• You're one step from joining Guitar Discussion Forum - The Fret.
    Create a free account to post, follow threads, and never miss an update.  Sign up free →

Ways to develop or expand one's rhythm vocabulary..?

Guitar Discussion Forum - The Fret

Help Support TheFret.net:

A looper pedal is what works for me. Once it's running I'm free to subdivide any way that I want. Since it's perfectly steady I can go way out in left field rhythmically and come back in the right place because I can usually hear the 1 even if I don't feel it. Locking in to a clock of some sort is a great way to get rhythmically solid. A metronome can also work.
 
Playing anything on steelstring acoustics. Really using it as a rhythm instrument, slapping the body too, trying to get a real groove just with the guitar.
 
Funk Guitar: The Essential Guide by Ross Bolton
51I4MxL5VFL._SS500_.jpg


A lot of fun and the one of the best $10 I've spent. CLICK HERE
 
As an 80% rhythmer myself, I highly recommend this 'Hot Licks' Lesson DVD, available via this link at amazon.com. If you know about the late Danny Gatton, you'll understand why I suggest this as a 'gotta have it' item, as he demonstrates a slew of various rhythm right & left hand techniques in detail by himself, then with Arlen Roth playing lead over his chops.

Danny-Gatton-Strictly-Rhythm-Guitar

I picked it up at my Favorite Local GAS Station several years ago along with these others in the 'Hot Licks' series; they were all originally on VHS so they were re-released on DVD, and they all come with a booklet of the lesson material in notation & tab:

Danny-Gatton-Telemaster

Eric-Johnson-Total-Electric-Guitar

Buddy-Guy-Teachin-Blues

Nils-Lofgren-Electric-Acoustic-Guitar
 
Last edited:
oldguy said:
I study Arlen Roth's rhythm stuff on gibson.com.
Click to expand...

Ah, I did not think of looking there!
Any specific segment, oldguy?

While looking, I found a great A. Roth segment on arpeggio playing in the Otis Redding/Wilson Pickett style. Smooth, its own kind of groove. Gotta work on learning it and eventually I will play it well..!
 
poodlesrule said:
Ah, I did not think of looking there!
Any specific segment, oldguy?

While looking, I found a great A. Roth segment on arpeggio playing in the Otis Redding/Wilson Pickett style. Smooth, its own kind of groove. Gotta work on learning it and eventually I will play it well..!
Click to expand...

You'll have to do some searching to see what you'd like. I enjoyed the "Mystery Train" lesson amongst others. Blaze originally posted several lessons he liked. A quick search of threads he started would be helpful.
I can't remember the names of the lessons, but there's some great stuff there. Hybrid picking a'la Allman Brother's harmony lines, etc. I'll do some searching and find some I liked and see if they're helpful! :)
Edit:.....here are a few, note that they're not all strictly rhythm lessons, but I think you'll enjoy them nonetheless. Sift through and see what works for you.

http://www2.gibson.com/Lessons/Arle...Of-The-Week/The-Great-Mystery-Train-Lick.aspx

http://www2.gibson.com/Lessons/Arle...he-Week/The-Open-E-Position-Suzie-Q-Lick.aspx

http://www2.gibson.com/Lessons/Arlen-Roth-Lessons/Lesson-Of-The-Week/The-Stevie-Ray-Shuffle.aspx

http://www2.gibson.com/Lessons/Arlen-Roth-Lessons/Lesson-Of-The-Week/The-Memphis-Lick.aspx

http://www2.gibson.com/Lessons/Arle...eek/Roll-Licks-in-Open-A-and-E-Positions.aspx

http://www2.gibson.com/Lessons/Arle...rothers-style-Pentatonic-Box-Position-Ru.aspx
 
Playing with other musicians outside your style is a great, fun way to expand your music vocabulary.

Outside of that, I just listen to other genres of music and try to incorporate that into my playing. It's old fashioned, but it works for me.
 

Similar threads

B
Carl Martin's Dual Compressor Limiter (demo/review)
Replies
0
Views
278
Brian Johnston
B
B
OVERDRIVE CLIPPER (2 Chn Tube Dumblesque Preamp) demo/review
Replies
0
Views
390
Brian Johnston
B
Brian Krashpad
Gig Report: Amber & the Antidotes at Cypress & Grove Brewery, 5/29/26
Replies
5
Views
373
Brian Krashpad
Brian Krashpad
R
My Guitar Herd
Replies
17
Views
1K
Alan
A
duhvoodooman
Been buying inexpensive guitars for the past couple of years...
Replies
7
Views
1K
Age
Age

Latest posts

Back
Top