Rhythm Lessons?

Are there lessons around improving rhythm? I took the level 1 & 2 guitar fundamentals courses and moved onto the blues style level 1 course. One of the sections gets into rhythm and the instructor covers topics like playing triplets in a blues context. You are supposed to play along to the backing track, but I felt like I must have fast forwarded past some critical lessons. DId I miss something?

Originally Posted by: ericstamp

Are there lessons around improving rhythm? I took the level 1 & 2 guitar fundamentals courses and moved onto the blues style level 1 course.[/quote]

Any given lesson showing you how to play some music (melodies or chords) is a lesson that you can use to improve your timing.

[quote=ericstamp] One of the sections gets into rhythm and the instructor covers topics like playing triplets in a blues context. You are supposed to play along to the backing track, but I felt like I must have fast forwarded past some critical lessons. DId I miss something?

What lesson are you referring to? Maybe this one?

https://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=14436&s_id=939

In general, each lesson in the Core Learning System builds on the next. But at any given stage in the process you are going to be introduced to a new idea or have to play something brand new.

In this case, you've already learned to play an A, D & E power chord. You've learned to switch chords & play chord progressions. The new element here is the triplet swing pattern. It might take time to learn any given new concept or skill. So be patient with yourself!

In the learning process everyone hits "the wall" at some point. Different places for different individuals. :) But the same thing needs to happen for everyone. You get to something that's really tricky & you have to dig in & take all the time necessary to learn that new thing.

Hope this helps! Please ask more if necessary & best of success!

Christopher,

Thanks for responding. This is the lesson I was referring to:

https://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=14091&view=wide

To clarify, I am struggling with the timing more than anything. Particularly when it comes to mixing in eighth notes and now triplets and keeping track of the quarter note beats (and the bars) while improvising as you are asked to do in the last part of the lesson.

Is this just a matter of working with a metronome? Are there good practice routines for this?

You're welcome for the reply!

Originally Posted by: ericstampThis is the lesson I was referring to:

https://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=14091&view=wide

[/quote]

Okay, thanks. That helps a lot.

[quote=ericstamp]To clarify, I am struggling with the timing more than anything. Particularly when it comes to mixing in eighth notes and now triplets and keeping track of the quarter note beats (and the bars) while improvising as you are asked to do in the last part of the lesson.

Is this just a matter of working with a metronome? Are there good practice routines for this?

That's a pretty tricky leap from just straight blues scales to playing in that style. There are really two parts to learning any kind of lead licks.

1. The physical motions & fretboard patterns.

2. The phrasing, or timing.

So, it can help to break the task into 2 parts to isolate & focus on each element, then put them together.

In order to do that in this case, it might help if you just do these exercises that focus on playing the pentatonic scale in 3s.

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=185

In particular look at lesson 3. I go back & forth between 1/4 notes & 1/8th note triplets using only the 1st box shape over & again. In lesson 4 I bump up the speed. You need to play those types of lines until you can do it & count along & know where where the beat is while you in the process of playing it.

Also, look at this tutorial on a fundamental blues lick.

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=1614

In particular look at lesson 2. Just repeat that lick over & again. I also change it from 1/8th triplets to straight 1/8th later in the tutorial

The point here is that you need to isolate each element & repeat it over & again until you can make it completely second nature. Again, you want to get it to the point that you can tell when each down beat happens. Isolating it like that helps because the lick is designed to land on the downbeat of 1 each time you get to the first bend. Then once you can play it automatically you'll be ready to mix & match all those elements in a more complex manner like Anders is suggesting in that lesson.

Make sense? Hope that helps!

You've learned to switch chords & play chord progressions. The new element here is the triplet swing pattern. It might take time to learn any given new concept or skill. So be patient with yourself! kodi

In the learning process everyone hits "the wall" at some point. Different places for different individuals. :) But the same thing needs to happen for everyone. You get to something that's really tricky & you have to dig in & take all the time necessary to learn that new thing.

Thank you for sharing...We are begineers and sucvh posts rteally help build us confidence..Thank you myccpay