TECHNIQUE FOCUS Rhythmic Feel

THE KEY TO playing many of the rhythm guitar parts in this article is developing a good rhythmic feel. This ‘feel’ is dictated by many different factors, all of which have very subtle nuances and are often overlooked. The first factor to consider is beat placement. Does one play behind the beat, right on top or slightly ahead? All three of these options have their place and will sound good as long as you consistently play in the same place in the bar. A nice way to improve your feel is to play with a good drummer as often as possible. There is a great satisfaction to be had from laying down the simplest of grooves and really locking in with the beat. The second element is the velocity, volume or dynamic with which you play the various parts. A consistent dynamic can again greatly affect the way a part sits in the mix and the way it grooves. The third element is the tone of the part and the note length. The note length when strumming is dictated by lifting the fretting hand. The tone is governed by many factors including where you hit the strings and the way you fret the notes. Try putting on a metronome or drum loop at around 110 bpm and then play a simple 16th-note strumming pattern. Concentrate on a consistent tone, timing, note length and dynamic. You may be surprised to find that this simple drill is harder than you think!