In this lesson we'll come up with a practice tune that incorporates all of these new rhythm guitar tools, and perform it over a backing track.
In general it's important not to work on too many new things all at once, so since we're focusing on right hand concepts and rhythmic aspects, we'll keep the left hand work very simple- apart from the muting of course.
For the intro we'll use our little â€"stumbleâ€. We'll keep the dynamics at medium and use the variation 4 times.
Then for the verse we'll keep the dynamics soft (but the groove steady) and play the regular strumming pattern on Em for 2 bars. Then A major for 2 bars, back to E minor for 2 bars and then to D major for 2 bars.
Then for our chorus we'll make the dynamics loud, go back to G and use our ghost note variation. We'll do that for 4 bars, and really focus on being loud without altering your technique or rushing the rhythmic feel. Focus on the drums and locking in with them!
Then after that we'll repeat the verse; remember to come down dynamically without altering technique or rhythmic feel. Then repeat the chorus, where we come up dynamically (again without altering the technique or rhythmic feel).
Finally we go back to our medium dynamic feel and reuse the intro for the outro. After that you end on a big G chord that we let ring.
I hope this tutorial has given you some new perspective on acoustic rhythm guitar playing in a Country context. If you use these tools well you can be the powerful engine in your band, add the magical guitar track to a recording or just provide enough groove, dynamics and variation to play country songs all night completely by yourself. It does take a bit of time to stop focusing solely on your fingers and instead listen to the rhythm and the space between the notes- but that's where you find so much of the magic. Have fun with it!
In general it's important not to work on too many new things all at once, so since we're focusing on right hand concepts and rhythmic aspects, we'll keep the left hand work very simple- apart from the muting of course.
For the intro we'll use our little â€"stumbleâ€. We'll keep the dynamics at medium and use the variation 4 times.
Then for the verse we'll keep the dynamics soft (but the groove steady) and play the regular strumming pattern on Em for 2 bars. Then A major for 2 bars, back to E minor for 2 bars and then to D major for 2 bars.
Then for our chorus we'll make the dynamics loud, go back to G and use our ghost note variation. We'll do that for 4 bars, and really focus on being loud without altering your technique or rushing the rhythmic feel. Focus on the drums and locking in with them!
Then after that we'll repeat the verse; remember to come down dynamically without altering technique or rhythmic feel. Then repeat the chorus, where we come up dynamically (again without altering the technique or rhythmic feel).
Finally we go back to our medium dynamic feel and reuse the intro for the outro. After that you end on a big G chord that we let ring.
I hope this tutorial has given you some new perspective on acoustic rhythm guitar playing in a Country context. If you use these tools well you can be the powerful engine in your band, add the magical guitar track to a recording or just provide enough groove, dynamics and variation to play country songs all night completely by yourself. It does take a bit of time to stop focusing solely on your fingers and instead listen to the rhythm and the space between the notes- but that's where you find so much of the magic. Have fun with it!
Difficulty:





focus:
Rhythm Guitar
style:

