Is it usually so that you count 1+2+3+4+ in a song and it stays the same chord? Or lets say you start with an Em chord for 1+2+ and then you change to another chord, but do you count still in your head the numbers?
Because right now I am just practicing 1+2+3+4+ with one chord and then changing the chords after the 4+… or should I practice even changing in between??
Later on, you will learn that chords can indeed change in a bar, not just after it. But for now, it’s totally fine to just change after 4. You don’t have to make it more complicated than necessary 
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Hi Justin. I am currently in module 5 of grade 1. I am pretty good with chords and chord changes and strumming patterns which you taught so far. But there is some rough sound while strumming, which has reduced now than it was at the beginning, but it is still there. How can i correct that? why is it coming? what am i doing wrong?
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issue i seem to be having is making chord changes WHILE strumming, i can change chords quickly during exercises but the minute i start trying to play songs, even on the chord changes Im the best at, the song quickly sounds choppy and robotic and then my changes quickly fall apart.
Any tips?
Yo Shane,
This is pretty common.
In my experience, I find this happens when students are ok with chord changes, and ok with a strumming pattern. But because both are only “ok” (so to say), when you put them both together, they fall apart. To put them both together successfully, you have to be great at both the chord changes and the strumming pattern, because your brain is doing two things at the same time.
Or sometimes it’s less about being better at each individual element, and more about learning how to do two things at the same time.
An exercise I use with students is what I call Changing To The Same Chord.
Essentially, you strum through the strumming pattern whilst playing an easy chord (Em), and rather than changing to a new chord, you simply lift your fingers up off the strings like you were going to change chords, but then put them back down on the Em chord. It’s less brain work, and it gets the skill of playing and changing in motion in a more simplified way.
Lee 
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Hi Visista, first I would suggest reviewing all the strumming lessons again to listen to Justin’s advice on good strumming. I still do that after 4 years with Justin.
So key advice he gives is:
use a thinner pick at first to avoid picking too hard and getting the pick stuck in the strings.
Play relaxed. Don’t hold the pick too tight. Play from the elbow and keep the wrist relaxed.
It takes more time to learn good strumming than to learn fast chord changes. I am still improving my strumming after 4 years. Over time you will also get better.
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If I can give advice to anybody starting, their journey is to spend time on Justin‘s strumming exercises. I’m three years into my journey and am amazed at the progress I’ve made, however, now I found some jamming buddies and have discovered my weak link is rhythm and timing and strumming. While playing by yourself, it doesn’t really matter, but when playing with an Ensemble, it’s so important!! I’ve developed some really bad strumming habits, which is something that I tried to avoid, i.e. developing bad habits. As Justin says practice makes permanent not perfect. I wish I would have spent closer attention to Justin strumming lessons in module one. I am now well into module four and going back to module one and also taking Justin strumming Class.
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Man, if I say everything out loud, my strums slip out, I strum extra and if I try to whisper the part that I don’t need, I can’t and I just say it out loud by accident.
It’s difficult no doubt. Your processing 2 things at once, keeping count and doing the strum. Go as slow as you need to get it right. You can also listen to Justin in the videos and strum along with him, so you don’t have keep count.
Funny thing about this lesson is ,I love strumming!! It is so easy. I will say I even started to !take up my own strumming patterns up 
. Is that ok?
Go with the flow but make sure you are on the beat and your timing is in the pocket.
Sometimes you can feel were the progression takes you, without covering songs verbatim. Some round here said make it yours. Enjoy 
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Thank you Madman_tobyjenner! I totaly 
get what your saying with feeling your progress:blush:. Do you make up your own strumming patterns ?
Yes. Later in the beginner course Justin has a lesson on creating your own strumming patterns. For now feel free to experiment and see what you can do.
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I will!!! Thank you so much!!
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I only started beginning of July so brand new although I did play many years ago as a teen but never really seriously. I have been surprised at how difficult the rhythm part has been. I am picking up the chord changes pretty rapidly but the strumming is really tough. I can’t keep a pattern for very long at all without getting lost and have particular issues with any pattern that skips down beats. I suppose I will just keep practicing and improve over time.
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Scott, strumming is one technique that definitely gets better with practice. I have to go back and refractive the grade 1 strumming practice if I do things like fingerpicking or playing melody and scales too much. Justin talks about spending a lot of time strumming with muted strings to practice strumming patterns and also strumming with muted strings while listening to songs to work on rhythm.