what can i do to become a better metal rhythm guitarist?

Question

I've been playing guitar for a little over a year. I'm not that bad, but I know that there's always room for improvement, especially after only one year of playing. Now, I know that in this case, the best way to get better is practicing (am I right? If I'm not, then what is?)...however, as it goes, 80% of your practice time brings you only about 20% of your total progress, and 20% of your practice time brings you only about 80% of your total practice (Pareto's Principle). So...what exactly should I be practicing? What techniques? What should I be playing? What should I be aiming for? Thanks to anybody that helps...

Answer 1

Study the great Rhythm Guitarists. This is difficult to do because it's like studying the sidekicks at Super Hero college. Look at the rhythm player for the Basie Band however. Freddie Green is respected by Guitar players from every Genre, Rock, Blues, Jazz, Ragtime, and Country. He had a style of playing that was impeccably clean, sparse, and tastefully fluid. He knew what not to do in any given situation, and anything he put into an arrangement absolutely had to be there.

There are several steps to rhythm playing:

1. Learn your chords

2. Learn how the chords connect!

3. Learn how to play a chord sequence without moving more than one fret up or down from where you are already at.

4. Learn to play an alternate diatonic or chromatic melody line in addition to the chord you are playing!

The easiest way to get there is to study the diminished seven chord. There are only three diminished seven chords in the whole world, and when you get to the third, you just go back to the first in another inversion. If you move any one finger down one fret (that's down to the peg box, not down towards the body of the guitar. Some folks are always going to be confused as to where down is!) You get a V7 chord. There are four V7 chords to every diminished seven chord, and four times three is twelve. There are only twelve keys, so that means you can find ANY chord within one fret up or down from where you are at! If you take that same finger and move it up (toward the body) instead of down, then you end up with a minor seven flat five chord. I won't get too much more into this, but believe me when I say that once you start learning these patterns, you begin to realize that you can play almost any chord anywhere, and make up little counter melodies to boot. That's the real challenge in becoming a great rhythm guitar player.

Now, what does that have to do with metal? Metal is still music, and music has the same function in any genre. Most great guitarists study outside their own field. Ritchie Blackmore is playing Renaissance and medieval music right now, in a group called Blackmore's Night. Yngwie Malmsteen knows as much about classical music as he does about rock. MAking great music is as much about what you bring in from the outside, as it is about what you learn from within your own genre. If you listen to Nightwish, they have Operatic influences, as well as classical themes infused all through their music. Take a step backwards and look at the big picture. It's all music and you can use whatever tools you bring with you!

Answer 2

Find a good guitar teacher that doesn't just help you work on whatever song you want to learn. You need one that will teach you chord forms, and proper technique.

Also, educate yourself about polyrhythms. Read up on drumming techniques. Some of the best rhythm guitar players study or have played the drums in some form. You want something to make your playing sound unique? Learn rhythms from a drummer, not another guitar player - or you'll sound like all the other guitar players.

Answer 3

that's a effortless section my buddy! you're able to do a splash yet effective issues to strengthen your solo qualifications like- a million. mutually as attempting a sparkling lick go great slow, do not attempt to shred it out formerly each and every thing... enable your self be comfortable, enable the muscle memory to artwork... it's going to help you in lots of procedures, case in point hitting incorrect notes won't happen plus you are able to understand what mistake you're making or how must you place ur finger on string.... whilst u experience comfortable...then speed up steadily.. 2. use metronome, its mandatory. 3. flow youtube for a number of guitar exercises which will help you develop your picking to boot as speed-construction concepts. 4. conserving a %. is punctiliously upto you, 2 arms or 3 it quite would not count number. 5. be calm, prepare in basic terms one concern at a time... repeat it repeatedly except u r a hundred% on it. wish i ws of any help.... all the basically right fr ur guitar adventure !

Answer 4

Listen to ur favourite players. Work out what they do and try to copy it. There are books on metal guitar playing. Learn some riffs. As u get more proficient, u can invent ur own riffs and style.Best of luck and hope this helps

Answer 5

Find a good instructor. He or she may have you play music other than what you like; but it will be to improve your over-all playing ability. If your band will let you, play lead on a few songs as well!