Tips & Exercise for Rhythm

[Kaye]

Hello all, I'm pretty much hopeless when it comes to solos and improvisation. So I guess I shall concentrate on playing rhythmic riffs and chords (if there's such a term, please enlighten me on the correct term)

I'll need tips and advice on any practice or exercises I can work on.

 

[Breen]

You should not worry if you think your not going anywhere with lead playing. You have to constantly knock on that block till you get it.

Yes you should concentrate on timing and rhythm as you never see Jimmy Paige playing a solo thoughout a Led Zep concert or Hendrix just widdling for 12 hours. Even Petrucci keeps rhythm half the time, unique rhythm and time signatures too.

Get a drum beat/machine going or a metronome, start tapping your foot, and start playing chords to the beat, changing every other bar. Maybe you could play a barre A chord in 4/4, 4 to the bar for two bars. Change to a barre D or barre G for the next 2 bars. Then try that in open E and open D and Am. Mute the strings after ever beat. Keep it constant and steady!

Better yet, play along AC/DC =] then go up to Metallica ==}

As you get better with time, go learn what is a scale and chromatics, practice chromatics, then scales, then start jamming~

 

[Kaye]

Thanks Breen!

Can't exactly play AC/DC and Metallica stuff.

Trying out Rage against the machine though. Love the funk!

 

[Breen]

Quick get it up to Tower of Power, James Brown, Tommy Castro, Extreme levels!

 

[Likui]

think of a melody and play it out, play from the heart your music will be beautiful. Remember play from the heart not play to impress or play to show your fingers are faster than others play because u enjoy it