Journal of Music, Technology & Education - Online First

The act of strumming is an essential component of standard guitar technique involving coordinated wrist and arm movement in a rhythmic, pendulum-like motion across multiple strings. Improper mechanics characterized by excessive arm movements can decrease performance efficiency and increase the risk of overuse injuries. This study investigated whether a guitar adaptation (Strum Perfect™) could improve strumming efficiency by facilitating ergonomic motion patterns. A within-subject repeated measures design was used to assess ten guitarists of varying skill levels as they performed standardized strumming exercises at 60, 75 and 90 bpm with and without the adaptation. A validated wrist-worn motion sensor captured kinematic data, including wrist and elbow angles and an orbit coefficient, which reflects the coordination and stability of strumming motion. The adaptation significantly reduced the maximum elbow angle across all tempos (p < 0.001) and decreased the overall range of elbow motion. At 60 bpm, wrist angle increased modestly (p = 0.007), indicating greater wrist engagement, although changes at higher tempos were not significant. The orbit coefficient increased significantly with the guitar adaptation (p < 0.001), suggesting enhanced strumming consistency and motion stability. Similar results were observed during alternating up-and-down strumming patterns. Multivariable analysis further confirmed that the adaptation’s effects were consistent across strumming directions, tempos and levels of expertise. These findings suggest that the adaptation constrains excessive forearm motion and encourage biomechanically healthier strumming patterns. The adaptation may be particularly useful for beginners or for those with difficulty maintaining consistent motion patterns. Further research is warranted to explore its applications among individuals with motor control limitations and to evaluate the long-term impact of its use.