Rhythm guitar: How to get beyond basics?

ChristophEar

So, after an international move which caused a 2-month guitarless draught, yesterday I bought myself a dinky little 3/4 size acoustic and I'm once again a happy guitarist!

But... I haven't really improved in a couple of years. I need some suggestions of what to work on. 

Here's where I'm coming from:

• I mostly play by myself, normally to accompany myself singing.
• I'm generally a pretty able musician, so fine with tab, traditional notation and theory background.
• I prefer to self-teach but I'm willing to find a teacher if that's the best option.
• Although I've been playing on and off for ~15 years, I'd call myself only a low-intermediate level rhythm guitar player. I can play through an unseen chord sequence happily enough, improvising a strumming pattern.
• I've done lead/solo stuff in the past so my left hand's alright, but that's not really what I'm interested in. What I love most is pop punk, ska, funk, genres with compelling rhythms. I loved spending a month studying slap bass last year, for example, because it brought such rhythm excitement along with the melody/harmony side. But my rhythm skills on guitar are comparatively weak and I'm not really sure how to improve them.

What I'm wondering is whether there's a particular course, YouTube instructor or something like that that will help me up my game on the rhythm side. I'm not sure if Spanish style is the way to go, but certainly some of the rhythmic stuff there appeals.

So, who among you can rock out on rhythm guitar? Can you hold an audience captive improvising a great percussive rhythm solo? And what route or resources would you recommend if I want to get there?

monquixote

Good to see you've got a guitar out there to keep you company.

This video by John F is a really good guide to how to play Funk/Soul guitar

He explains a few of the really key concepts for me namely keeping the hand going in16ths so you play any on beats on a down stroke and off beats on an upstroke. Keep the left hand light and if you aren't playing a note/chord then keep the hand going but play mutes. 

Ross Bolton's video was considered the standard Funk Rhythm course for a long time. He sadly died last year, but a few of his things are on YT

For my money the best Rhythm Guitar video of all time is "The Science of Rhythm Guitar" by Paul Jackson Jr (probably the most prolific soul session man of all time) It's really hard to get hold of and I think you can only buy it via his site. Well worth it though I studied it intently.

http://www.pauljacksonjr.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12&Itemid=10

You should also study the guitar playing of Steve Cropper who played on just about everything ever released on Stax records (Otis Reading, Booker T, etc). I've heard it said that if you can accurately play the riff to "Soul Man" then you can consider yourself a decent Rhythm Guitarist.

ThePrettyDamned

monquixote said:

Good to see you've got a guitar out there to keep you company.

This video by John F is a really good guide to how to play Funk/Soul guitar

He explains a few of the really key concepts for me namely keeping the hand going in16ths so you play any on beats on a down stroke and off beats on an upstroke. Keep the left hand light and if you aren't playing a note/chord then keep the hand going but play mutes. 

Ross Bolton's video was considered the standard Funk Rhythm course for a long time. He sadly died last year, but a few of his things are on YT

For my money the best Rhythm Guitar video of all time is "The Science of Rhythm Guitar" by Paul Jackson Jr (probably the most prolific soul session man of all time) It's really hard to get hold of and I think you can only buy it via his site. Well worth it though I studied it intently.

http://www.pauljacksonjr.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12&Itemid=10

You should also study the guitar playing of Steve Cropper who played on just about everything ever released on Stax records (Otis Reading, Booker T, etc). I've heard it said that if you can accurately play the riff to "Soul Man" then you can consider yourself a decent Rhythm Guitarist.

The fru vid was the one that took me from strumming a minor and e minor chords to playing funk, and it's still my most favouritest style.

Even if I'm a raging metal head. 

ThePrettyDamned

Also, those to note inventions are something I use LOTS for my softer playing. 

I also use 3 note versions - still sparse.  

GOD I LOVE HIM SOOOO MUCH

Lixarto

ThePrettyDamned

Lixarto said:

What a legend. 

And I thought I hit the strings hard...

"And that's how it's done". 

Lixarto

ThePrettyDamned said:

"And that's how it's done". 

ChristophEar

monquixote said:

Good to see you've got a guitar out there to keep you company.

This video by John F is a really good guide to how to play Funk/Soul guitar

He explains a few of the really key concepts for me namely keeping the hand going in16ths so you play any on beats on a down stroke and off beats on an upstroke. Keep the left hand light and if you aren't playing a note/chord then keep the hand going but play mutes. 

Ross Bolton's video was considered the standard Funk Rhythm course for a long time. He sadly died last year, but a few of his things are on YT

For my money the best Rhythm Guitar video of all time is "The Science of Rhythm Guitar" by Paul Jackson Jr (probably the most prolific soul session man of all time) It's really hard to get hold of and I think you can only buy it via his site. Well worth it though I studied it intently.

You should also study the guitar playing of Steve Cropper who played on just about everything ever released on Stax records (Otis Reading, Booker T, etc). I've heard it said that if you can accurately play the riff to "Soul Man" then you can consider yourself a decent Rhythm Guitarist.

Great suggestions, thanks @monquixote! The steady 16th notes point is definitely hitting the right territory. The Ross Bolton video's going to be really useful.

I also found these funk vids from Justin Guitar which lay out some good exercises for this:

I'm well familiar with Steve Cropper from my Blues Brothers obsession back when I was playing blues harp - but haven't delved into his other stuff. Will do that.

Cheers!

ChristophEar

ThePrettyDamned said:

What a legend. 

And I thought I hit the strings hard...

"And that's how it's done". 

Mind. Blown.

EricTheWeary

Finally my chance to give a ska tutorial...mwaha...mwaha... >:)

Actually, I've never found a really good resource for ska and reggae guitar but they are quite similar to funk - holding a steady rivvum, getting your damping technique nice and tight and understanding the maths - although 8ths rather than funk 16ths. You can also do a mix of chord work and single note riffs like with funk and you can play straight or swing it a bit.

I've never seen that John F clip, will try to have a look. I worked through the Bolton ones at some point, although without the accompanying booklet I think I got a couple of chord shapes wrong!

EricTheWeary

Oh, as a listener probably my favourite genre for rhythm guitar is gipsy jazz.

monquixote

EricTheWeary said:

Finally my chance to give a ska tutorial...mwaha...mwaha... >:)

Actually, I've never found a really good resource for ska and reggae guitar but they are quite similar to funk - holding a steady rivvum, getting your damping technique nice and tight and understanding the maths - although 8ths rather than funk 16ths. You can also do a mix of chord work and single note riffs like with funk and you can play straight or swing it a bit.

I think Mwaha-Ska is an excellent band name.

I can't play ska for shit. My heart sinks when I get asked to play ska songs by a band, it's just not a rhythm that's in me. 

Phil_aka_Pip

ChristophEar said:

So, who among you can rock out on rhythm guitar? Can you hold an audience captive improvising a great percussive rhythm solo? And what route or resources would you recommend if I want to get there?

May I suggest listening to Pete Townshend? (That's not to suggest other suggestions are not valid but...)

EricTheWeary

monquixote;397550" said:

EricTheWeary said:

Finally my chance to give a ska tutorial...mwaha...mwaha... >:)



Actually, I've never found a really good resource for ska and reggae guitar but they are quite similar to funk - holding a steady rivvum, getting your damping technique nice and tight and understanding the maths - although 8ths rather than funk 16ths. You can also do a mix of chord work and single note riffs like with funk and you can play straight or swing it a bit.

I think Mwaha-Ska is an excellent band name.

I can't play ska for shit. My heart sinks when I get asked to play ska songs by a band, it's just not a rhythm that's in me. 

The traditional ( 1960's ska, early reggae) way is fairly counter intuitive - down strums only. With two tone and third wave you get alternate strumming so it's pretty much funk technique. The groove on a lot of the second guitar parts, those fast damped single note parts I often can't get. Something like The Harder They Come. I watched a bunch of covers on YouTube and nobody got it right, so at least I'm not alone.

I keep meaning to have a look at mento and calypso guitar styles, 1950's West Indian music's that preceded ska and very groove ( if that's the right word) driven. Would work well for the OP and his 3/4 acoustic.

Kebabkid

Another +1 to Ross Bolton and Paul Jackson Jnr or listen to some Nile Rodgers

For rock, you can't beat Eddie Van Halen-seriously, or The Young Bros (AC/DC)

nickp

just started looking for the Ross Bolton guide on the net as it has been in the back of my mind for ages to improve my rhythm guitar playing.

I guess what you have posted is from a DVD and not from this

: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Funk-Guitar-Essential-Private-Lessons/dp/0634011685/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1415286744&sr=1-1&keywords=ross+bolton

@monquixote  - 

I can't find a DVD listed

EricTheWeary

I think the DVD is long out of print which is why the whole of it ( in two parts) has been allowed to stay on YouTube .

monquixote

I think it's out of print.

I wouldn't feel bad about watching it from YouTube as the man himself is no longer with us and is thus not missing out on royalties through piracy. 

digitalscream

Kebabkid said:

For rock, you can't beat Eddie Van Halen-seriously, or The Young Bros (AC/DC)

Don't forget Nuno. Pornograffiti and Saudades de Rock together are a masterclass in rock rhythm playing.

ChristophEar

Thanks all for the great listening suggestions! Looking forward to diving in to some of these.

The Ross Bolton vid is working out well. I suspect it was actually the inspiration for those Justin Guitar vids I linked before!

@EricTheWeary: Good point. I'm much more of a ska fan than funk, and playing Santeria was what started me realising the kind of guitar playing I wanted to do. Will focus some more on this.

EricTheWeary

ChristophEar said:

Thanks all for the great listening suggestions! Looking forward to diving in to some of these.

The Ross Bolton vid is working out well. I suspect it was actually the inspiration for those Justin Guitar vids I linked before!

@EricTheWeary: Good point. I'm much more of a ska fan than funk, and playing Santeria was what started me realising the kind of guitar playing I wanted to do. Will focus some more on this.

I think for that third wave ska stuff the basic techniques - getting very fluid with the wrist, learning to damp- on the Ross Bolton videos will translate really well. I've yet to see a really good ska/ reggae techniques lesson for guitar.