Get Better Faster

Today's article on beefing up your rhythm guitar chops comes from a recent chat with Diana de Cabarrus from SongwritingLessonsOnline.com. Lots of us guitar players are always itching to know where to start to get better and faster. Here are some things to focus on or check out to see how you're doing with your rhythm guitar game:

A solid inner sense of timing is the secret sauce for a killer rhythm guitar. It's the foundation you have to nail down before anything else. Once you've got that locked in, you're on your way to mastering rhythm guitar and seeing some serious improvement.

You must get cozy with that metronome or drum track until the beat's playing in your head on autopilot, even when you're about to hit the hay. Some folks are born with a natural sense of rhythm, while others catch on quickly. But for most of us, it's all about consistently building up that internal rhythm.

If you've got access to recording software, that can be a cool way to work on your inner sense of timing. Try laying down a click track for sixteen beats and playing along with it. Once you've got the hang of that, chop out four beats and jump back in right on time after the silence. The gaps in silence are where the beats would've been.

As you get better, stretch those gaps longer and longer until it doesn't matter—you'll hit the right time no matter what. It's a pretty modern trick, available more in the past decade.

Building that inner clock takes some serious mental rewiring. You might feel like you're driving yourself nuts with that constant click in your head, but chopping out some beats is a slick way to test your inner metronome.

Certain tempos just click easier for most of us. Crazy fast or super slow beats can be tougher to handle. Start with a tempo that feels like your sweet spot. Keep it simple first, then spice it up as you get the hang of it.

Another big trick to keep your timing in check is tapping your foot while strumming. It's a juggle at first, getting your hands and feet to sync up, but it's worth the effort. Start by strumming and tapping your foot simultaneously.

Now, let's talk about making your practice routine more fun. Try jamming along with your favorite songs. It's like a rhythm workout without feeling like you're doing drills. Pick tunes with various tempos and styles to challenge yourself. The more you play along with different tracks, the more versatile your rhythm skills become.

Oh, and remember to play with other musicians whenever you can. Jamming with buddies or joining a band keeps things exciting and teaches you to lock into different rhythms and styles. Plus, it's just a blast!

Stick with these timing exercises and practice routines, and you'll quickly level up your guitar game! Remember, it's all about consistency and having fun while you're at it.

If you are looking to learn another excellent rhythm guitar skill, you can check out my FREE lesson on how to weave lead guitar melody lines to your rhythm guitar playing here: https://rhythmguitarlessons.net/Pro

Have you ever heard extra notes played between chords and wondered, "Why do THESE notes sound good?" or, "How can I do that?".

Most guitar players struggle to find the right notes to play between chords to make their songs sound better.

The fact is, it's easy to do once you learn how. And the result is your guitar playing sounds much more complex than it is...

This is good news for you:

I've created a new eGuide (yes, it's free), where I show you an easy way to connect chords with single-note melodies to sound like a pro.

The best part is it's 100% FREE (no strings attached)!

About Mark Turko: Mark Turko is a professional guitar player and instructor with over 30 years of experience and teaches guitar lessons online.