Rhythm Exercise

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Backing Tracks

Tab

Guitar pro tab (?)

Members practicing this lesson:
Jenkinson
gitulyar
wamphyrison
FlipsGTS
chunky2004

Hi all :) Here's a little rhythm exercise for you all.

It starts out with a simple variation of a few different chords. The same chords are used for the 2nd part of the song, but the trick here is to get rhythm and timing right as there is an odd time-signature feel going on, but it is 4/4.

Chords used for the first 2 parts:

B5/F# Bsus4/E E5 C5/G Bsus4#5/E
|-----| |-----| |-----| |-----| |-----|
|-----| |-----| |-----| |-----| |-----|
|-----| |-----| |-----| |-----| |-----|
|--4--| |--4--| |--2--| |--5--| |--5--|
|--2--| |--2--| |--2--| |--3--| |--2--|
|--2--| |--0--| |--0--| |--3--| |--0--|

It gets a bit more difficult for the 3rd and 4th sections where the patterns change to 16th notes with mostly downstrokes.

P.S:
If you are still new to the guitar, then be careful about practicing this technique at high speeds.
It's easy to at first use the wrong muscles and get a sore arm if your using your whole arm to pick with. Start the slowest you can.

Maintaining the rhythm can be a bit tricky for the last part as again the song sounds like it's straying away from 4/4, but it's still 4/4 with 16 notes played per bar.

Hopefully this lesson will help with improving both timing and rhythm-playing precision :)

The tempo is 110 BPM
Tuning: E standard
I have included 4 backingtracks and a guitarpro file.

-- Trond

e||------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|
B||------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|
G||------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|
D||--4---4---4---4---4---4-|-----4---4---4---2---2--|----5---5---5---5---5---|
A||--2---2---2---2---2---2-|-----2---2---2---2---2--|----3---3---3---3---3---|
E||--2---2---2---2---2---2-|-----0---0---0---0---0--|----3---3---3---3---3---|


e||------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|
B||------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|
G||------------------------|------------------------|------------------------|
D||--5---5---5---4---4---4-|-----4---4---4---4---4--|----4---4---4---2---2---|
A||--3---2---2---2---2---2-|-----2---2---2---2---2--|----2---2---2---2---2---|
E||--3---0---0---0---0---0-|-----2---2---2---2---2--|----0---0---0---0---0---|

  
e||------------------------|------------------------|----------------------|
B||------------------------|------------------------|----------------------|
G||------------------------|------------------------|----------------------|
D||--2---5---5---5---5---5-|-----5---5---5---4---4--|--4---4---4-----------|
A||--2---3---3---3---3---3-|-----2---2---2---2---2--|--2---2---2-----------|
E||--0---3---3---3---3---3-|-----0---0---0---0---0--|--2---2---2-----------|

Getting used to the timing here can be a bit tricky.

I use the same technique here as i would have used with real odd-time signatures, which is memorizing by counting and looking for a pattern. There's usually always a pattern to be found.

Like, the first bar is 6 strums, then 5, then 5, then 6, then 5, then 5 etc. That would be the pattern here.
Then the next step is to get the rhythm and timing right. In this case, the guitars follows the beat of the basedrum.
Try listening to just the basedrum, and ignoring the hihat, which can throw you off time.

This is a good way to approach most odd time-signatures. Counting and looking for patterns.

     PM PM   PM PM   PM PM   PM PM   PM PM          PM PM    PM PM   PM PM    PM PM   PM PM 
e||---------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
B||---------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
G||---------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
D||---------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
A||--------9-------7-------9-------7-------9h10-|--------10-------9-------10-------9-------10h12-|
E||--7--7----7--7----7--7----7--7----7--7-------|--0--0-----0--0----0--0-----0--0----0--0--------|

     PM PM    PM PM    PM PM   PM PM    PM PM          PM PM    PM PM   PM PM      PM   PM PM      
e||------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|
B||------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|
G||------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|
D||------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------|
A||--------12-------10-------9-------10-------9h10-|--------10-------9-------5---------5-----5h7-|
E||--8--8-----8--8-----8--8----8--8-----8--8-------|--0--0-----0--0----0--0------0--0----0-0-----|

