Rhythm Basics Guitar Lesson

Chapter 1: (01:44) Lesson Introduction In this lesson, Dave MacKenzie covers some basic right hand techniques. He relates this material to rhythm and timing.

All of the exercises presented in this lesson are played in 4/4 or "common" time. Keep this in mind when Dave is explaining how certain note values should be counted. You will practice playing and counting whole notes, half notes, quarter notes, eighth notes, and sixteenth notes in this time signature.
Chapter 2: (01:18) Whole Notes A whole note receives the value of four beats or four quarter notes. In 4/4 time, a whole note lasts the entire duration of a measure. When counting a whole note out loud, count "1, 2, 3, 4." Each of the numbers represent a beat within the measure. Listen as Dave strums an E major chord and holds it for a full measure.
Chapter 3: (00:59) Half Notes A half note receives half the value of a whole note or half of a measure. Remember from the previous scene that a whole note receives four beats. Half of four is two. Consequently, a half note receives two beats. In a measure of 4/4, a measure solely comprised of half notes will feature half notes on beats 1 and 3.
Chapter 4: (00:28) Quarter Notes A quarter note receives one beat in 4/4 time. As a result, there are four quarter notes to each measure in this time signature. Count "1, 2, 3, 4" aloud as you play quarter notes. Strum on each beat that you count.
Chapter 5: (02:07) Eighth Notes In 4/4 time, there are 8 eighth notes per measure. An eighth note represents 1/8 of a measure in this time signature.

For now, play consecutive eighth notes with all downstrokes. Later on, you might want to play eighth notes using alternate picking. Hold off on this technique until you can play eighth notes in time using all downstrokes. Keep things as simple as possible when first learning any new concept.

Count "1+2+3+4+" when playing through a measure of consecutive eighth notes.
Chapter 6: (02:49) Sixteenth Notes A sixteenth note receives 1/4 of a beat. A sixteenth note accounts for 1/16 of a measure of 4/4 time. Count "1 e + ah, 2 e + ah, 3 e + ah, 4 e + ah" for a measure comprised of consecutive sixteenth notes.

At most tempos, it is absolutely necessary to play sixteenth note rhythms with strict alternate picking. It is only possible to play sixteenth notes using nothing but downstrokes at very slow tempos.


Chapter 7: (04:17) Rhythm Exercise The exercise presented in this lesson is a common drum core warm-up that not only prepares your hands, but also prepares and adjusts your ears to playing properly in time.

Before you dive into practicing the exercise, watch carefully as Dave provides a demonstration of how it should be performed. The exercise features whole notes played for four measures. Then, half notes are played for four measures. Next, play quarters, eighths, and sixteenths for four measures each. After completing four measures of sixteenth notes, repeat back to the beginning of the form and continue playing through the exercise until the backing track ends. At first, play the exercise using any single note. Then, work through the exercise while strumming chords.

Playing this exercise requires a great deal of mental concentration. Not only do you have to count the rhythm within each measure, you also have to count how many measures of each rhythm have elapsed. You may want to count "1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 2, 3, 4, 3, 2, 3, 4, 4, 2, 3, 4" in order to keep your place within the form of the exercise.

Adding the Left Hand

As you master the basic right-hand component of this exercise, increase the difficulty of the left-hand. Begin to play this exercise with a basic chord progression that lasts for one measure.

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