Guitar Rhythm and Techniques For Dummies

Learn to: Understand the basics of reading, counting, strumming, fingering, and picking Improve your timing and sharpen your rhythm-playing skills Develop techniques for styles such as pop, rock, blues, folk, and funk Lack of rhythm getting you down? Improve your rhythm and timing and develop your guitar-playing skills! The guitar greats make it look effortless-but mastering rhythm and technique takes tons of practice. Luckily, this friendly guide makes your aspirations to play uitar like the pros attainable with loads of helpful step-by-step instruction on everything from mastering the art of strumming to sharpening your fingering and picking skills. Find your rhythm - learn to read and play essential rhythms, develop your strumming style, and enhance your groove Pick and choose - take a look at the ups and downs of picking, get to know alternate, tremolo, sweep, economy, and crosspicking, and develop your own picking proficiency Put a finger on it - play popular fingerpicking patterns and chord melody fingerstyle arrangements and get confident with hybrid picking and percussive slaps Hone your chops - work with hammer-ons, pull-offs, slides, and bends, plus improve your hand dexterity and synchronization Tools of the trade - get a grip on using a pick, playing slide guitar, and operating a whammy bar Open the book and find: The lowdown on keeping time Popular strumming patterns Groove-enhancing techniques Ways to add articulation and expression The mechanics of picking Exercises to improve your reading and playing Songs and guitarists to inspire your rhythm and technique Access to video demonstrations and audio tracks online