Rhythm Schmythm

[Fumblyfingers]

HardTail has suggested I post some rhythm excercises. This is very flattering as it is suggesting I know a lot about this. Thanks Hardtail.

 

This is a little difficult as it is so much easier to show you guitar in hand and some free time together as well, but here goes....

 

When it comes to funky comping I like to think of a train cruising down the tracks, one of my favourite images. This brings to mind 1/16 notes so I suggest starting by muting the strings with the fretting hand and forgetting about pitch or chords.

 

Then get a nice even 1/16 note strum pattern going. You want your strumming hand to be nice and loose, so keep that in mind as you practise...

 

So first one

 

1e&a 2e&a 3e&a 4e&a etc etc.....no accent just straight.

 

Now pick a beat and accent it, say the downbeat..

 

1e&a 2e&a 3e&a 4e&a etc etc

 

then all the first notes of the groups in a bar

 

1e&a2e&a3e&a4e&a etc etc

 

Then start to mix it up, creating your own permutations eg

 

1e&a 2e&a3e&a etc

 

1e&a2e&a3e&a4e&a etc

 

Experiment with all the different combinations of accents you can come up with. Not all will be comfortable or make sense. But just doing it will get you loose and make it easier to just get into this style at will.

 

Start off at a slow metronome setting and slowly get faster until you find combinations of accents that work for you. Also mute a basic Am barre chord at the 5th fret and then do the chukka's but substitute the accent in bold for a chord stab. You will soon see how reggae really fits into this as well

 

When away from the guitar or while listening to a song somewhere, try clapping the fingers of your picking hand in the palm of your fretting hand and clap out your own 1/16 note patterns to the tempo. Or pat your hands on your thighs drummer style in a left to right or right to left starting pattern eg

 

R L R L R L R L R L R L R L R L

1 e & a 2 e & a3 e & a 4 e & a

 

Then start practising accenting certain beats as you would if practising on the guitar. Kind like paradiddles.

 

There is a reason drummers do these ex.s...building independance.

 

Anyway once you have this down muting the strings, try playing actual chords with it. Usually this type of funky style comping is very fast so it has to become second nature really. Also at some point you can start dropping the constant chuka chuka's going on and get more selective with which notes you play, break it up into a less is more thing.

 

In the meantime throw on a wah at some point and really have some fun with it!

 

Here is a little audio clip, I am off my game today but you should get the idea.

 

Rhythm clip

 

I dunno, does it make any sense? It does to me but I have been comping funky for a long time...let me know. Hope it helps.

Cheers.

[Hardtail]

Very cool. Yep. It makes total sense and this is what I was looking for.

[Dr. Ellwood]

NICE job Fumble! dead on advice, now admit it YOU don't do this do ya!!! LOL...JK I know you are into the Pete Townsend method of windmilling aren't you!!

[Fumblyfingers]

Thanks guys...I am glad it helps you HT. I do this stuff a lot, I love the whole circle thing like Stevie did and like to incorporate that also...usually more on a shuffle vibe though...kinda 1/8 notes accenting the "and" of the beat.

[Hardtail]

I tried this out and it's definitely something I'll have to take slowly and do in short intervals (say no more than 15 minutes) until my forearm gets used to it.

[Fumblyfingers]

Yeah takes a minute. It's good that you recognize not to push it too hard.

 

This is what is going on in the intro to Voodoo Chile. Jimi is just breaking it up in a nice slow 4/4. Try doing you workout at that tempo.

[Guitarzan]

bring on the funk.

oh yeah.

i love that stuff.

[stamplicker]

MAnnnnnNnnNnn FUMBLE LET's get that FUNK OUT!

 

SWEEET Clip.. got that playing over and over and over again! Nice

[Fumblyfingers]

Thank you friends!