• Log InLog In
  • Register
Liquid`
Team Liquid Liquipedia
EDT 17:34
CEST 23:34
KST 06:34
  • Home
  • Forum
  • Calendar
  • Streams
  • Liquipedia
  • Features
  • Store
  • EPT
  • TL+
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Smash
  • Heroes
  • Counter-Strike
  • Overwatch
  • Liquibet
  • Fantasy StarCraft
  • TLPD
  • StarCraft 2
  • Brood War
  • Blogs
Forum Sidebar
Events/Features
News
Featured News
Code S RO8 Preview: herO, Zoun, Bunny, Classic7Code S RO8 Preview: Rogue, GuMiho, Solar, Maru3BGE Stara Zagora 2025: Info & Preview27Code S RO12 Preview: GuMiho, Bunny, SHIN, ByuN3The Memories We Share - Facing the Final(?) GSL47
Community News
Code S RO8 Results + RO4 Bracket (2025 Season 2)2BGE Stara Zagora 2025 - Replay Pack2Weekly Cups (June 2-8): herO doubles down1[BSL20] ProLeague: Bracket Stage & Dates9GSL Ro4 and Finals moved to Sunday June 15th13
StarCraft 2
General
Code S RO8 Results + RO4 Bracket (2025 Season 2) The SCII GOAT: A statistical Evaluation Jim claims he and Firefly were involved in match-fixing Code S RO8 Preview: herO, Zoun, Bunny, Classic DreamHack Dallas 2025 - Official Replay Pack
Tourneys
[GSL 2025] Code S: Season 2 - Ro8 - Group A [GSL 2025] Code S: Season 2 - Ro8 - Group B RSL: Revival, a new crowdfunded tournament series SOOPer7s Showmatches 2025 Sparkling Tuna Cup - Weekly Open Tournament
Strategy
[G] Darkgrid Layout Simple Questions Simple Answers [G] PvT Cheese: 13 Gate Proxy Robo
Custom Maps
[UMS] Zillion Zerglings
External Content
Mutation # 477 Slow and Steady Mutation # 476 Charnel House Mutation # 475 Hard Target Mutation # 474 Futile Resistance
Brood War
General
BW General Discussion BGH auto balance -> http://bghmmr.eu/ FlaSh Witnesses SCV Pull Off the Impossible vs Shu StarCraft & BroodWar Campaign Speedrun Quest Will foreigners ever be able to challenge Koreans?
Tourneys
[Megathread] Daily Proleagues [ASL19] Grand Finals [BSL20] GosuLeague RO16 - Tue & Wed 20:00+CET NA Team League 6/8/2025
Strategy
I am doing this better than progamers do. [G] How to get started on ladder as a new Z player
Other Games
General Games
Path of Exile Stormgate/Frost Giant Megathread Nintendo Switch Thread Beyond All Reason What do you want from future RTS games?
Dota 2
Official 'what is Dota anymore' discussion
League of Legends
Who’s Getting the Effortless-Chic Look Just Right?
Heroes of the Storm
Simple Questions, Simple Answers Heroes of the Storm 2.0
Hearthstone
Heroes of StarCraft mini-set
TL Mafia
TL Mafia Community Thread Vanilla Mini Mafia
Community
General
US Politics Mega-thread UK Politics Mega-thread Things Aren’t Peaceful in Palestine Russo-Ukrainian War Thread Vape Nation Thread
Fan Clubs
Maru Fan Club Serral Fan Club
Media & Entertainment
Korean Music Discussion [Manga] One Piece
Sports
TeamLiquid Health and Fitness Initiative For 2023 2024 - 2025 Football Thread Formula 1 Discussion NHL Playoffs 2024
World Cup 2022
Tech Support
Computer Build, Upgrade & Buying Resource Thread
TL Community
The Automated Ban List
Blogs
A Better Routine For Progame…
TrAiDoS
StarCraft improvement
iopq
Heero Yuy & the Tax…
KrillinFromwales
I was completely wrong ab…
jameswatts
Need Your Help/Advice
Glider
Trip to the Zoo
micronesia
Customize Sidebar...

