When you first begin the journey of learning to play guitar there are two main facets which will immediately take up most of your time and practice. They are learning to strum and chords. When you put the those two broad elements together you will be playing guitar on a beginners level and well on your way to being able to perform songs or accompany yourself when singing. While learning chords is usually very well catered for in books and online, learning to strum can be harder to accomplish especially if it's something which does not come naturally to you.
For some reason it can be harder to find helpful information on how to strum guitar than how to play chords. This is not an ideal situation since both facets of playing are required in equal measure should you wish to move smoothly into playing songs. For this reason it's wise to ensure that any program or website includes adequate instruction on strumming a guitar before you commit to joining or buying the product. Often beginners find that they are good at chords but still unable to play songs simply because they neglected the subject of strumming patterns.
Strumming itself should be done in a very relaxed fashion with no tension or stress in the arm or wrist. It's a lazy motion which should feel easy and effortless. This in turn will produce a pleasing sound which is neither too loud nor too soft and one which will be enjoyable to listen to. Often beginners strum too hard and loud due to an excess of tension in their arm and as a result their playing sounds harsh and brittle.
