Rhythm Guitar

[Andrew Lamprecht]

How do I get better at Rhythm Guitar?

I was playing the other day and realized I suck.

All I do right now is practice chord changes while tapping my foot.

Any tips or techniques you guys can share?

Thanks, Andrew

 

[GoDrex]

Re: Rhythm Guitar

play along with songs

start a band and play a lot

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Rhythm Guitar

A drum machine, preferably with a "human feel" option than factors in the realistic minute changes in tempo real drummers have and that keeps it from being overly mechanical.

Years ago, when I came to the sad relization I just didn't have what it takes to be the Shredder I wanted to be, I decided to focus on being the best rhythm guitarist ever. I learned all the rhythm parts to all the songs I could find (stacks of Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Alice Cooper, Twisted Sister, ACDC, etc).
When I got into a band, the drummer was highly impressed that I could keep the song's tempo when he dropped a stick or had some other malfunction that interrupted his playing, and that I could jump from "2 and 4" to "1 and 2" in the blink of an eye, which changed the feel of the song entirely, yet he continued to play the same thing.

Ignore the fills and runs and solos, just focus on the rhythm. Hit when the kick drum hits. Once you've got that nailed, hit when the snare hits instead. Once you've got that down, alternate between keeping up with the kick and the snare in the same pattern.

Switching to Bass for a while will also help your rhythm chops a lot better.

 

[Gamera]

Re: Rhythm Guitar

Use a metronome. Following songs, drum machines, whatever, are just fancy metronomes. Get used to hitting strings at the right tempo.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Rhythm Guitar

The only problem with that is metronomes are mechanical, humans are not. Learning where the beats SHOULD be is important, but it's more important to be able to feel where the beats are going to be.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Rhythm Guitar

I got one of those metronomes with a cellphone like vibration device. Expensive like hell but it should help.

Just wish I could sync with my computer.

If that doesn't help I use that metronome and replace the vibration buzzer with my electric fence unit...

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: Rhythm Guitar

play along with songs

start a band and play a lot

+1

that and, realize that at least 95% of most tunes is rhythm playing.

 

[scottish]

Re: Rhythm Guitar

The single best way to get better at rhythm is to play with other people. Preferably ones better than yourself. Playing with a metronome or drum machine is great practice but it doesnt substitute. In an ideal world find yourself and bassist and drummer to jam along with.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Rhythm Guitar

The single best way to get better at rhythm is to play with other people. Preferably ones better than yourself. Playing with a metronome or drum machine is great practice but it doesnt substitute. In an ideal world find yourself and bassist and drummer to jam along with.

Can't say that that helped. I played in a lot of bands (and orchestras) when I was young, almost every day. If you start out untalented in the rhythm department only real work on yourself will do.

The band might improve your rhythm play if you got it right but it's just not "musical". But if you have outright problems losing the 1 twice a song you can't just noodle along with other.

I should probably give the electric fence method another thought...

 

[scottish]

Re: Rhythm Guitar

i had the luck of spending a lot of time playing with a drummer and bassist who were really good and really tight. did wonders for my timing and rhythm playing.

 

[tone4days]

Re: Rhythm Guitar

depends on the genre, too

a lot of getting good at rhythm playing is finding voicing that help the song rather than just 'pile on' a bunch of roots and 5ths that the bassist should have covered ... learning to find inversions and fragments that provide a solid foundation for the soloists ... learning to work in a way that is complimentary to a keyboardist who may be present too .. and finally, learning when not to play ... the silence between notes counts as music too

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: Rhythm Guitar

Learn to play the 3rd, 5th, and 7th of a chord, so you don't have to play the whole thing...most times three notes on an electric guitar sounds full enough.

 

[WITH FULL DISTORTION]

Re: Rhythm Guitar

Are you into Metal?
If so.. check out this video of mine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef3kVURwCdw
Let me know if it helped you out in any way
Q: P
JP

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Rhythm Guitar

Don't overlook the benefits of songs outside your favorite genre. If you're a Metalhead (Hair, Death, whatever), try something simple like Creedence or the Beatles, where the solo was less important to the song than a solid rhythm.

 

[cream123]

Re: Rhythm Guitar

practice with a metronome for tempo but for feel, you have to do two things:
what are your favorites doing?
and get out and play!

 

[daemon barbeque]

Re: Rhythm Guitar

Find/ create a drum track. Write an easy melody on it. let it loop.
Now you try to fill the gap between the groove and the melody. Try to stay natural, let it flow. The rhythm will drive you to the right direction, and the melody will keep your chord progression in check!

Begin with 3/4 or 6/8. This leaves more room to play longer riffs
After mastering the easy 4 and 6 based grooves, move to 5, 7 and 9. This will give you the freedom to be creative, and still very tight.

Hope this helps!

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Rhythm Guitar

try something simple like Creedence or the Beatles, where the solo was less important to the song than a solid rhythm.

Controversial.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Rhythm Guitar

In what way? Granted these bands had plenty of "solo" spots, but their primary focus was on the rhythm, and they had a solid rhythmic foundation.
Plus they used a lot of Major chords, so it's easy to get into without having to know a ton of different chords.

I mean, if you can't keep time changing from Emaj to Cmaj, you can't possibly switch smoothly between a AmSus5 and D#Aug9th or whateverthehellitis :lol: