Full Description
Improve your guitar-playing rhythm, feel, and timing If you want to improve your timing, sharpen your technique, or get inspired by new ideas, Guitar Rhythm & Technique For Dummies breaks down the basics of reading, counting, strumming, and picking rhythms on guitar to make you an ace on the axe in no time. With the help of this friendly guide, you'll learn to play examples of eighth and sixteenth note rhythms—including common strum patterns heard in popular music—to improve your guitar rhythm, feel, and timing. Plus, access to audio downloads and online video lessons complement the coverage presented in the book, giving you the option of supplementing your reading with additional visual and audio learning.
There's no denying that guitar is one of the coolest musical instruments on the planet. Okay, perhaps undeniably the coolest. Whether you bow at the feet of Chuck Berry, Keith Richards, the Edge, or Eddie Van Halen, they all have one thing in common: they make it look incredibly, naturally easy! However, anyone who's actually picked up a guitar knows that mastering rhythm and technique is something that takes a lot of practice—not to mention good coaching. Luckily, Guitar Rhythm & Technique For Dummies makes your aspirations to play guitar like the pros attainable with loads of helpful step-by-step instruction on everything from mastering hammer-ons, pull-offs, and slides to perfecting your picking—and beyond.
Covers strum patterns, articulations, picking techniques, and more
Showcases musical styles such as pop, rock, blues, folk, and funk
Includes techniques for playing with both your right and left hand
Provides access to online audio tracks and video instruction so you can master the concepts and techniques presented in the book
Whether you're new to guitar or an advanced player looking to improve your musical timing and skills, Guitar Rhythm & Technique For Dummies quickly gets you in the groove before the rhythm gets you.
Contents
Introduction 1
Part I: Getting Started with Guitar Rhythm and Technique 5
Chapter 1: Rhythm and Technique in a Nutshell 7
Chapter 2: Getting to Know the Music Staff and Traveling through Time 11
Part II: Reading Rhythms and Strumming Patterns 19
Chapter 3: Playing Eighth-Note Strum Patterns 21
Chapter 4: Playing Sixteenth-Note Strum Patterns 35
Chapter 5: Playing Triplets, Shuffles, and Compound Time Signatures 47
Part III: Fretting-Hand Techniques 55
Chapter 6: Working with Fingerings 57
Chapter 7: Adding Articulation and Expression 71
Chapter 8: Sounding Harmonics 91
Chapter 9: Using Alternate Tunings and Playing Slide Guitar 105
Part IV: Picking-Hand Techniques 121
Chapter 10: Picking and Choosing: Exploring Picking Techniques 123
Chapter 11: Fingerpickin' Good: Exploring Fingerstyle Techniques 141
Chapter 12: Using a Tremolo System 155
Part V: Practice Makes Perfect 163
Chapter 13: Running Down Your Rhythms 165
Chapter 14: Picking through Scales with Melodic Patterns 169
Part VI: The Part of Tens 179
Chapter 15: Ten Technique Tracks 181
Chapter 16: Ten (Or So) Guitarists to Inspire Your Rhythm and Technique 185
Appendix: Audio Tracks and Video Clips 189
Index 193
