• Indy
  • Indy
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  • From: Philly
  • Registered: 2011-01-04
  • Posts: 269

Topic: Joe's Two Rules For Rhythm Guitarist

Basically how to make a standard blues progression a bit less boring.

http://www.guitarplayer.com/lessons/101 … ideo/52117

Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.
  • From: Massachusetts
  • Registered: 2008-10-27
  • Posts: 577

Re: Joe's Two Rules For Rhythm Guitarist

Great article!!-

2009 Gibson Les Paul 1958 VOS (with black plastic)
2008 Gibson Les Paul Traditional Goldtop (with the cream plastic from the 58RI)
> Marshall Bluesbreaker 2 pedal >Boss sd-1> DD3 > Vox Ac15cc1
  • From: Orlando, FL
  • Registered: 2010-04-15
  • Posts: 1,373

Re: Joe's Two Rules For Rhythm Guitarist

Good tips, although I kind of cringe at the artificial separation of "rhythm" and "lead" guitarists (as opposed to the part being played).  It's music.  You fill the role the song and the band needs.  In my experience it's rare to have a great soloist who isn't also a great rhythm player.  All the aspects of music - articulation, emotion, dynamics, tone, notes, rhythm, space, phrasing, technique - all these things apply equally for rhythm parts and lead parts, and a great musician should ideally command those regardless what part is being played.  End rant, it's neither here nor there, just a pet peeve (not with Joe's lesson, with the article title)...

My music & music blog: https://vincedickinson.home.blog/
New prog/rock album "Atlantis" available everywhere, including:
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  • From: Edinburgh, Scotland
  • Registered: 2010-10-19
  • Posts: 190

Re: Joe's Two Rules For Rhythm Guitarist

ZeyerGTR wrote:

Good tips, although I kind of cringe at the artificial separation of "rhythm" and "lead" guitarists (as opposed to the part being played).  It's music.  You fill the role the song and the band needs.  In my experience it's rare to have a great soloist who isn't also a great rhythm player.  All the aspects of music - articulation, emotion, dynamics, tone, notes, rhythm, space, phrasing, technique - all these things apply equally for rhythm parts and lead parts, and a great musician should ideally command those regardless what part is being played.  End rant, it's neither here nor there, just a pet peeve (not with Joe's lesson, with the article title)...

That bugs me too.  I hate when I get asked do I play rhythem or lead, I just think no, I just play guitar. . .

  • Registered: 2010-12-06
  • Posts: 122

Re: Joe's Two Rules For Rhythm Guitarist

petew wrote:
ZeyerGTR wrote:

Good tips, although I kind of cringe at the artificial separation of "rhythm" and "lead" guitarists (as opposed to the part being played).  It's music.  You fill the role the song and the band needs.  In my experience it's rare to have a great soloist who isn't also a great rhythm player.  All the aspects of music - articulation, emotion, dynamics, tone, notes, rhythm, space, phrasing, technique - all these things apply equally for rhythm parts and lead parts, and a great musician should ideally command those regardless what part is being played.  End rant, it's neither here nor there, just a pet peeve (not with Joe's lesson, with the article title)...

That bugs me too.  I hate when I get asked do I play rhythem or lead, I just think no, I just play guitar. . .

The answer is "Yes"

  • From: Edinburgh, Scotland
  • Registered: 2010-10-19
  • Posts: 190

Re: Joe's Two Rules For Rhythm Guitarist

njpaulc wrote:
petew wrote:
ZeyerGTR wrote:

Good tips, although I kind of cringe at the artificial separation of "rhythm" and "lead" guitarists (as opposed to the part being played).  It's music.  You fill the role the song and the band needs.  In my experience it's rare to have a great soloist who isn't also a great rhythm player.  All the aspects of music - articulation, emotion, dynamics, tone, notes, rhythm, space, phrasing, technique - all these things apply equally for rhythm parts and lead parts, and a great musician should ideally command those regardless what part is being played.  End rant, it's neither here nor there, just a pet peeve (not with Joe's lesson, with the article title)...

That bugs me too.  I hate when I get asked do I play rhythem or lead, I just think no, I just play guitar. . .

The answer is "Yes"

lol! That's a much better way of putting it.

  • timb
  • timb
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  • From: Central Massachusetts, USA
  • Registered: 2014-05-09
  • Posts: 316

Re: Joe's Two Rules For Rhythm Guitarist

Didn't Joe say (in his podcast perhaps?) that he himself plays rhythm most of the time, because that's what you do for the song.

[pause to google]

here it is, from http://www2.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/F … massa.aspx

He believes great rhythm guitar playing is underappreciated.

“Even someone like me, who often gets caught up in soloing, plays rhythm guitar eighty percent of the time,” Bonamassa once said, in an unpublished interview. “Even a guy who puts on a ‘guitar show’ has to play rhythm, and has to be fluent in chords and voicings. Also, if you don’t learn how to back off your volume when someone else is soloing, that’s problematic. Rhythm playing is about learning how to blend in with the band, and be part of the ensemble.”

timb's Website

8 Reply by ZeyerGTR (edited by ZeyerGTR 2015-05-19 13:10:51)

  • From: Orlando, FL
  • Registered: 2010-04-15
  • Posts: 1,373

Re: Joe's Two Rules For Rhythm Guitarist

Everyone who plays any instrument should say it's important.  Rhythm is the foundation of everything.  Notes are only one component of music.  I'm just saying there's a false dichotomy of "rhythm guitar players" versus "lead guitar players" - most of the best guitarists (like Joe, Robben Ford, even so-called 'shredders' like Paul Gilbert) can play both at a high level.   Of course there are some exceptions, but I think it's a general truth.  It's probably also true that a lot of players spend too much time learning to rip solos, but they have no time (so their solos suck) and can't sit in with a band.  YMMV.

My music & music blog: https://vincedickinson.home.blog/
New prog/rock album "Atlantis" available everywhere, including:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/atlantis/1411523163
https://open.spotify.com/album/3InrPujiALJCslZqp9V6e2

ZeyerGTR's Website