     PM PM   PM PM   PM PM   PM PM   PM PM          PM PM    PM PM   PM PM    PM PM   PM PM 
e||---------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
B||---------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
G||---------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
D||---------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------|
A||--------9-------7-------9-------7-------9h10-|--------10-------9-------10-------9-------10h12-|
E||--7--7----7--7----7--7----7--7----7--7-------|--0--0-----0--0----0--0-----0--0----0--0--------|

     PM PM    PM PM    PM PM   PM PM    PM PM          PM PM    PM PM   PM PM      PM   PM PM      
e||------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
B||------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
G||------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
D||------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------|
A||--------12-------10-------9-------10-------9h10-|--------10-------9-------7p5----5-------5h7-|
E||--8--8-----8--8-----8--8----8--8-----8--8-------|--0--0-----0--0----0--0------0----0--0------|

Double-downstroke for the notes on the E string, then an upstroke for the notes on the A string.

e||-------------------------------------------------|
B||-------------------------------------------------|
G||--------11-------9-------11-------9-------11h-12-|
D||--9--9-----9--9----9--9-----9--9----9--9---------|
A||-------------------------------------------------|
E||-------------------------------------------------|

     PM PM    PM PM    PM PM    PM PM    PM PM
e||---------------------------------------------------|
B||---------------------------------------------------|
G||--------12-------11-------12-------11-------12s-14-|
D||--9--9-----9--9-----9--9-----9--9-----9--9---------|
A||---------------------------------------------------|
E||---------------------------------------------------|

     PM PM    PM PM    PM PM    PM PM    PM PM               
e||---------------------------------------------------|
B||---------------------------------------------------|
G||--------14-------12-------11-------12-------11h-12-|
D||--10-10----10-10----10-10----10-10----10-10--------|
A||---------------------------------------------------|
E||---------------------------------------------------|
    
     PM PM    PM PM    PM PM      PM PM PM PM 
e||------------------------------------------------|
B||------------------------------------------------|
G||--------12-------11-------9p-7-7--7--7--7--7h-9-|
D||--9--9-----9--9-----9--9------------------------|
A||------------------------------------------------|
E||------------------------------------------------|

     PM PM    PM PM   PM PM    PM PM   PM PM         
e||-------------------------------------------------|
B||-------------------------------------------------|
G||--------11-------9-------11-------9-------11h-12-|
D||--9--9-----9--9----9--9-----9--9----9--9---------|
A||-------------------------------------------------|
E||-------------------------------------------------|

     PM PM    PM PM    PM PM    PM PM    PM PM
e||---------------------------------------------------|
B||---------------------------------------------------|
G||--------12-------11-------12-------11-------12s-14-|
D||--9--9-----9--9-----9--9-----9--9-----9--9---------|
A||---------------------------------------------------|
E||---------------------------------------------------|

     PM PM    PM PM    PM PM    PM PM    PM PM         
e||---------------------------------------------------|
B||---------------------------------------------------|
G||--------14-------12-------11-------12-------11h-12-|
D||--10-10----10-10----10-10----10-10----10-10--------|
A||---------------------------------------------------|
E||---------------------------------------------------|

     PM PM    PM PM    PM PM      PM PM PM PM 
e||------------------------------------------------|
B||------------------------------------------------|
G||--------12-------11-------9p-7-7--7--7--7--7h-9-|
D||--9--9-----9--9-----9--9------------------------|
A||------------------------------------------------|
E||------------------------------------------------|

For getting the timing right here, try to simply count the number of tones you play. Should be 16 notes each bar.
And also, try to not listen to the beat, just listen to them as a reference for what speed its in.

Lesson Questions, Feedback & Comments

Kristofer Dahl	10th March 2008
GMC Founder & Rocker	Cool excercise and awesome sounding riffs! Thanks Trond!

superize	10th March 2008
Member	sounds very cool....I will definently leran this....Thanks:D

Stevie·Ray·Vaughn	10th March 2008
Member	Awesome rifffs Trond!

