The Guitar Player's Guide to Rhythm, Timing, and Groove

Table of Contents:

Introduction

Chapter 1: Basic Rhythm Theory & Technique

The Role of the Rhythm Guitar Player

Rhythm Patterns - When You Are the Drummer

Bass Versus No Bass

The Whole Band Came to the Jam - Adding Interest and Texture

An Introduction to Timing and Groove

Timing

The Feel and the Groove

Staying in the Pocket

Extra Metronome Practice

Bass Note and Strum Technique Fundamentals

Timing and Simple Rhythm

Bass Note and Strum Technique

The Rest Stroke

The Rhythm Strum

Bass Note and Strum Juxtaposition

Adding More Chords

Adding A Little Texture - The Alternating Bass Line

Chapter 2: Right Hand Rhythm Patterns & The Use of Dynamics

Fully Sub-Dividing All of the Beats

The Train and the Shuffle

The Rhythm Pick Pattern

Combining Patterns

G, C, D Progression - 4/4 Time

G, C, D Progression - 3/4 Time

The Bluegrass G Chord

Dynamics

Syncopation

Dynamic Rests

"Lonesome Road Blues"

Syncopation with Dotted Quarter Notes

A Matter of Taste

Muted Strums

"John Hardy" with Muted Strums

Let's Get Strummy

The Rake

Diamonds

The Push

The Guitar as a Drum Kit

Dynamics Review & Practice

Building Grooves

"Sitting On Top of the World"

Rhythm Patterns and Dynamics Summary

Chapter 3: Bass Note Selection & Bass Runs

An Organized Approach to Learning Bass Notes and Runs

Bass Note Timing and Variations - An Overview

Bass Run Timing

Spreading Out Bass Runs: Using Half Notes

Using Eighth Notes for Runs and Fill Licks

Mixing Up the Bass Run Timing

Borrowing From Bass Players

Boogie-Woogie

Syncopation Practice

Bass Note Timing Summary

Creating Movement While Staying with One Chord

Examples

Bass Notes & Runs Derived from the Chord Triad

Bass Notes & Runs Using the Major Pentatonic Scale

Bass Notes and Runs Using the Major Scale

Half Steps

Leading Tone

Chord Tone Targeting

Bass Notes and Runs Using the Chromatic Scale

Swinging the Rhythm

Using Bass Walks To Move to a New Chord

The Presentation

Basic Bass Walk Theory

Guiding the Listener's Ear: Leading Tones, Walk-ups, Walk-downs

Adding More Notes from the Scale

Walking Up

Walking Down

Longer Bass Walks and Mixing Things Up

Mixing Things Up 1

Mixing Things Up 2

Chromatic Walk Ups & Walk Downs

Bass Runs - Old Time Style

Major Scale Bass Lines

Moving From the I Chord to the IV Chord using Major Scale Notes

Moving From the IV Chord to the V Chord using Major Scale Notes

Moving From the IV Chord to the I Chord using Major Scale Notes

Examining V to I and I-V-I Movement

Chromatic Scale Bass Lines

Moving From the I Chord to the IV Chord using Chromatic Scale Notes

Moving From the IV Chord to the V Chord using Chromatic Scale Notes

Moving From the IV Chord to the I Chord using Chromatic Scale Notes

Moving From the V Chord to the I Chord using Chromatic Scale Notes

Taking Inventory

Working With The Bass Player

Fill Licks

G-Runs, Hammer-Ons, Pull-Offs, and Slides

G-Runs

Integrating What You've Learned

"Wabash Cannonball" Fill Licks

Fill Lick Summary

"Lonesome Road Blues" Fill Licks Example

I, IV, V Rhythm Examples Using Mostly Bass Notes

A Few Song Examples

"House of the Rising Sun"

"Blue Eyes" in the Style of Roy Harvey

Rhythm in the Style of Edd Mayfield 1

Rhythm in the Style of Edd Mayfield 2

"Tennessee Wagoner" Rhythm in the Style of Charles Sawtelle

"Molly Put the Kettle On" Rhythm in the Style of Riley Puckett

Rhythm in the Style of Tom Paley

Chapter 4: Chord Variations (Extensions, Inversions & Substitutions)

Open Chord Position Extensions & Inversions

Using Open Position Chords

Bluegrass Rock?

Chord Inversions and Chord Voicings

Triad Inversions

Inversions Examples

Slash Chords

Open Chord Extensions and Inversions Summary

Chord Substitutions & Passing Chords

Movement and Texture

Melody and Harmony

Chord Substitutions

Chord Movement & Chord Progressions

Why the I, IV, V Progression Works

Adding to the I, IV, V Progression

The Relative Minor

Other Diatonic Substitutions

Diatonic Chord Progression Examples

More Diatonic Substitutions

Diatonic Substitutions Summary

Substitutions Created Through Bass Line Motion

Circle of Fifth Substitutions

Passing Chords - Setting Up Motion

The Dominant Seventh Chord

Dominant Ninth Chords

Diminished Chords

Power Chords

Passing Chords Used With Bass Lines

Half-Step Lead

Minor Seventh Chord Form

Inversions and Passing Chords

Passing Chord Options

Revisiting "Rickett's Hornpipe"

Harmonized Scale Rhythm

"St. Anne's Reel"

Putting It All Together