The Beginner Rhythm Guitar Practice Plan Vol. 2 Strumming & Groove

Skill Building Guitar Course from David Isaacs

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Welcome to volume two of Dave Isaacs' Beginner Rhythm Guitar Practice Plan. With the fundamentals under your fingers, it's time to start looking at concepts that drive groove and pocket. This is an essential course for any aspiring rhythm guitarist.

25 Lessons

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

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Full Course Breakdown

David Isaacs goes beyond the fundamental concepts taught in volume one of the Beginner Rhythm Guitar Practice Plan and expands into ideas like groove and pocket. You'll learn strumming, muting and percussive techniques designed to take your rhythm playing to the next level!

Begin the Course
1

Beginner Rhythm Guitar Practice Plan Vol. 2 - Strumming and Groove

Welcome to volume two of David Isaacs' Beginner Rhythm Guitar Practice Plan. Before moving to volume two, you should have a proficient understanding of the concepts and techniques taught in volume one. This series will focus on strumming, counting rhythm and creating good groove and pocket.

5:16 Runtime

0.0 Difficulty

2

Pulse, Meter and Rhythm

To kick off this series, David defines a few terms such as pulse and meter while discussing some basic written notation ideas. You'll get going with some basic rhythmic counting, then move on to practical application in the next lesson.

8:34 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

3

Pulse, Meter and Rhythm - Practice Guide

Now let's apply the concept from the previous lesson in a practical manner. You'll be strumming rhythm to basic rhythmic subdivisions along with the supplemental content provided.

13:50 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

4

Working With a Metronome

The metronome is never wrong and that may be why many people loathe it. In this concept lesson, David talks about working with the metronome and using it as a reference instead of following it. You'll be working on different permutations of playing on a beat.

5:29 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

5

Working With a Metronome - Practice Guide

Now let's apply those beat permutations that you worked on in the previous lesson, to a practice exercise. Remember, you're reading from the supplemental content and using the metronome as a tempo guide.

12:09 Runtime

2.0 Difficulty

6

Strum Mechanics

As you start to strum patterns in 8th note or further subdivisions, you need to be able to strum in both directions and as efficiently as possible. In this concept lesson, David will help you create even strumming in both directions.

10:13 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

View this Lesson
7

Strum Mechanics - Practice Guide

Now that you've got your strum mechanics down. Let's practice several combinations of rhythm that include up-strokes.

13:06 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

8

Backbeat Groove Concept

David introduces the idea of dynamics, specifically how they relate to the backbeat in the groove.

7:57 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

9

Backbeat Groove Concept - Practice Guide

Now let's practice accenting the backbeat in this practice guide based on the previous lesson.

15:49 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

10

Syncopated Groove

In this lesson, David talks about the three levels of sound that you're already producing and introduces the concept of syncopation. You'll also briefly start to look at targeting specific strings in your strum instead of playing all six strings.

7:34 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

11

Syncopated Groove - Practice Guide

Now it's time to practice the syncopated rhythm. You'll be starting at a slightly faster tempo now, so if you're falling behind a little, bring out your metronome and start a bit slower.

10:40 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

12

Sixteenth Notes and the Wrist Snap

In this lesson, David discusses the sixteenth note subdivision and clues you in on a wrist-snapping technique that will help you keep time and produce great sound!

9:06 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

13

Sixteenth Notes and the Wrist Snap - Practice Guide

Now that you've seen the wrist-snap in action, lets practice the sixteenth note exercises you learned in the previous lesson.

21:03 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

14

Syncopated Rhythms

It's time to take another look at syncopation. This time we're going to be adding notes and figures that carry the music across the bar line.

7:14 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

15

Syncopated Rhythms - Practice Guide

Now that you're familiar with crossing the bar line, lets practice that skill.

16:41 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

16

Muting and Percussion

One way to add dynamic interest to your playing is to add non-tonal elements that fit within the groove or pocket. In this lesson, David discusses muting and percussive techniques to do that.

7:34 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

17

Muting and Percussion - Practice Guide

All right, now lets apply those muting and percussion techniques to practice.

22:53 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

18

Shuffle and Swing

Mixed in with straight and sub-divided rhythms are other layers of movement commonly referred to as Shuffle and Swing. These layers push and pull the notes in various ways around the musical grid and add additional life to your playing.

4:27 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

19

Shuffle and Swing - Practice Guide

With the idea of Shuffle and Swing in your brain and under your fingers, it's time to test it out with some practice!

20:25 Runtime

2.5 Difficulty

20

The Ghost Strum

Ghost strumming is a technique where you keep an eighth or sixteenth note grid going with your strumming hand, but only sound the strings on the beats that you want to. This is a great method for keeping time while playing complex rhythmic figures.

6:32 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

21

The Ghost Strum - Practice Guide

Now let's put your knowledge of the ghost strum to the test in this practice session.

14:23 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

22

Syncopated 16th Note Rhythms

In this lesson Dave dives deeper into syncopation, this time subdividing in sixteenth notes.

9:56 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

23

Syncopated 16th Note Rhythms - Practice Guide

Now that you're familiar with 16th note syncopation, let's get it under our fingers with practice.

17:32 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

24

Single Note Rhythms

In the previous lessons, we've been focused almost completely on chord-based rhythms. In this lesson, David takes a look at rhythm while using single notes.

7:14 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

25

Single Note Rhythms - Practice Guide

Now it's time to wrap up this volume of the Beginner Rhythm Guitar Practice Plan by practicing the sixteenth note rhythm you learned in the previous lesson.

18:57 Runtime

3.0 Difficulty

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David Isaacs

110

Dave Isaacs Group

  • Nashville, Tennessee
  • Playing since 1980
  • 478 lessons at JamPlay
Begin Course
Nashville-based Dave Isaacs has made a name for himself as one of Music City's top guitar instructors, working with both professional and aspiring songwriters and artists at his Music Row teaching studio. He is also an instructor in the music department at Tennessee State University and is the coordinator and artistic director of the annual TSU Guitar Summit.

A seasoned performer as well, Dave has released eight independent CDs and gigs steadily as a solo artist, bandleader, and sideman. He continues to write, record, and perform as well as arranging and producing projects for other artists.

Reviews & Feedback 93/100 with 114 ratings
StickemD

Great lesson. He is very good at explaining the lesson

doomi3

i'm having a hard time to hear and follow- slower pace wouls be appreciated

Roompish

Have been struggeling to learn how to play NICE whit a pick. This lesson did change everything for me!!! Just some smal changes and boom Now im feeling hopefull about everything:):)

jonok

All the above

case42

Hardest lesson I have had in a while guess I really did need this tune up after all

RoyT1950

All of the lessons in this series have been great. Really enjoying them.

LuckyMan

Just what I need! I'm in a kind of rut. I need to play more relaxed. Your course may help.

dmnelson

helpful

DreedZe

my thumbs down was accidental - I am enjoying this series dudes!

zlobek

David helped me understand the importance of counting with the tyrannic pulse of the metronome. I tend to discount the importance of such a rote exercise, but David convinced me with his explanation that I need to make time to build foundationa

jcsmith1963

Easily followed.

Jfcavey

This really brings all former lessons in this series together that prepares one for the moderate/higher level of complexity presented. Good job.

Ergonomico

Great teacher

videacom

A really useful lesson particularly the explanations given by David

tryingart

Good introduction to 16th notes. Makes it understandable and achievable.

ToddR

Good course because I slowly learned how to read rhythm notation.