New Rhythms

Exercise 17 The most common of these is called three/four time and often referred to as waltz time. It has three quarter beats in each bar and is counted 1, 2, 3, etc... Like four/four time, there are various rhythms which can be played to this time signature. One of these rhythms is used in this exercise. Have a listen to Exercise 17 sound file * to see what it sounds like, then try the chord progression below. .

Exercise 18 Another common time signature is twelve/eighth time. It has twelve eighth beats in each bar which are felt as four groups of three beats. When you count this rhythm, rather than count 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, etc..., try counting as four groups of three like 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, etc.. The exercise below shows a popular rhythm played in twelve/eighth time. This is known as a shuffle or swing rhythm. Each down strum lasts twice as long as the following up strum. Listen to Exercise 18 sound file * whilst following the chord chart below, then try to play it on your guitar. Notice how lazy this rhythm sounds. That's exactly how your right arm should feel when you play it, so don't be in a rush with the up stroke, and watch out for the chord change half way through bar seven. The curved line at the end of the last bar is called a tie. It joins the last two beats together as one, so only the first one is played and held for the time value of both of them (three eighth beats).

Exercise 19 The next example uses a tie to show another common four/four rhythm. The up stroke after the second beat lasts for a quarter beat (two eighth notes tied), and is then followed by another up stroke. Listen to Exercise 19 sound file * and follow the chord chart below, then try it yourself. Don't forget the repeat sign at the end of bar four. If you're having trouble with this rhythm try to keep your right hand moving in time, with a down stroke on each of the quarter beats. Even though you don't play anything on the third beat of the bar, your right hand still does a down stroke but doesn't strike the strings.

When you're ready, go to the next page and we'll do some single note picking.

 
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Copyright ©1997 Kim Wainwright.