note.