Progressive Rhythm Guitar will provide you with an essential guide into the styles and technique of rhythm guitar playing. As a rhythm guitarist you will be required to:
(a) Play chords to accompany a vocal or instrumental melody line, and
(b) Help establish the beat of a particular song. (e.g., rock, reggae, waltz etc.)
Within the three main sections of this book a lesson by lesson structure has been used to give a clear and carefully graded method of study. No prior knowledge on your behalf is assumed.
Aside from the specific aim of teaching rhythm guitar, basic music theory has been introduced to help you to understand the material being presented. Theory can often be applied to solve practical problems and hence aid in your future development.
From the beginning you should set yourself a goal. Many people learn guitar because of a desire to play like their favorite artist or to play a certain style of music (e.g., rock, funk, reggae etc.). Motivations such as these will help you to persevere through the more difficult sections of work. As you develop it will be important to adjust and update your goals.
It is important to have a correct approach to practice. You will benefit more from several short practices (e.g., 15-30 minutes per day) than one or two long sessions per week. This is especially so in the early stages, because of the basic nature of the material being studied. In a practice session you should divide your time evenly between the study of new material and the revision of past work. It is a common mistake for semi-advanced students to practice only the pieces they can already play well. Although this is more enjoyable, it is not a very satisfactory method of practice. You should also try to correct mistakes and experiment with new ideas.
It is the author’s belief that an experienced teacher will be an invaluable aid to your progress.
