r there any good rythme players out there

[natethegreat2186]

i really really love playing rythme. but most of the time its hard trying to find out how to get a really great rythme going. any tips on that?????????????

[TheDirt]

Get to swinging your wrist and never stop!!! If you miss a chord, or just take a while for the chord change DO NOT stop strumming or slow down to accommodate your slower left hand. Just mute the strings and keep on strumming. You may not always get your chords out on beat, but the percussive chunk will drive the song along. A second method would be to start changing chords BEFORE the next measure so you can nail the chord on the measure. But whatever you do, keep your wrist going all the time at the same speed.

I used to just not play while changing chords, but I'd come back off beat sometimes. This way, you're never off beat. If you stop moving your wrist while playing rhythm it's hell to get it back to speed. You're bound to lose a couple milliseconds here and there, and that's ok sometimes, but if you screw up often enough, the audience will begin to tell.

[natethegreat2186]

thx for the advise. i agree with ya. i'll try that this weekend at practice

[Lordathestrings]

Try just strumming while you mute the strings with your fretting hand. Mess about with it. Get as fancy as you dare. I can't pick single notes as fast and clean as a lot of the players on this site, but I can hold my own with anybody I've ever jammed with when it comes to working with the bass and drums to dial-in a solid groove. When you feel confident in your ability to define a song's rhythm with your stumming, the chord changes will drop into place for you. :)

[kingdavid]

When you try and think about it,that's when you screw up.
If you think I don't know what I'm talking about,do,say, three four beat measures with a different chord for each measure,like a I-IV-V or something.At a speed you're ok with the chord changes.Or as fast as you can go without screwing up.Now,for the same measures,instead of strumming,fingerpick them.Try a PIMAMI pattern.And try it at the same speed.You'll notice(or at least I noticed),the chord changes,which were previously a piece of cake,suddenly aren't from the baker.To overcome this,stop thinking about it when the changes are taking place.Just go ahead and change them.It just flows.
Bottom line:
Stop thinking.

[natethegreat2186]

thx for all the advise it really helps:)