Members Lotus Feet Posted September 18, 2009 Members Posted September 18, 2009 Today was my first time jamming with a band. And...what a -y jamming session it was! Turns out I TOTALLY suck at strumming and rhythm guitar; can't seamlessly move from strumming mode to soloing mode (mostly due to the fact that I suck at strumming); and I get nervous and play sloppily during the solo section 'cause everyone's looking at me! Fortunately, the guys were super cool about. They let me off 'cause they knew it was my first time. Plus they had seen me shred away mindlessly on my own, which actually gave them the impression in the first place that I could be a good guitar player. Still, rhythm guitar is a bitch! My main problem is that I used to concentrate SOLELY on developing my lead playing chops. I used to spend hours with a metronome working on scales & techniques, and improvising on backing tracks; but I never practiced rhythm. I could even play jazz rhythm guitar, but I never actually strummed in the case of jazz (I play more of the fingerstyle stuff, with walking basslines 'n all). I'm not even used to playing chords with open strings (most of the jazz stuff I play is just "closed" 4-note chords); so chord changes with the band, with all their simplicity, were so hard it got sloppy beyond critique (we are doing some really simple cover tunes. That's what makes the whole thing even more humiliating! ). Anyways, what would you recommend for developing strumming chops? Right now I'm just practicing alternating strumming patterns on the metronome (using chords with open strings)...anything else you could recommend? Songs, exercises, patterns, etc.? Highly n00bish, I know; but being a self-taught bedroom wanker has its drawbacks, and I need your help to overcome it.
Members Devlin Posted September 18, 2009 Members Posted September 18, 2009 Practice Barre chords as soon as you can. If you're having rhythm problems now, then Barre chords will likely be an obstacle you have to cross at some stage. It also means you can covert alot of your open chords into Barre chords. Once learned, moving down the guitar with a barre, becomes fairly easy, it's just the initial finger postions that can cause problems. (Or some obscure fingering on some chords then switching from that to a more "normal" chord.) Practice, Practice, Practice, too! You mentioned really easy covers. What I'd do is maybe just practice those but slow it right down. I personally find it's not playing the chords themselves that are hard, but the change over from one to another, so just practice going C, Am, C, Am or something for a while, maybe throw a third, fourth, fifth chord as you go. Maybe pick a Major Scale and play the chords from that...? They obviously know you can be good. Jamming (again in my view) is all about relaxing and just having some fun with people, the more you worry the hard to play it becomes. You should try not to think "OH S**T they're all watching me.", and more on enjoying yourself, and gelling together. Jamming is all about the band coming together and working as a solid unit. You hearing phrases like "in the pocket" or "locking in". I tend to lock in with the drum, which helps with timing. So I play at the pace of the snare.
Members jeremy_green Posted September 18, 2009 Members Posted September 18, 2009 Many players have this issue, what many fail to realize is that working on your rhythm playing makes you a much stronger lead player. There is obviously an issue with your groove that this just made you realize. Rhythm is the under talked about aspect of lead. We are all usually so focused on harmony that we get caught up and fail to get the rhythm solid. My suggestion is learn some funk, James Brown that type of stuff. Also do some more acoustic playing. Those campfire tunes everyone knows. There is nowhere to hide on an acoustic. There is no gain to cover the flaws - this is a good thing when you are trying to fix stuff. Or if you hate those kinds of tunes try to play the stuff you like as an acoustic piece. Good luck!
Members mosiddiqi Posted September 18, 2009 Members Posted September 18, 2009 What JG said Playing along with James Brown records is one of the the most fun yet difficult things you can do as a guitar player.
Members SlaveNewWorld0 Posted September 18, 2009 Members Posted September 18, 2009 Hey Lotus, you sound really ashamed of yourself! Don't be! You may be beyond this stage, but I uploaded an "essential strumming" series here which may or may not help in laying those foundations.
Members stomias Posted September 18, 2009 Members Posted September 18, 2009 The guitar IS part of the rhythm section. There is no such thing as LEAD guitar and RHYTHM guitar. You play the guitar.... it is your obligation to lock in with the drummer and bass player. If you want to play single notes all night, buy a trumpet.
Members jeremy_green Posted September 18, 2009 Members Posted September 18, 2009 The guitar IS part of the rhythm section. There is no such thing as LEAD guitar and RHYTHM guitar. You play the guitar.... it is your obligation to lock in with the drummer and bass player. If you want to play single notes all night, buy a trumpet. Ha! LOL Awesome response!
Members Cazual Posted September 19, 2009 Members Posted September 19, 2009 Highly n00bish, I know; but being a self-taught bedroom wanker has its drawbacks, and I need your help to overcome it.As one to another, here's my 2c worth...In my experience, the big difference between whanging away in your bedroom and playing with other people is how much musical space you try and fill. On your own there's a tendency to try and be a mini band - throwing in bits of bass line, stacks of notes, and whatever you can manage to fill all that silence with...When I'm on my own, my strumming/picking hand seems to get some kind of Napoleon complex and tries to be the drummer, the bass player, the singer etc, all at once. However, once there's a few others at work then the thumb needs to be put in its place (which is is be part of the rhythm section, not the whole damn band) and learn to be a bit less frenetic. The main game seems to be to lock in on the beat and put emphasis in where appropriate, rather than every nano-second. Going back to basic work with a drum track, and playing different rhythm patterns (all that 1, 2, 3 and 4 then 1 and 2, 3 4 or whatever, stuff) seems useful. Getting more accurate with which strings you hit and which you miss seems useful too. E.g. striking just 2 or 3 high strings cuts through more than striking some of the lower sounding ones. Having a swag of solid strumming styles and variations at your disposal - especially simple uncluttered ones that you can default to when you either get too busy and ambitious, or just a little lost, seem essential tools. But, hey, I haven't mastered it all yet either - so I might just be waffling on...Good luck with it all.Chris
Members wader2k Posted September 19, 2009 Members Posted September 19, 2009 I'd agree with the above. My playing is mostly limited to home. Twice I've had the opportunity to play with a bunch of well seasoned pros up on a stage. The thing I found most helpful was to play MUCH less than I was used to playing. There is a whole band there playing all their parts and you don't need to play as much as you are used to.
Members Alex_DeLarge Posted September 19, 2009 Members Posted September 19, 2009 I have wondered why so many people think that being good playing the guitar is just about soloing. Rythm is much more important. A solo last like 20-30 secs the 90% of the time and rythm takes the rest. My 2 cents.
Members Devlin Posted September 21, 2009 Members Posted September 21, 2009 I have wondered why so many people think that being good playing the guitar is just about soloing.Rythm is much more important. A solo last like 20-30 secs the 90% of the time and rythm takes the rest.My 2 cents. Definately! I think rhythmn should really take a more prominent practice than it seems to. A lot of people seem to want to do lead firstly because - Hey it's the lead! Everyone's going to be watching/listening. But it doesn't matter if you're the best lead in the world, if your rhythmn sucks, they'll notice.
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