Counting Rhythms for Guitar – what does it mean?

What does it mean to play guitar rhythms?

So why should you learn to play and count guitar rhythms notated on a piece of music paper? Can’t you just rock out instead?

Well, here’s the thing my friends… everyone’s ear has a limit. Everybody’s. Except maybe Prince or Mozart. But if you weren’t a world famous musician like they both were, by the time you were a teenager, then maybe keep reading.

Having a great ear is a great thing. And when you can hear the rhythm in a guitar part, whether that’s for chords, lead, or part playing, and you can play it back accurately, that’s a beautiful thing.

But unless you really understand rhythms and time signatures, I can guarantee you there will come a time when you aren’t really sure if you reproduced the rhythm accurately or not. And if you can’t count it, how can you tell for sure? If you can’t count it, how can you be sure you’ll remember it accurately later? If you can’t count it, how can you explain it to anyone else, maybe to someone whose ear is not as good as yours?

And similar to what I’ve said before regarding theory not being a replacement for having a good ear, but instead being a way to develop your ear, the same is true with guitar rhythms.

Learn to play guitar rhythms

In the rhythm work module, you will learn about the most common time signatures, understand the difference between the beat, the feel, and the specific rhythms you might be playing.

You will learn how to count quarter notes, eight notes, swung eight notes, triplets, and sixteenths. You will learn the difference between 3/4 and 6/8 time. You will develop your ear by exploring more and more complicated rhythms, so that you won’t have to guess if you’re getting the rhythm right, to this part or that, you will know. It’s also half the battle if you end up going on to reading music, or want to further your skills in that arena.

And what’s more, your own basic sense of groove will improve, so that you can make up your own cooler and cooler rhythms in both your lead and chord playing.

So the real question is, why wouldn’t you want to learn how to count and play all the rhythms you’ll be exposed to in this course?

So what are you waiting for? Let’s Dive In!