VIDEO LESSONS

LICK OF THE DAY

ACTIVITIES

FORUM

BLOG

I Got Rhythm Guitar 1 - Drop D

Click images for videos - green are free

	1	2
3

Bookmark this

Backing Tracks

Tab

Guitar pro tab (?)

Members practicing this lesson:
coNtempt
darthangel310
Ava
saurock
BrainDamage

Hi there, my name is Joe Kataldo, this is my first lesson of a column I want to start called "I Got Rhythm Guitar" to unlock the secrets of rhythm guitar.

This is just a demo, in the next we will discuss many technical topics from basic to advanced one, touching different genres from rock to blues jazz to latin, passing from trash to progressive with a bit of acoustic... So stay tuned on GMC for great Rhythm Lessons!

This Lesson Will Improve:
Drop D Riffing
Palm Muting
Alternate Picking Dexterity
Drop D Power Chord Knowledge

D Metal Dorian
---------------
The lesson is divided in three section, each one will focus on a specific topic
A: Power chord palm mute riffing
B: Single note staccato riffing
C: Big Open Power Chord

The main key is D Dorian, all the notes belong to the C Major relative scale, starting from the second note D, I've Highlighted the notes on the top three string so you can just play watching the diagram and came out with some original riff.

Recommended Listening
---------------------
For great Drop D Riffer listen to TOOL, Sound Garden, Rage Against Machines, King's X etc.
They all make an extensive use of drop D Tuning.

Pro Tip
-------
If you don't have a fixed bridge guitar, Drop tune can be tricky, here is a tip: tune your guitar with a electronic tuner, than play the D string and the top E string together while tuning down the E until the six string will match the forth string D, these will not give you a perfect tuning but will set the top three strings in tune by themselves.

     All Down Stroke                                                  
                            PM PM    PM       PM PM PM                 
      E               E  E  E  E  E  E  E     E  E  E  E  E  E  E  E   
E||----------------------------------------|--------------------------|
B||----------------------------------------|-----------3--L--3--------|
G||*---------------------------------------|-----------2--L--2--------|
D||*--3---------------3--3--------2-----0--|-----------0--L--0--0--2--|
A||---3---------------3--3--------3-----0--|--0--0--0--0--L--0--0--2--|
D||-------------------------0--0-----0--0--|--0--0--0--0--L--0--0--2--|


     PM    PM PM    PM                PM PM           
  E  E  E  E  E  E  E  E     E  E  E  E  E  E  E  E   
--------------------------|--------------------------|
--------------------------|--------------------------|
--------------------------|--------------------------|
--3-----3--------3-----5--|--L--5--5--------5--5--0--|
--3--3--3--3--3--3--0--5--|--L--5--5--5--5--5--5--0--|
--3--3--3--3--3--3--0--5--|--L--5--5--5--5--5--5--0--|


           PM PM    PM       PM PM PM                 
  E  E  E  E  E  E  E  E     E  E  E  E  E  E  E  E   
--------------------------|--------------------------|
--------------------------|-----------3--L--3--------|
--------------------------|-----------2--L--2--------|
--3--3--3--------2-----0--|-----------0--L--0--0--2--|
--3--3--3--------3-----0--|--0--0--0--0--L--0--0--2--|
-----------0--0-----0--0--|--0--0--0--0--L--0--0--2--|


     PM    PM PM    PM                                     
  E  E  E  E  E  E  E  E     E  E   E    E  E  E  E  E     
--------------------------|------------------------------||
--------------------------|------------------------------||
--------------------------|-----------------------------*||
--3-----3--------3-----2--|--L--2--(2)--/5--L--5--5--0--*||
--3--3--3--3--3--3--0--3--|--L--3--(2)--/5--L--5--5--0---||
--3--3--3--3--3--3--0--2--|--L--2--(2)--/5--L--5--5--0---||

The part is quite straightforward concentrate on palm muting, trying to get a tight sound.
Angle the pick a little bit will give you the classic rude biting metal tone.

  Q    Q    E  E  E  E     Q    Q    Q    E  E     E  E  E  E  E  E  E  E   
------------------------|-----------------------|--------------------------|
-------3----L-----------|-----------------------|--------------------------|
-------2----L-----------|-----------------------|--------------------------|
--0----L----L-----------|-------5----L----L--5--|--L--5--5--5--5--5-----5--|
--0----L----L--0--2--3--|--L----3----L----L--5--|--L--5--5--5--5--5-----3--|
--0----L----L--0--2--3--|--L----3----L----L--5--|--L--5--5--5--5--5-----3--|


