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Post subject: Rhythm Guitar?
Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 10:53 am
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So I have been playing off and on for about 2 years now and have finally over the past three dedicated asome time to actually trying to get better. I know lots of chords and my transitions are much better than they were (thet still leave a lot to be desired) and i really want to focus in 2008. My problem is is that every instructional dvd I see or purchase is geared toward lead guitar and lead guitar principles. I have no desire to play lead!!! I really am happy playing rhythm guitar. I need to work on my picking and strumming hand.

Does anyone know of an instructional dvd or book that focuses on rhythm playing and maybe a little theory behind chord changes and picking?

thanks.


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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 11:03 am
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You can see clips from many, many instructional videos (and decide which ones you like) by searching YouTube on the phrase "rhythm guitar styles."

Check this guy out :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YL_tc2NnK8

Make sure you find the Danny Gatton lessons.... whoah!


Last edited by Gravity Jim on Fri Jan 11, 2008 11:06 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 11:06 am
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A bit off topic but maybe you should pick up a bass and have a toodle on one. It really helps with keeping a rhythm down on guitar.

I've started playing some guitar now, 3 years or so after I first picked up a bass and I find that I'm a much better rhythm player than lead!

Just a suggestion, good luck with the search :)


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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 11:09 am
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If you are looking for a book, MI's Complete Rhythm Guitar is excellent. There is a DVD version which is cool too.


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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:12 pm
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I gotta say it's nice to see a young guitar player say he wants to be a good rhythm guitar player. I've complained for many years, like an old man with nothing better to do, about how kids think they are guitar players and all they can do is shred. I remember a day back in 8th grade, 1972!! Me and some friends were standing around the lunch room talking guitars and stuff. I told them I didn't want to be a lead guitar player and wanted to be a great rhythm player. I've stuck to that and now have a chord vocabulary thats huge. That includes dozens of chords in 3 different tunings. These days I can hear a song and know exactly how to play it as soon as I know the key. Why? Because I understand chord progressions. Sweep arpeggios don't make a guitar player. Chords do. Learning a solo doesn't mean you know how to play a song. Knowing the chords does.

That's my two cents.

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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:21 pm
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cryingstrat, you're just the man I'm looking for.

Do you know what tuning Shawn Colvin is using when she plays "Get Out Of This House?"


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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 2:33 pm
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Gravity Jim wrote:
cryingstrat, you're just the man I'm looking for.

Do you know what tuning Shawn Colvin is using when she plays "Get Out Of This House?"


I'll have to download it and give it a listen. I'll do that this weekend and let you know Monday.

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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 3:14 pm
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at last another kid that plays rthymn :D :D :D (i have to play lead now that im the only guitarist in the band)

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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 3:18 pm
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thegigman0 wrote:
at last another kid that plays rthymn :D :D :D (i have to play lead now that im the only guitarist in the band)


See kids. Trust us old guys. You need play great rhythm too!

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Is that a mexican poncho
Or is that a sears poncho?
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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 3:52 pm
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Last time I went to the website www.Fenderplayersclub.com I saw an instructional excerpt on rythem guitar, it was taken from a book. You could probably start there.


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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 4:52 pm
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Thank you all gentlemen for the kind words and advice. But i am hardly a kid, I will be 40 in July although I will take the kid compliment as long as I can. :D

I just really have no desire to get out there and go up and down the fretboard at a hundred miles an hour, not that there is anything wrong with that, just not my cup of tea.

Love me some Keef. Love me some Rich Robinson.

Actually love me some strummin open chords, just want to expand and get better.


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Posted: Fri Jan 11, 2008 4:57 pm
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Learn the Ryhtm parts, and Learn the lead parts. Don't limit yourself and you'll find the lines between Rythm and Lead dissapear. Just look at Stevie and Jimmie Vaughan. Stevies better at leading and Jimmie nails the Ryhtms tighter, but they're both Real good at both.

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Posted: Mon Jan 14, 2008 1:30 pm
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I don't have a book or DVD to recommend, but can suggest listening to some Steve Cropper, Nile Rodgers or Eddie Hinton. :wink:

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Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 6:13 pm
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From what I've seen over the years, a truly good rhythm player is almost extinct. Back in the day when I was learning, it was required of you to be an excellent rhythm player first before you could even be considered as a lead player.

My advice (after over 40 years of playing and formal training):

First, close all the instructional books, DVDs and whatever else; put away the metronome. It's time to trade mechanics for dynamics.

Next, choose a song with a catchy beat and learn the chords and the changes well. In other words, learn the song well. Select for example, a simple Beatles song. It doesn't have to be the Beatles per se, but you get the idea.

Now, once having learned whatever song you've chosen. Sit there and start playing it as if you had to hold the whole song together just by your strumming. That doesn't mean to overplay either. You'll find that you have to create accents here and there simply by following the singer. Yes, following the singer, NOT trying to lead the singer. Your objective is to make the singing sound great. Once you are comfortable that you are truly supporting what the singer is doing, listen deeper into your chosen song for certain accents that the instruments are doing and try to mimic them in your strum.

In terms of the big picture, what you are trying to do is to convey the essence of the entire song through your strumming. There are many tricks to help you with strumming such as NOT pausing with your strumming hand while playing. Rather, you mute the strings with your fingering hand when you feel for example, that you might be on the verge of over playing What this muting business does is that it keeps the beat strong and believe it or not, makes you sound like you're doing something really complicated. Oh, and to pull off the essence of the entire song through just your rhythm playing alone, do NOT try to clone the strum of the actual record. Remember, that person has the backing of an entire band to convey the song. You on the other hand, have to come up with it all by yourself.

Build on the above and you should really start to take off.


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Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 6:53 pm
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Martian wrote:
From what I've seen over the years, a truly good rhythm player is almost extinct. Back in the day when I was learning, it was required of you to be an excellent rhythm player first before you could even be considered as a lead player.

My advice (after over 40 years of playing and formal training):

First, close all the instructional books, DVDs and whatever else; put away the metronome. It's time to trade mechanics for dynamics.

Next, choose a song with a catchy beat and learn the chords and the changes well. In other words, learn the song well. Select for example, a simple Beatles song. It doesn't have to be the Beatles per se, but you get the idea.

Now, once having learned whatever song you've chosen. Sit there and start playing it as if you had to hold the whole song together just by your strumming. That doesn't mean to overplay either. You'll find that you have to create accents here and there simply by following the singer. Yes, following the singer, NOT trying to lead the singer. Your objective is to make the singing sound great. Once you are comfortable that you are truly supporting what the singer is doing, listen deeper into your chosen song for certain accents that the instruments are doing and try to mimic them in your strum.

In terms of the big picture, what you are trying to do is to convey the essence of the entire song through your strumming. There are many tricks to help you with strumming such as NOT pausing with your strumming hand while playing. Rather, you mute the strings with your fingering hand when you feel for example, that you might be on the verge of over playing What this muting business does is that it keeps the beat strong and believe it or not, makes you sound like you're doing something really complicated. Oh, and to pull off the essence of the entire song through just your rhythm playing alone, do NOT try to clone the strum of the actual record. Remember, that person has the backing of an entire band to convey the song. You on the other hand, have to come up with it all by yourself.

Build on the above and you should really start to take off.


Here Here!

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"is that a real poncho...i mean
Is that a mexican poncho
Or is that a sears poncho?
Hmmm...no foolin ...." FZ


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