Why Strumming Feels So Hard for Adults (And How to Fix It)

Strumming Troubles? Fix It Fast.

This is part of our “Guitar Challenges Solved” series—real answers for adult beginners who want to play songs for fun without the struggle.

If you’ve picked up a guitar later in life and feel like strumming just doesn’t click, you’re not alone. Many adult beginners hit a wall—not because they lack talent, but because they’re missing a few key ingredients.

Let’s break it down and get you playing with confidence.

Is it possible to learn guitar as an adult?

Absolutely. In fact, learning guitar as an adult has advantages.

You’re more self-motivated, more patient, and you probably want to play for fun—not to impress anyone or chase perfection.

At Gold Coast School of Guitar, we’ve helped hundreds of adults start from scratch and play their first song in just one session.

Small group guitar class for adults on the Gold Coast learning to strum

Beginner guitar player practicing strumming technique with acoustic guitar

Why do I struggle with strumming guitar?

Most adults overthink strumming.

You might be focusing too much on hitting the “right” strings or memorising patterns instead of feeling the rhythm.

Strumming is a physical movement—not a math equation. If your arm is tense, your timing will be off.

If your ears aren’t tuned into the beat, your hand won’t know when to move.

The fix? You need a song-first approach that trains your ear and hand together, like our CPR Song-Learning System (Chunk it down, Play it slow, Repetition).

This is the same method we use in our free 1-on-1 intro session to get beginners strumming real songs straight away.

Want to know more about the path from absolute beginner to confident player? Check out our Complete Beginner’s Roadmap for adults learning guitar from scratch.

Illustration showing the golden rule of strumming – keep your hand moving

What is the golden rule of strumming?

Don’t stop your strumming hand.

Whether you're striking the strings in the strumming pattern or not, keep that arm moving in a steady rhythm—regardless of the chord changes or the pattern.

Imagine your hand like a pendulum—up-down, up-down. When the arm moves steadily, your rhythm sounds natural. When it hesitates, everything falls apart.

How long does it take for an adult to learn to play guitar?

If you're learning the right way, you can strum along with your first song in under 60 minutes. Building consistency takes longer, of course, but it’s completely doable.

With the right support, many of our students are confidently playing 3–4 songs within a few weeks.

The key is removing the pressure to “get it perfect” and instead learning to enjoy the flow of the song. That’s what turns a beginner into a lifelong strummer.

Adult student smiling after learning first guitar song

Fix your strumming and start playing songs faster.

Book your free 1-on-1 intro session today and experience our CPR Song-Learning System firsthand. Spots fill fast each week, so secure yours now and let’s get strumming.

Ready to get started?

Book Your Free 1-on-1 Intro Session

About the author:

Allen Hopgood is the founder of Gold Coast School of Guitar, where he helps adults over 40 play real songs for fun—without the pressure or confusion. His relaxed, song-first approach has helped hundreds of beginners strum with confidence and enjoy the journey. Book a free intro session and see how easy it can be to start playing.