Vurpa	10th March 2008
Member	Awesome riffing as usual! Keep the good riffs coming

SLASH91	10th March 2008
Member	Cool lesson

Tuubsu	10th March 2008
Member	Damn! Every lesson you've done so far has brought one word in my head: COOL!

Ivan Milenkovic	10th March 2008
Instructor	Nice lesson Trond, great hi-gain sound

Muris Varajic	10th March 2008
Instructor	Top notch!

PassionPlay	10th March 2008
Member	that rocks !

Nemanja Filipovic	10th March 2008
Singing Instructor	wow...this is great..your guitar sound so big....onece again great lesson

Nick325	10th March 2008
Member	cool

kyldeee	10th March 2008
Member	WOW.... Just wow, this exactly the kind of music I like!!! Thanks Trond

Mark.	10th March 2008
Member	Great! I love your riffing style !!

Marcus Siepen	10th March 2008
Instructor (Blind Guardian)	Awesome riff, this one really rocks, great lesson

Toni Suominen	10th March 2008
Instructor	Great riffing my fellow metalhead!

Joe Kataldo	10th March 2008
Instructor	very huge sound

Bogdan Radovic	10th March 2008
Bass Instructor	Great riffs !! Thanks for this one!

Dejan Farkas	10th March 2008
Instructor	Sounds great

Jenkinson	10th March 2008
Member	OMG, that PM riffing sounds like my band!!! WHOAAA!! Excellent! Learning this once I get home tonight from Class.

coffeeman	10th March 2008
Member	Awesome Trond.

Jenkinson	10th March 2008
Member	Hmmm, I noticed for the thrash riffing you suggest 2 downs 1 up, is it ok if we AP it? Thats how ive built my thrash chops.

Jenkinson	10th March 2008
Member	Nevermind, i see the benefit of 2 downs 1 up, I will relearn.

Nick Kellie	10th March 2008
Instructor	great lesson!

Juan M. Valero	10th March 2008
Instructor	WOW, I really love this riffs !!!! I can see lot of power inside Congratulations, is a great lesson, for sure !!!!

Danilo Capezzuto	10th March 2008
Instructor	Huge!!

Hisham Al-Sanea	10th March 2008
Instructor	great work Danilo... nice riff

Fran	10th March 2008
Member	Sounds great! keep them coming Trond!

stratman33	10th March 2008
Member	This is so sweet i will definately learn this one

Carlos Carrillo	11th March 2008
Instructor	great job Tron!!! very creative!!! thanks

Trond Vold	11th March 2008
Instructor	Thanks guys Glad you all like it

Pablo Vazquez	11th March 2008
Instructor	Awesome lesson, friend!!

Alec A	11th March 2008
Member	nice lesson! i really like the riffs

jammer91	11th March 2008
Member	I love the metalcore ending. Sounds awesome (my style). Thanks a lot Trond!!! YOu rock!

leedbreak	11th March 2008
Member	Cool, IN YOUR FACE STUFF!!!! Now, I like that

JukeboxHero	13th March 2008
Member	Very cool. I'm learning this for sure.

axesandamps	13th March 2008
Member	kicks A

D-loader	16th March 2008
Member	Wow Trond, what a sound! You're extremely good at what you're doing, no doubt about it! such a fat, rocky tune.. No doubt I'll work this through!

Tsarpf	19th March 2008
Member	Very nice! going to learn it ASAP

besip	21st April 2008
Member	i'm will gonna learn this

gitulyar	27th April 2008
Member	Nice sound and I really love it. I'm new with electric guitar (before I played acoustic) and the biggest problem for me is guitar effects. You know, there are a lot of pedals, processors at the shop and how choose that I need I don't know. So as I like sound from this lesson, can you say what effects, pedals, processors you use here?

Trond Vold	28th April 2008
Instructor	Glad you like it For the first part i dont use any effects or processors, just the distortion channel on my JMP-1 preamp. On the 2nd part, i change to a preset on my BOSS GT-8 board. Sounds very alike, but gives it a bit of boost.

gitulyar	28th April 2008
Member	Thank you a lot for your answer. It's very helpful. I read many about PODs and BOSS processors, but what to choose not decided yet. So BOSS +1 .