         PM            PM                                                       
  E  E   E   E  E  E   E   E     Q    Q    E  E  E  E     Q    Q    Q    E  E   
------------------------------|------------------------|-----------------------|
------------------------------|-------3----L-----------|-----------------------|
------------------------------|-------2----L-----------|-----------------------|
-----5-------5--L--5-------0--|--L----L----L-----------|-------5----L----L--5--|
-----3-------2--L--2-------0--|--L----L----L--0--2--3--|--L----3----L----L--5--|
-----3--(0)--5--L--5--(0)--0--|--L----L----L--0--2--3--|--L----3----L----L--5--|


                                    PM               PM      
  E  E  E  E  E  E  E  E     E  E   E    E   E   E   E   E   
--------------------------|---------------------------------|
--------------------------|------------------------------3--|
--------------------------|------------------------------2--|
--L--5--5--5--5--5-----7--|--L--7-------10---L--10-------0--|
--L--5--5--5--5--5-----7--|--L--7-------10---L--10-------0--|
--L--5--5--5--5--5-----7--|--L--7--(0)--10---L--10--(0)--0--|


  W                  
-------------------||
--L----------------||
--L----------------||
--L----------------||
--L----------------||
--L----------------||

the ending is quite easy, concentrate on timing, and before attempt the part practice the unusual (result of the drop D Tuning) powerchord shape in bar 16.

Lesson Questions, Feedback & Comments

Kristofer Dahl	10th January 2008
GMC Founder & Rocker	Welcome to GMC Joe - I am looking forward to follow your series! GMC:ers - as always, constructive feedback for new instructors/lessons is always appreciated!

timono	10th January 2008
Member	Welcome to GMC Can't wait for your next lesson

botoxfox	10th January 2008
Member	Cool stuff

Pavel	10th January 2008
Instructor	Congrats on your first lesson! Cool background

Bogdan Radovic	10th January 2008
Bass Instructor	Great first lesson Joe , welcome to GMC!

The Uncreator	10th January 2008
Fire Up The Blades, Moderator	Excellent Stuff

Sam Hook	10th January 2008
Member	Great lesson! Thanks.

Robwylde	10th January 2008
Member	Very Solid rhythm, welcome to GMC.

superize	10th January 2008
Member	Very nice riffing.....Welcome to GMC

misha	10th January 2008
Member	i like the sound of your lesson and the low level:)

Gerardo Siere	10th January 2008
Instructor	Welcome, nice bassy sound keep going.

Batista	10th January 2008
Member	This is very nice Joe! Really like your style and music so far. Looking forward to the next lesson =)

Mark.	10th January 2008
Member	Soooo cool I really dig this style of rhythm guitar!! Too bad it's a big job drop tuning my Ibanez Dx

Muris Varajic	10th January 2008
Instructor	Great sound and first lesson Joe,welcome to GMC!!

Pablo Vazquez	10th January 2008
Instructor	Welcome Joe! Excellent first lesson!!

David Wallimann	10th January 2008
Instructor	Great first lesson Joe! Very professional looking! Thanks and welcome to the staff. :-)

coffeeman	10th January 2008
Member	Very nice Joe!

Marcus Lavendell	10th January 2008
Instructor	Some really cool rhythms in there! Great lesson Joe!

Eat-Sleep-andJam	10th January 2008
Member	Great

Joe Kataldo	10th January 2008
Instructor	Thanks To All Guys, two new lessons are ready: Palm Muting Primer & Robben Ford Blues Style, I'm uploading stuff right now :-D Hi Mark, Read the tips on how to drop tune non-hard tail guitar!

Fran	10th January 2008
Member	Wellcome to GMC, nice lesson )

Toni Suominen	10th January 2008
Instructor	Great first lesson Joe!!

Joe Kataldo	10th January 2008
Instructor	Thanks! the Next two will be better

Jenkinson	10th January 2008
Member	I am going to enjoy this series.

Joe Kataldo	10th January 2008
Instructor	Your Welcome!

Ivan Milenkovic	10th January 2008
Instructor	Hey man, great lessons and great sound. We want more and more

Joe Kataldo	10th January 2008
Instructor	Don't Worry I Got Rhythm Guitar is a long journey!

krudtaa	10th January 2008
Member	One more great instructor on GMC. Cool lesson, and I really like your sound and backing. Welcome, looking forward to your next.

