Folk guitar acoustic rhythm ideas and techniques inspired by WOODY GUTHERIE – 10:01 min

In this lesson Ben Zinn teaches some fun acoustic guitar techniques and devices inspired by the folk playing of Woody Gutherie. This lesson will help you learn to add some variety into your rhythm playing to help spice things up. Ben first teaches the chords used in this lesson and Ben has a capo on the 3rd fret. But you can move the capo around on the neck or even go un capped. This chords used in the lesson are C, F/A, G, and a G7. Often in folk music the chords are pretty straightforward so you really want to learn ways to spice up your rhythms and apply these techniques in all styles. Ben then gets into some rhythm techniques. Add these devices to your playing and practice them with other chords and progressions. Keep trying to mix things up and add different flavors to your strumming and rhythm. ENjoy and keep on rocking! 

Country guitar rhythm techniques using a thumb pick in the style of Travis Atkins – 7:20 min

In this lesson Ben Zinn teaches some Travis Atkins style rhythm ideas using a thumb pick. Ben captures the vibe of the thumb picking finger style country approach in this lesson and teaches some of the basics of this style of play. Ben first goes over the use of the thumb pick – you can play this style without using the thumb pick if you like but using one will give you certain advantages in this style of play. Four basic chords will be utilized in this lesson for the rhythms C – A – D – G. Ben then gets into playing the driving rhythms and getting that alternating bass note sounds from the chords. This is a huge element in this style using bouncing quarter notes throughout the progression. ben then moves through some more techniques that you want to add to your playing arsenal. Work these up slow at first and get them up to speed over time. Add these techniques to your playing and try with different chords and progressions – have fun! 

KEITH URBAN inspired rhythm and lick ideas lesson – 7:25 min

In this lesson Dave Nassie teaches some Keith Urban inspired rhythm and lick ideas. This lesson is in the key of Emajor and Dave also uses some suspended chords in this lesson. Dave teaches licks built from the major pentatonic scale for a more happy and bright sound. Dave first goes over the rhythm that he played at the intro of the lesson. Dave keeps a simple pattern with the fret hand and embellishes notes from the E major scale on the G string to add variation in the rhythm. Listen to the hammer-ons and open strings as they give the rhythm a lot of movement and color. Work the pattern up slow and with a little practice you will get it down. Move that pattern around and try coming up with some variations on your own with different notes and combinations of notes – let your ear guide you! Dave then moves to the lick ideas part of the lesson. Try these licks and then vary them to put your own spin on them. Remember that this inspired by lesson is just a jump off point to bring some new ideas and devices to the table – take these ideas and run with them and get creative with them – enjoy and rock on! 

Country rhythm and licks guitar lesson on fast Country two beats – 7:01 min

In this lesson Jeff Ross teaches a fast country two beat rhythms and then three cool licks that you can play over the rhythm. This is a standard country progression C – F – G – C

This lesson is in the key of C and Jeff first teaches a walk in bass line to the rhythm bouncing off the root notes for that country feel. Jeff then gets into teaching the licks. Learn them as taught at first but then vary them and mix up the notes and change the rhythm to put your own spin on them. Get creative with them and add these techniques to your playing arsenal – stay creative! 

Add Alternating bass and rhythm patterns to your strumming ideas inspired by WILLIE NELSON – 8:55 min

Acoustic country rhythms and licks lesson inspired by Willie Nelson – 8:51 min

In this lesson Dave Nassie teaches some country rhythms and licks in the style of Willie Nelson. In this lesson Dave teaches chord variations, the use of chromatics, and a few scales to embellish the chords – easy and fun. Dave focus on the chords E, B, B7, A bar chord, C#m, D, and Dsus2 – simple chords but learn how to bounce between them using some scalar licks. Dont worry about the theory behind the scales right now and for now we want you just to start playing and creating music and having fun. Learn ways to strum these rhythms as well as lots of licks and fills using the notes of the scale. Vary these licks and come up with some of your own and practice with this progression and resolve to that E. Have fun and enjoy! 

Acoustic lesson beginner country strumming and rhythms – 8:11 min

In this lesson Dave Nassie teaches some easy and fun country strumming and rhythms. First Dave over the chords and strumming patterns and builds on the rhythm from this basic strum. Dave then gets into playing low bass notes and hammer on embellishments to spice up the rhythm. These little embellishments add so much to the overall vibe and groove – and really countrfries the sound!

Practice these devices on one chord at a time and when ready switch to another chord as Dave demonstrates. Learn the walking bass patterns to go between the chords and now you are jamming! Try these rhythmic techniques with other progression and have fun!