I want to get into the subject of rhythm guitar. First of all, we
need to deal with the stereotype of the term, or label, of rhythm
guitar. I think that label can put rhythm guitar into a box in which it
does not belong. It often gives me the image of a guitarist standing
over in a corner timidly playing block chords. So for starters, let's
spell out a definition for my idea of rhythm guitar. A rhythm
guitarist's purpose is to add rhythmic, harmonic, and at times, melodic
foundational support for the music
.
Notice that I included the word support in the definition. Most often, you would not want the rhythm guitar part to be the main focus for the listener. During vocals, or a full-blown lead guitar solo, you would not want the secondary guitar to overpower, or take the spotlight away from, these other more important elements. Sometimes though, the rhythm part is the primary focus. This is often used for the main 'hook' guitar riffs for a song. At this point, there are no vocals, main lead guitar, or other primary musical parts. This is very effective and sets the stage for vocals, or other musical parts, to come in after the hook. Take for example, the Blue Oyster Cult song 'Don't Fear the Reaper'. The song starts with its iconic rhythm guitar hook. When the vocals come in, the rhythm part is still playing, but the focus for the listener has clearly shifted to the vocals.
When playing rhythm guitar, you are not restricted to playing block chords. In fact, you are not even restricted to playing just chords. The best rhythm guitar parts have a combination of chords and single lines mixed in together. You are really free to play whatever you want. However, the one cardinal rule is that whatever you are playing needs to complement the music and not overpower, or overshadow, the main musical elements that should be the primary focus for the listener.
With that ground work laid, it is really no surprise that the best rhythm guitarists are often the best lead guitarists as well. The guitarist at the top of my list would probably be Jimmy Page. Page's guitar work with Led Zeppelin was always creative, and he played in so many different styles. Page was just as comfortable playing an acoustic guitar as an electric guitar. Listen to Ten Years Gone, or Gallows Pole, to check out how Jimmy Page expertly handles my concept of rhythm guitar.
Another excellent rhythm player is Eddie Van Halen. Of course, Van Halen is famous for his blistering tapping leads. I like the Van Halen phrase 'falling down the stairs and landing on your feet'. Think the solo from Ice Cream Man here. The phrase means going completely out of control but still managing to land on the right ending note on the right beat. It is like a gymnast sticking a landing. Anyway we were talking about rhythm guitar (lead and rhythm should overlap and be intertwined like this.) Van Halen is a fantastic song writer and has also done some of the best rhythm parts you will ever hear. Listen to Best of Both Worlds.
Think of all the iconic Pink Floyd songs. David Gilmour's guitar is doing the heavy lifting of cranking out the song structure underneath all those songs. Listen to Have a Cigar. One of my favorite guitar sections is from the song Any Colour You Like off of The Dark Side of the Moon album. Gilmour is playing two different guitars. It is a mash-up of the guitars sliding in and out of playing 'rhythm' and 'lead', and the interplay between them. This is great stuff.
There are so many others. Check out Jimi Hendrix (Freedom), Slash (Locomotive), and Steve Howe (Starship Trooper), just to name a few. So if you are playing rhythm guitar, don't stand over in the corner and timidly plunk out block chords. It's time for you to get out of the kiddie pool and jump off of the high dive.
.
Notice that I included the word support in the definition. Most often, you would not want the rhythm guitar part to be the main focus for the listener. During vocals, or a full-blown lead guitar solo, you would not want the secondary guitar to overpower, or take the spotlight away from, these other more important elements. Sometimes though, the rhythm part is the primary focus. This is often used for the main 'hook' guitar riffs for a song. At this point, there are no vocals, main lead guitar, or other primary musical parts. This is very effective and sets the stage for vocals, or other musical parts, to come in after the hook. Take for example, the Blue Oyster Cult song 'Don't Fear the Reaper'. The song starts with its iconic rhythm guitar hook. When the vocals come in, the rhythm part is still playing, but the focus for the listener has clearly shifted to the vocals.
When playing rhythm guitar, you are not restricted to playing block chords. In fact, you are not even restricted to playing just chords. The best rhythm guitar parts have a combination of chords and single lines mixed in together. You are really free to play whatever you want. However, the one cardinal rule is that whatever you are playing needs to complement the music and not overpower, or overshadow, the main musical elements that should be the primary focus for the listener.
With that ground work laid, it is really no surprise that the best rhythm guitarists are often the best lead guitarists as well. The guitarist at the top of my list would probably be Jimmy Page. Page's guitar work with Led Zeppelin was always creative, and he played in so many different styles. Page was just as comfortable playing an acoustic guitar as an electric guitar. Listen to Ten Years Gone, or Gallows Pole, to check out how Jimmy Page expertly handles my concept of rhythm guitar.
Another excellent rhythm player is Eddie Van Halen. Of course, Van Halen is famous for his blistering tapping leads. I like the Van Halen phrase 'falling down the stairs and landing on your feet'. Think the solo from Ice Cream Man here. The phrase means going completely out of control but still managing to land on the right ending note on the right beat. It is like a gymnast sticking a landing. Anyway we were talking about rhythm guitar (lead and rhythm should overlap and be intertwined like this.) Van Halen is a fantastic song writer and has also done some of the best rhythm parts you will ever hear. Listen to Best of Both Worlds.
Think of all the iconic Pink Floyd songs. David Gilmour's guitar is doing the heavy lifting of cranking out the song structure underneath all those songs. Listen to Have a Cigar. One of my favorite guitar sections is from the song Any Colour You Like off of The Dark Side of the Moon album. Gilmour is playing two different guitars. It is a mash-up of the guitars sliding in and out of playing 'rhythm' and 'lead', and the interplay between them. This is great stuff.
There are so many others. Check out Jimi Hendrix (Freedom), Slash (Locomotive), and Steve Howe (Starship Trooper), just to name a few. So if you are playing rhythm guitar, don't stand over in the corner and timidly plunk out block chords. It's time for you to get out of the kiddie pool and jump off of the high dive.
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