[petelanger]

Don’t know any shortcuts but I too was a very clumsy strummer, it simply takes a lot of time to work out the motions until they are more natural. I’m much better timing-wise than I was in the beginning, working on consistency, that is hitting the strings with the same touch (not too hard or too soft) and hitting the strings that are supposed to be hit. Generally we hit the entire chord going down (4 – 6 strings, depending) but coming up you will only need to (even should only hit) 2 – 3 maybe 4 strings)