Dejan Farkas	10th January 2008
Instructor	Excellent first lesson Welcome to GMC Joe

Joe Kataldo	10th January 2008
Instructor	QUOTE (krudtaa @ Jan 10 2008, 05:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> One more great instructor on GMC. Cool lesson, and I really like your sound and backing. Welcome, looking forward to your next. Thanks, I didn't use any digital stuff the sound is real and in "yer face" QUOTE (farky @ Jan 10 2008, 05:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Excellent first lesson Welcome to GMC Joe Thanks

Crazyfret	10th January 2008
Member	Hey Joe Great first lesson. Love the chunky rhythm and driving riff. Looking forward to your lessons

Nick334	10th January 2008
Member	Very nice. Welcome to GMC

Joe Kataldo	10th January 2008
Instructor	Thanks, I Really Didn't expected so many comments...Thanks Joe Kataldo

Jakub Luptovec	10th January 2008
Member	Get used;) GMC'ers appreciate quality lessons:-P And gmc is a bit lacking in terms of rhytm lessons (no offense to gabriel and pavel!!) - there is never enough of them:-P Thanks for cool ideas, just today, i tuned into Drop C, so i can use include this in my songwriting dictionary :-D:)

Joe Kataldo	10th January 2008
Instructor	GoooooD! soon I'll start a soloing Series Joe Kataldo

fatb0t	10th January 2008
Member	Why does everyone spell THRASH as 'trash'?

fatb0t	10th January 2008
Member	Cool lesson BTW dude!

dreamtheaterfreak	10th January 2008
Member	good first lesson also nice guitar

Jelle	10th January 2008
Member	man,put my amp on full volume on this one,so the neighbours down the street could here,very cool

Nick325	10th January 2008
Member	awsome

Joe Kataldo	10th January 2008
Instructor	QUOTE (fatb0t @ Jan 10 2008, 07:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Why does everyone spell THRASH as 'trash'? Maybe because they don't like the genre :-))))) QUOTE (fatb0t @ Jan 10 2008, 07:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Cool lesson BTW dude! QUOTE (metallabomb93 @ Jan 10 2008, 08:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> good first lesson also nice guitar Thanks QUOTE (Jelle @ Jan 10 2008, 08:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}> man,put my amp on full volume on this one,so the neighbours down the street could here,very cool Yeah Rip-off the paint from walls!!!

stratman33	10th January 2008
Member	wow this is great, must learn it

Juan M. Valero	10th January 2008
Instructor	Excellent !!!! love this lesson, great ideas Nice to have you in GMC !!!!

Hisham Al-Sanea	10th January 2008
Instructor	great first lesson Kataldo and welcome to GMC

Tomy Jeon	10th January 2008
Member	Cool lesson! Can't wait for the other lessons in the series!

PacmanProductions Reborn	11th January 2008
Member	wow.. i already think your great!!!!! fun and simple melody

SLASH91	11th January 2008
Member	Nice job on the first lesson

Unleash-The-Shred	11th January 2008
Member	Awesome man, and welcome to GMC. I also have a Petrucci Music Man.

JukeboxHero	11th January 2008
Member	This is pretty cool. Welcome to GMC.

Joe Kataldo	11th January 2008
Instructor	Thanks everybody I start thinking I should re-arrange this idea and make a song...the musicman petrucci it's really versatile...a bit overpriced here in europe P.S. lessons requests are welcome Joe Kataldo

Jenkinson	11th January 2008
Member	I think these type of "thrash&power metal" rhythm lessons are most popular. Gabe's Megadeth lesson, Pavel's Rhapsody 1 and now this... I hope our instructors continue to produce lessons in this style, I know I love to play them! Great Lesson!

Jerry Arcidiacono	11th January 2008
Instructor	Great sound Joe and congrats for your first lesson

Joe Kataldo	11th January 2008
Instructor	I hope you will appreciate my next lesson on palm muting, it's not as musical as this one, but will surely improve your techniques Thanks Joe Kataldo

TheClansmanDK	11th January 2008
Member	Great first lesson Joe. And another Music Man player YEAH!

Joe Kataldo	11th January 2008
Instructor	Thanks

kebsis	11th January 2008
Member	Just wanted to say, that's a sweet guitar man!

ibanez rocker	12th January 2008
Member	welcome to GMC Joe. Great first lesson

Joe Kataldo	12th January 2008
Instructor	Thanks Guys...the guitar is a music man petrucci

Kosei Kubota	15th January 2008
Classical Instructor	Welcome to GMC. Great playing and well prepared lesson!

Vinod Saranga	16th January 2008
Acoustic Instructor	Nice first lesson

Joe Kataldo	17th January 2008
Instructor	Thanks

Kyle Logue	31st January 2008
Drum instructor	Sweet lesson man. Great riff for drumming and soloing.

Joe Kataldo	12th February 2008
Instructor	Thanks

Danilo Capezzuto	22nd February 2008
Instructor	Great rhythm Joe. d.

Carlos Carrillo	22nd February 2008
Instructor	Hey Joe!!!Great lesson!!!beutifull melody...very creative...thanks

Nighthawk	13th April 2008
Member	Well, this series will definitely help me to improve my rhythm guitar skills which i've been neglecting so far...but now I also wana have rhythm :-)

Nighthawk	26th April 2008
Member	I think there is a mistake in the tap (last part third bar). The low e-string is not played?!

Nighthawk	26th April 2008
Member	4th bar i mean...

Login to the forum to write a comment.

Search My Bookmarks

Random lessons: