Rhythm and Timing On Guitar
A lot of guitar players tell me that they understand guitar music theory, scales and soloing, but they struggle with rhythms and timing. They often ask for advice on developing good rhythm and time. You can improve your rhythm and timing by getting to know the basics of reading music. Learning about note values, rests, time signatures, counting and foot tapping can really help your playing, even if you don’t plan to sight read much. I’d try to get through Mel Bay grades 1, 2 and 3 or something similar. Be sure to use the play-along tracks that are available for the books.
You can also learn the basics of reading rhythms and playing popular strum patterns in my book, Guitar Rhythm and Technique For Dummies.
along with a metronome/click track, an instructional book/dvd about rhythm from you, using your “knack” for simplifying specific knowledge about guitar/music will be a hit like your “Fretboard Theory” and other dvd products found at https://www.guitarmusictheory.com
https://www.guitarmusictheory.com/
Thanks for the comments. I have often thought that a resource for helping guitar players develop good time and rhythm is needed. I hope to offer something like that someday. Cross your fingers!
I’ve been playing rhythm guitar since the early ’80’s and timing really has never been too difficult for me with rhythm parts. When I recently decided to work on learning leads, however, timing became an issue. What I do is take what I want to learn and if it’s on paper (tab or standard notation) I write out 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 at the top of the bar I’m working on and break it down in eighths or sixteenths from there, counting ever “and-ah” as I play slowly.
If it’s a recording, I use Adobe Audition to loop the section I want and play along with the software’s metronome – again, slowly.
I like your idea of going back to Mel Bay and learning to read the notes by sight.