Rhythm!

[JereFuzz]

Hello folks,

I've been having conversations with non-net friends on the subject of Rhythm guitar. So I have a few questions/observations.

1. Do you stick to tried and true chord progressions?
2. Do you throw in 7ths, 9ths, dim5ths, major7ths, minor7ths, etc. in your songs? If so, do you stick to "proper progressions theory" or do you go with what sounds good?
3. What measure beat count do you typically use per measure? 4? 8? 16?
4. Do you use scales (single notes) as your rhythm riff/pattern?

Thoughts? Opinions? Address the above or discuss anything related to rhythm guitar ...

[tremolo3]

8th-note downstroke barre chords or go home.

[JereFuzz]

8th-note downstroke barre chords or go home.

how far do you swing your arm?

[Olin]

8th-note downstroke barre chords or go home.

At 170bpm only.

[tremolo3]

1. Do you stick to tried and true chord progressions?
2. Do you throw in 7ths, 9ths, dim5ths, major7ths, minor7ths, etc. in your songs? If so, do you stick to "proper progressions theory" or do you go with what sounds good?
3. What measure beat count do you typically use per measure? 4? 8? 16?
4. Do you use scales (single notes) as your rhythm riff/pattern?

1. I don't know what are the tried and true chord progressions, but I hardly think I'm into modal and mixolidian and midichlorian stuff, so I guess I do stick to what sounds "normal"
2. Power chords all the way. Sometimes I don't play the bass root note of the chords, sometimes I just play standard chords but move around a finger half step until it sounds weird but can still clearly hear what the chord is.
3. I'm mainly a drummer, and a huge fan of math rock and weird shit, so it's almost never 4 or 8.
4. I guess is unconscious but I always end up sticking to pentatonic scale...

So yeah, I'm drunk and will follow up this thread because I love rhythm.

[Dapper Bandit]

Depends what sort of music you are playing. When I'm doing riff based stuff I just whack the strings with my notes hand down at the flappy end of the stick. Slightly more seriously, practise is practise and that's when I focus on what I'm actually doing (scales, patterns, technique) but if I'm writing I just kind of tune the minutiae of guitar playing out, my favourite riffs that I've written weren't thought out or closely examined, they just flowed forth.

To try and answer in a more constructed way

1) I very rarely use chord progressions, guitars is fo' riffin.
2) I'm quite a big fan of spicing up any chords I do use with 6ths and shit. Piggy from Voivod is a massive on my playing. No theory, just what sounds good.
3) Usually in 4 I suppose, I do like to play slightly ahead/behind the beat so it doesn't sound like straight 4/4 though.
4) I do tend to single note a riff out initially and then maybe beef some up notes as I get more comfortable with it.

[Invisible Man]

mixolidian and midichlorian stuff

My favorite mode. It's in my blood.

[JereFuzz]

1. Do you stick to tried and true chord progressions?
2. Do you throw in 7ths, 9ths, dim5ths, major7ths, minor7ths, etc. in your songs? If so, do you stick to "proper progressions theory" or do you go with what sounds good?
3. What measure beat count do you typically use per measure? 4? 8? 16?
4. Do you use scales (single notes) as your rhythm riff/pattern?

1. I don't know what are the tried and true chord progressions, but I hardly think I'm into modal and mixolidian and midichlorian stuff, so I guess I do stick to what sounds "normal"
2. Power chords all the way. Sometimes I don't play the bass root note of the chords, sometimes I just play standard chords but move around a finger half step until it sounds weird but can still clearly hear what the chord is.
3. I'm mainly a drummer, and a huge fan of math rock and weird shit, so it's almost never 4 or 8.
4. I guess is unconscious but I always end up sticking to pentatonic scale...

So yeah, I'm drunk and will follow up this thread because I love rhythm.

Interesting observations ... if you're a drummer I'd think that the bass guitar would be your 2nd instrument. Drums/bass seem a natural skill-set pairing.

[JereFuzz]

Depends what sort of music you are playing. When I'm doing riff based stuff I just whack the strings with my notes hand down at the flappy end of the stick. Slightly more seriously, practise is practise and that's when I focus on what I'm actually doing (scales, patterns, technique) but if I'm writing I just kind of tune the minutiae of guitar playing out, my favourite riffs that I've written weren't thought out or closely examined, they just flowed forth.

To try and answer in a more constructed way

1) I very rarely use chord progressions, guitars is fo' riffin. This could be a pain for off-the-cuff jamming ...
2) I'm quite a big fan of spicing up any chords I do use with 6ths and shit. Piggy from Voivod is a massive on my playing. No theory, just what sounds good. Yeah, deviating from the norm/what is expected keep songs interesting. Need to check out Piggy

3) Usually in 4 I suppose, I do like to play slightly ahead/behind the beat so it doesn't sound like straight 4/4 though.
4) I do tend to single note a riff out initially and then maybe beef some up notes as I get more comfortable with it. I think single note riffs are underutilized ... in metal you can create some awesome sounds (listen below)

my comments in red

[JereFuzz]

^BTW, Dave Lombardo on drums

[sears]

I knew theory before I taught myself guitar. I only play rhythm. Mostly in 4 but a chord might only last a beat, or 2 or 3, straddling a bar. Depends on the melody and whether I'm going for an unsettled or more predictable feeling. Blue notes? Whatever sounds good!

Ideally you're starting with a melody and then making a chord progression around that. It's more natural. But you can go the other way and nobody will necessarily know the difference.

[kbit]

Study this album to death. No guitar to be found but a wealth of knowledge on the subject of rhythm.

[tremolo3]

Study this album to death. No guitar to be found but a wealth of knowledge on the subject of rhythm.

I've heard great things of that, so will fucking do!

[JereFuzz]

Study this album to death. No guitar to be found but a wealth of knowledge on the subject of rhythm.

thanks for the rec

[rustywire]

Unrelated to guitar, yet obligatory to post...and a useful share [imo] anyway:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WXZZxtZNFo