Website Feedback

Closed Threads



Active: 20293 users

Urgent: Rhythm Guitar Crash Course - Page 2

Blogs > SixStrings
Post a Reply
Prev 1 2 All
13th Marine
Profile Joined January 2011
United States344 Posts
September 21 2013 23:38 GMT
#21
If I were in your position, I'd break down my goals for the practice week like this:

1. Know the names and how to play the basic chord shapes. Specifically, the open "cowboy" chord shapes as well as the basic 6th and 5th string root major and minor barre chords. Even more specifically, if someone says "play 4 measures of C major" you should immediately be able to associate that chord name with a shape and play that.
2. Focus on practicing the ability to keep a steady rhythm. Make sure you are able to play along with the tapping of your foot or a metronome without speeding up or slowing down, even if it means you miss a few notes here or there. It's not ideal to play a wrong note, but it is even worse to get off rhythm. I prefer practicing while tapping my foot, since if you are following the lead of a singer, you want to synchronize your rhythm with her tempo as you can hear it or even see it in the tapping of her foot or movement of her body, even if she seems to speed up or slow down at certain parts.
3. Have strum patterns for fast and slow songs. Since this is a crash course in rhythm guitar, try to become comfortable a strum pattern or 2 for both fast tempos and slow tempos, which will require different accompaniment. For example, fast songs may require a lively and strong strum pattern, whereas with slow songs may even allow you to use fingerpicking patterns.
4. Be able to read a chord chart and transpose. By chord chart, I mean lyrics with the chords notated above the words at which they change from one to the next. As for how to transpose...using a capo is easy and some people will call it lazy. But I could just as easily call using barre chords the "lazy and easy way out" if I were to let my jazz snobbery show...and I could easily suggest that you should be able to hear all the individual notes of a chord and how they each have their own melodic lines as you change from one chord to the next, and from all of that be able to construct a chord at any position on the next that naturally transitions from the previous chord in a pleasing way...while barre chords can get the job done but have sub-optimal voicings. In the long run, you do not want to have rely on either using a capo or even on using barre chords. But for now, since you have little time, just use whatever works.

And for the day of:

1. Accompany the singer. Don't think of it as Soviet Russia, where singer accompanies you.
2. Have fun. It'll be nerve wracking, but do your best to enjoy the moment.
3. Focus on making music. If you show up with the ulterior motive of making love instead, then you'll end up forever alone and without people to play music with.
Bomber | BoxeR | Dear | Flash | fOrGG | HerO | INnoVation | Jaedong | Life | MarineKing | Maru | MMA | MVP | NaDa | Polt | Taeja
SixStrings
Profile Blog Joined August 2013
Germany2046 Posts
September 30 2013 21:33 GMT
#22
That was rather sobering.

The first one said straight up that I didn't cut it. Though I appreciate the honesty, it stung a little.
The second one wasn't even a singer and just wanted to bang a guitar player.
The third one didn't show up.

Guess the fourth one was alright, we played a little and she had some cool ideas about songs we could practice, let's see where this goes.
Awesomedrifter
Profile Blog Joined May 2009
Canada62 Posts
September 30 2013 22:50 GMT
#23
The second one sounds like she might be a little crazy, I hope you wore a condom.

Good job, hopefully the 4th one will help you improve your musical abilities
http://awesomedrifter.com/
SixStrings
Profile Blog Joined August 2013
Germany2046 Posts
October 01 2013 15:54 GMT
#24
What a terrible presumption to suggest I'd just do her because it's offered to me...
13th Marine
Profile Joined January 2011
United States344 Posts
October 01 2013 16:13 GMT
#25
I suppose the overall experience seems, as you put it, sobering. Sorry to hear that. Did the first singer at least explain why she thought your current level of skill isn't up to par? While it is hard to hear that kind of feedback, you can make it more of a positive overall by using it as a learning opportunity.

On the other hand, taking the fourth case on its own, it sounds quite promising. GLHF.
Bomber | BoxeR | Dear | Flash | fOrGG | HerO | INnoVation | Jaedong | Life | MarineKing | Maru | MMA | MVP | NaDa | Polt | Taeja
SixStrings
Profile Blog Joined August 2013
Germany2046 Posts
Last Edited: 2013-10-02 08:10:47
October 02 2013 08:06 GMT
#26
Cheers mate.

She said my rhythm was really great (probably to blunt the impact of what comes next), but I have no idea which chords to string together. No argument there, I'm in in the process of learning that. Basically, she had hoped I was a lot more experienced, though I made my level of expertise pretty clear beforehand.

No crying over spilt milk, though. I have loads of stuff to learn and the pressure is gone to do it within a week's time.

By the way, I largely used your crash course to prepare, and by the fourth time, I absolutely killed it with a semi-improvised piece of finger-picking. Still suck balls at strumming, though.
Awesomedrifter
Profile Blog Joined May 2009
Canada62 Posts
October 02 2013 14:22 GMT
#27
This might help you out with your strumming, if you don't already know it. Tricks like this helped me a lot.

http://awesomedrifter.com/
SixStrings
Profile Blog Joined August 2013
Germany2046 Posts
October 08 2013 22:07 GMT
#28
Seems like I really need to get used to the idea of using a pick, eh?
Awesomedrifter
Profile Blog Joined May 2009
Canada62 Posts
October 09 2013 00:34 GMT
#29
Elliot Smith is a guitarist I really admire and he has some cool finger style strumming technique he uses a lot.



You might want to look into that kind of stuff if you are against playing with a pick. I like playing with picks so thats what I use, you can find a way to make what you want work though ^_^
http://awesomedrifter.com/
13th Marine
Profile Joined January 2011
United States344 Posts
October 09 2013 04:26 GMT
#30
Personally, I would prefer to be told that I have great rhythm but also that I still need to work on learning chord progressions, etc. The importance of rhythm cannot be understated. When performing live, I would much rather hit a wrong note here or there but stay on the beat, than play all the right notes but without impeccable timing. The other people in an ensemble and even the audience generally share that sentiment as well.

As for whether or not you need to use a pick, I would say that there are plenty of techniques to explore before you should feel that you need to do so. Andy McKee and Preston Reed for example, generally strum downward with the 4 fingers and upward with the thumb but sometimes strum with just the thumb, etc. Adapting some fundamentals of flamenco strumming could also prove helpful. And there is always the thumb-pick.

What type of music is your goal? I can make more specific, i.e., more meaningful, recommendations based on that.
Bomber | BoxeR | Dear | Flash | fOrGG | HerO | INnoVation | Jaedong | Life | MarineKing | Maru | MMA | MVP | NaDa | Polt | Taeja
Prev 1 2 All
Please log in or register to reply.
Live Events Refresh
OSC
21:00
Mid Season Playoffs
ArT vs ReBellioN
HonMonO vs Ziomek
Shameless vs LunaSea
MilkiCow vs GgMaChine
Moja vs HiGhDrA
Jumy vs TBD
Demi vs NightPhoenix
Solar vs Cham
SteadfastSC23
Liquipedia
[ Submit Event ]
Live Streams
Refresh
StarCraft 2
ZombieGrub217
UpATreeSC 117
JuggernautJason90
ForJumy 40
EnDerr 26
SteadfastSC 23
StarCraft: Brood War
Sea 2997
Rain 1529
HiyA 91
ajuk12(nOOB) 15
Dota 2
monkeys_forever197
League of Legends
Dendi1608
Counter-Strike
fl0m6678
olofmeister2227
Foxcn453
Stewie2K354
Heroes of the Storm
Liquid`Hasu651
Other Games
summit1g7542
tarik_tv6154
Grubby2836
C9.Mang0750
FrodaN722
ViBE92
Sick84
PPMD23
RuFF_SC28
Organizations
Dota 2
PGL Dota 2 - Main Stream7380
Other Games
BasetradeTV155
StarCraft 2
Blizzard YouTube
StarCraft: Brood War
BSLTrovo
sctven
[ Show 19 non-featured ]
StarCraft 2
• Berry_CruncH236
• IndyKCrew
• sooper7s
• Migwel
• AfreecaTV YouTube
• LaughNgamezSOOP
• intothetv
• Kozan
StarCraft: Brood War
• Azhi_Dahaki31
• Rasowy 11
• ZZZeroYoutube
• STPLYoutube
• BSLYoutube
Dota 2
• masondota21512
• WagamamaTV300
League of Legends
• Doublelift3833
• TFBlade1694
Other Games
• imaqtpie1171
• Shiphtur396
Upcoming Events
Replay Cast
2h 26m
OSC
2h 26m
WardiTV Invitational
13h 26m
HiGhDrA vs Nicoract
MaNa vs HiGhDrA
HiGhDrA vs Reynor
Nicoract vs Reynor
MaNa vs Nicoract
MaNa vs Reynor
MaxPax vs Spirit
Krystianer vs Spirit
OSC
15h 26m
Korean StarCraft League
1d 5h
SOOP
1d 11h
sOs vs Percival
CranKy Ducklings
1d 12h
WardiTV Invitational
1d 13h
Cheesadelphia
1d 17h
CSO Cup
1d 19h
[ Show More ]
GSL Code S
2 days
Rogue vs herO
Classic vs GuMiho
Sparkling Tuna Cup
2 days
Replay Cast
3 days
Wardi Open
3 days
Replay Cast
4 days
Replay Cast
4 days
RSL Revival
4 days
Cure vs Percival
ByuN vs Spirit
RSL Revival
5 days
herO vs sOs
Zoun vs Clem
Replay Cast
6 days
The PondCast
6 days
RSL Revival
6 days
Serral vs SHIN
Solar vs Cham
Liquipedia Results

Completed

CSL Season 17: Qualifier 2
BGE Stara Zagora 2025
Heroes 10 EU

Ongoing

JPL Season 2
BSL 2v2 Season 3
BSL Season 20
KCM Race Survival 2025 Season 2
NPSL S3
Rose Open S1
CSL 17: 2025 SUMMER
2025 GSL S2
BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025
ESL Impact League Season 7
IEM Dallas 2025
PGL Astana 2025
Asian Champions League '25
BLAST Rivals Spring 2025
MESA Nomadic Masters
CCT Season 2 Global Finals
IEM Melbourne 2025
YaLLa Compass Qatar 2025
PGL Bucharest 2025
BLAST Open Spring 2025

Upcoming

Copa Latinoamericana 4
CSLPRO Last Chance 2025
CSLPRO Chat StarLAN 3
K-Championship
SEL Season 2 Championship
Esports World Cup 2025
HSC XXVII
Championship of Russia 2025
Murky Cup #2
Esports World Cup 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall 2025
BLAST Bounty Fall Qual
IEM Cologne 2025
FISSURE Playground #1
TLPD

1. ByuN
2. TY
3. Dark
4. Solar
5. Stats
6. Nerchio
7. sOs
8. soO
9. INnoVation
10. Elazer
1. Rain
2. Flash
3. EffOrt
4. Last
5. Bisu
6. Soulkey
7. Mini
8. Sharp
Sidebar Settings...

Advertising | Privacy Policy | Terms Of Use | Contact Us

Original banner artwork: Jim Warren
The contents of this webpage are copyright © 2025 TLnet. All Rights Reserved.