Mark As Favorite
Download Lesson
Ready For More Lessons?
1: The Acoustic Behind it All
Advanced Country Strumming Patterns
- Expanding The Acoustic Foundation
- Acoustic Gear and Tone
- Right Hand Rhythmic Variation
- Adding Ghost Notes
- Playing Loud Vs. Soft
- Advanced Strumming Practice Tune
Advanced Melody Lines
- Bass Lines and Fills to Lead The Way
- Acoustic Gear and Tone
- Half Step Bass Note
- The Classic Bluegrass Lick with Just One Note
- The Classic Bluegrass Lick with a Few More Notes
- The Bluesy Version of the Classic Bluegrass Lick
- Alternative Walk Down's and Walk Up's
- Melody Lines Practice Tune
More Advanced Country Chords
- Spicing Up The Stew
- Acoustic Gear and Tone
- Using Dominant 7 Chords to Lead The Way On Up
- Slash Chords – IV/5
- Adding More Slash Chords
- Drop D Tuning
- Advanced Chord Practice Tune
Travis-Picking - Laying The Foundation
- Ditch The Pick and Dig In!
- Acoustic Gear and Tone
- The Thumb Foundation
- Adding a Chord
- Adding an Upbeat
- Adding a Hammer-on
- Travis Picking Practice Tune
Travis-Picking - Building On It
- Poor Man's Piano
- Acoustic Gear and Tone
- Adding The 1-5 Bass
- Adding a IV-Chord
- Applying The Travis Picking To The Barre-Chord
- How To Use Travis-Picking With Other Chords
- Travis Picking Practice Tune
Using a Capo to Adapt the Tools
2: The Electric in Front
Country Shuffle Boogie Riff
- Hills, Hollers and Honky Tonks
- Electric Country Gear and Tone
- Country Shuffle Boogie Riff - Open Position
- Country Shuffle Boogie Riff – I, IV and V
- Adapting The Boogie Riff to Any Key
- Adding Upbeats
- Country Shuffle Practice Tune
Embellishing The Country Shuffle Boogie Riff
- Next Level Boogie Riff
- Electric Country Gear and Tone
- Embellishing The Open Position Boogie Riff
- Embellishing The Boogie Riff in Any Key
- Playing The Boogie Pattern on the Top 3 Strings
- Boogie Riff Embellishment Practice Tune
Next Level Pedal Steel
- Picking Up The Pedal Steel
- Pedal Steel Gear and Tone
- Basic Progression and Pedal Steel Example #1
- Pedal Steel Example #2
- Pedal Steel Example #3
- Pedal Steel Practice Tune
Electric Travis Picking
- Travis Picking with High Voltage
- Electric Travis Picking Gear and Tone
- Electric Travis Picking: Transferring The Basics
- Electric Travis Picking: Building On The Basics
- Electric Travis Picking: Building On The Basics Pt. 2
- Electric Travis Picking Practice Tune
More Travis Picking
- Travis Picking with High Voltage
- Electric Travis Picking Gear and Tone
- Electric Travis Picking: Adding A Simple Melody
- Electric Travis Picking: Expanding The Melody
- Electric Travis Picking: Adding A Tension Note
- Electric Travis Picking: Building On The Basics Pt. 3
- Advanced Travis Picking Practice Tune
Next Level Intros and Outros
3: Covering Country Leads
Takin' Control of the Triads!
- Welcome Back!
- Triad Gear and Tone
- Arpeggiating A Single Triad w/ Slides
- Adding One More Triad
- Adding The Half and Whole Step Below
- Following A Chord Progression
Minor and Major Pentatonics
- The Bitter And The Sweet
- Major/Minor Gear and Tone
- Finding The Minor Pentatonic Pattern
- Creating Tension and Resolving It
- The Classic Country Licks in Minor?
- Combining The Minor Pattern With The Major Pattern
More Double Stoppin'
- Hybrid Heaven!
- Double Stop Gear and Tone
- First New Double Stop Lick
- Another New Double Stop Lick
- The Final Double Stop Lick Of The Day
- Combining all 3 Licks
Horizontal Country Licks
- The Secret Vault of Country Licks!
- Country Lick Gear and Tone
- 6th Intervals On the A and G string
- Your First Horizontal Country Lick
- Improvising With Your New Lick
- Adapting The Lick To The G and E String
- Connecting The Patterns and Triads with The High Lick
- Connecting The Patterns and Triads with The Low Lick
Combining it All (Level 2)
4: More Electric Rhythm Tools
Keeping Time At Faster Tempos
- Running For The Train!
- Combing The New Tricks: Gear and Tone
- Feeling It Half As Fast
- Stripping Down the Tic Toc Pattern
- Held Out Chords
- Adding Walk-ups
- Faster Tempo Practice Tune
Jazzy Chords
- Getting Fancy With It!
- Gear and Tone For The Jazzy Chords
- Adding a 9
- Adding a 13th
- Another Voicing Of a 13th Chord
- Raising The 5 By a Half Step
- Diminished Chord
- Jazzy Chord Practice Tune
Outlaw Ambience
- Laying Back In the Saddle
- Outlaw Ambience Gear and Tone
- Sustained Chords with Reverb and Tremolo
- Adding The Vibrato Bar
- Using Arpeggios
- Single Note Melodies On the Bass Strings
- Outlaw Practice Tune
Hybrid Picking For Rhythm Guitar
5: At The Gig
Traditional Practice Tune
- Till The Cows Come Home
- Gear and Tone
- Traditional Intro
- Traditional Verse Section
- Traditional Chorus Section
- Traditional Solo Section
- Traditional Ending
- Traditional Performance
Country Rock Practice Tune
- Honky Tonk Central
- Country Rock Gear and Tone
- Country Rock Intro
- Country Rock Verse Section
- Country Rock Chorus Section
- Country Rock Solo Section
- Country Rock Ending
- Country Rock Performance
Tex Mex Practice Tune
- Texas and South Of The Border
- Tex Mex Gear and Tone
- Tex Mex Intro
- Tex Mex Verse Section
- Tex Mex Chorus Section
- Tex Mex Acoustic Solo Section
- Tex Mex Performance
Modern Country Rock

More ReviewsI find it quite easy (so far!) to navigate, and found the "where do I start" to be very helpful! I'm getting there!!
I LOVE the forum, too. I've never been one to use forums, but the GT forum is full of great people and helpful information at ALL levels! Congrats on a WONDERFUL site!!
Good job!