How to Improve your Rhythm on Guitar

Always lovin’ ma Grand Pacific Taylor!

Your rhythm hand on the guitar doesn’t typically get as much attention as the fretting hand,  maybe because it’s not quite as flashy or noticeable! But I honestly think it’s possibly more important! In this blog, you’ll learn a few tips to improve your rhythm hand!

I distinctly remember the first time I really realized how hard it was for me to stay on time was the first time I played to a click. I hadn’t done a lot of work formally with metronomes and TBH it kinda tripped me up! I remember playing along to the click and all of a sudden being off again in my own little world and having no idea how I got off!

If you need some help staying on time or getting better at creating complex rhythms on guitar, this post is for you!

Watch my YouTube video on this here!

I think the biggest issues that can sabotage your rhythm on guitar are:

• Coordination

• Multitasking

If you know when you are getting off time, then you probably have a sense of rhythm. So let’s break down some ways that you can improve, so you are more accurate and can create catchier and more complex rhythms when you are playing!

1) Practice videoing yourself with a click

I think when you are videoing yourself it can create a kind of pressure that is similar to being in a studio or performing live, and makes the multitasking aspect of playing along to a click a little more difficult! All you need to do is set up your phone and record yourself playing a whole song along to a click! It’s crazy how when you are playing you will start to notice when you are getting off time. 

*Note- this is a lot more fun to practice with a friend!

I like this metronome app (there are a bunch of good ones though!)

This pulse watch from SoundBrennor is also a fun little rhythm tool! (Use my code HALEYPOWERS for free shipping!)

2) Making your rhythms more complex

Put on a metronome and keep the BPM the same. Then start adding more and more complexity in your strumming while the tempo stays the same. You can also slow down and begin adding a bit more complexity, as long as you have the basics down. Watch the video here (start at 5:25 for just this part!) for more on this!

i find learning new songs improves my rhythm tons! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve run into rhythms that are like brain teasers- it’s always fun finding a new challenge!

3) Tap your foot to the song

Ok yes, I know this sounds like the advice of your flutophone teacher when you were 7 years old but this works so well! Physically doing something to keep the time is so incredibly helpful at making you stay on time and have the rhythm in your head.

I hope these short tips were helpful to you and thanks so much for reading! I would love to know anything that’s helped you with this! The fact you decided read a blog about guitar is clearly a sign you are improving and putting in the time to get better so be proud of yourself!