Rockin Rhythm Guitar

Genre and Style Guitar Course from John Shannon

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Rock guitarist John Shannon takes you on a journey to improve your rhythm playing. Effecting all facets of rock playing, rhythm is the foundation of quality playing.

31 Lessons

Complete course with step-by-step lessons and practice examples.

Multi-Camera

Course filmed with 6 cameras for the perfect angles.

86% Appoval

177 of 190 of our members have given this their approval.

Tabs & Info

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Included

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Full Course Breakdown

Learn all the essential rhythm guitar techniques at a variety of tempos. Also, you will learn advanced techniques like harmonics and tapping to help you learn how to rock hard!

Begin the Course
1

Introduction to Rock Rhythm Guitar

Meet John Shannon and his approach to rhythm guitar. John discusses why he put this lesson series together and what his aim is to bring you.

5:29 Runtime

0.0 Difficulty

View this Lesson
2

Rock Rhythm Player's Toolbox

To get started in his lesson series, John discusses what should be in every rock rhythm guitarist's toolbox. He discusses timing devices like the metronome and things like what amps might be best suited in your own toolbox.

10:56 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

3

Rock Tempo Zones

Now that you have your rock toolbox built, it's time to start developing your rhythm playing for rock. In lesson three, John discusses the importance of the metronome and identifies the three tempo zones that you're going to be working in throughout the course.

8:05 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

4

Down Strokes

Lesson four in the rock rhythm series is all about the down stroke. This stroke drives the rhythm home and is a staple for most rock rhythm players.

9:12 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

5

Up Strokes

Lesson five covers the opposite from the down stroke; the upstroke. The up stroke may not be as driving as the down stroke, but utilizing it can create melody and harmony in your rhythm playing and will be fundamental to proper rhythmic strumming techniques.

7:25 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

6

Power Chords

Lesson six is all about the mighty power chord! John discusses the various ways to create a power chord and espouses their excellence when it comes to rock rhythm guitar.

8:51 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

7

Palm Muting

Palm muting is a powerful tool to help shape and define your tone while playing. It also aids in creating that signature rock rhythm sound.

8:42 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

8

Full Chords

Previously, John has touched on the power chords and other smaller chord voicings that help cut through the mix and make you stand out. Now it's time to look at bigger, more full-bodied chords that stand apart.

9:59 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

9

Strumming

You've looked at the upstroke and downstroke individually in previous lessons. Now it's time to tie the two together and delve in to rhythmic strumming.

15:40 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

10

Octaves

Lesson 10 is all about the octave chord shape. This chord shape provides some cool rhythmic flavors, but also presents other challenges. John discusses it and demonstrates it's use in rock rhythm guitar.

9:39 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

11

Combining Elements

We've reached a junction in the series where you've started to develop several different tools. In this lesson you'll start combining them to create more variety in your rhythm playing.

9:20 Runtime

0.0 Difficulty

12

Combining More Elements

Practice is a cornerstone of being a well-rounded rock rhythm guitarist. As such, John Shannon provides another opportunity to take a look at combining elements you've learned previously.

8:44 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

13

Pull-Offs

It's time to start adding more tricks to your bag go rhythm techniques for rock guitar. In this lesson you're going to learning the pull-off technique and how it can add texture to your rhythm playing.

10:49 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

14

Hammer-Ons

The next technique in your tool-bag is going to be the counterpart to the Pull-Off and is known as the Hammer-On.

12:23 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

15

Drop D Tuning

Lesson 15 starts off a focus on altered tuning from standard. To start with, John discusses Drop D. He teaches you how to get into the tuning, how it alters your playing and then how to get back to standard tuning.

12:53 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

16

Multiple String Muting

In lesson 16, John discusses muting multiple strings simultaneously. This is done with the palm of the hand and will often be part of the palm muting technique.

11:24 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

17

The Rhythmic Chuck

In lesson 17, John Shannon uses the multi-string mute technique along with a strumming chuck to help you create a nuanced and rhythmic line.

7:21 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

18

Open G Tuning

Lesson 17 is all about open g tuning. This tuning is made popular by bands like The Rolling Stones and their guitarist Keith Richards. John shows you how to get to open g tuning from standard, discusses it's uses and shapes, then helps you get back to standard tuning.

12:49 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

19

Single Notes with Power Chords

John Shannon takes a now familiar power chord and discusses how to add single notes along with it to create a moving and melodic rhythm line.

9:31 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

20

Rock Fingerstyle #1: Thumb and Two Fingers

It's not time to switch gears and discuss the world of fingerstyle. To get you started, John Shannon discusses and demonstrates the use of the thumb and two fingers for the style.

8:51 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

21

Rock Fingerstyle #2: Pick and Middle Fingers

Now it's time to tackle another aspect of the Fingerstyle technique. In lesson 21 you'll be utilizing the pick and your middle fingers, also commonly referred to as hybrid picking.

11:04 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

22

Rock Fingerstyle #3: Textural

Now that you have a basic understanding of the fingerstyle techniques, it's time to apply them in a way that adds texture to your rhythm playing.

10:16 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

23

Rock Rhythm Delay

In lesson 23, John Shannon discusses the use of a delay pedal and how to integrate it into your rhythm playing.

13:59 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

24

Open Strings with Moving Chords

Another rhythm element that John Shannon imparts is the ability to move chords while ringing open strings. He discusses the technique in this lesson.

9:31 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

25

Harmonics

In lesson 25, John Shannon discusses the uses of harmonics in rhythm playing.

14:14 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

26

Right Hand Tapping

Bringing in some lead elements can really spice up your rhythm playing. In this lesson, John discusses the use of right hand tapping for rhythm playing.

12:56 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

27

Advanced Metronome Use

The use of a metronome is an important aspect in keeping good time. A well rounded rhythm player can also use it in advanced ways to help timing on things like compound meter and triplets. In this Lesson John shows you how.

8:56 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

28

Rhythmic Stabs

Rock Rhythm guitar sometimes has a characteristic stab and mute effect that is used. In lesson 28, John Shannon discusses and demonstrates this technique.

8:31 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

29

Ghost Notes

In lesson 29, John Shannon talks about ghosted notes that are typically slid away from and carry no duration value.

10:00 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

30

Rock Rhythm Slide

Taking a page from the previous lesson, you'll once again be sliding. This time using a finger slide to create a smooth, slinky effect.

11:03 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

31

The Arena Chord

Made popular by rock legend Pete Townshend, the arean chord not only cuts through the mix, but it adds style and flair to your live performances. For the final lesson of this series, John shows you how to create it.

10:19 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

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John Shannon

177
  • Pittsburg, PA
  • Playing since 1990
  • 61 lessons at JamPlay
Begin Course


Reviews & Feedback 86/100 with 190 ratings
ChanseMoody

The introduction was great. The teacher was very precise in what to expect from the course, but more than that, he spelled out a lot the issues that I am having with tempo.

uncle.scooby

Easy to understand. Good teacher!

Randallpinkfloyd

Good lesson, good length of video.

ramon82

All them

fiuzzoli

Good job!

oj.salomaa

An excellent series with many useful skills not just for rhythm guitar but for lead also.

greeneyedgypsy

New ideas for rhythmic fingerpicking

OldCharon

Great course!

Clinton891

Great teacher, easy to understand just what I needed. Thanks co