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Need help with your timing? Strum patterns + rhythm ideas! Lesson – ML128

Description

In this week’s guitar lesson, you’ll learn how to play the rhythm guitar part over last week’s jam track (EP625). You’ll learn how to play ahead of the beat, and how to play on the beat as well as several simple rhythm embellishments!

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Comments

  1. kennard r says

    December 12, 2025 at 7:15 pm

    wonderful followup. thanks.

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  2. Kevin D says

    December 12, 2025 at 7:19 pm

    Yuuup!!!

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  3. Slimpicker says

    December 12, 2025 at 7:53 pm

    Cool Grove
    That tele sure is pretty

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  4. Mike R says

    December 12, 2025 at 9:27 pm

    I can really use this. Thanks.

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  5. Michael W says

    December 12, 2025 at 10:50 pm

    I was craving a rhythm lesson. Thanks.

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  6. francky k says

    December 12, 2025 at 11:18 pm

    Dear Brian,

    Thank you for this excellent lesson!

    I would like more of these lessons with an emphasis on rhythm guitar.

    Maybe an idea, rhythm lessons in the style of …. ( there are so many good players )

    This is so useful

    Also as a basis for a loop

    Greetings,

    Francky

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  7. Lesley O says

    December 13, 2025 at 1:57 am

    This is great Brian – a rhythm lesson was just what I needed and this sounds so great! I love the variety in your lessons. There is something for everyone whatever our level and style of playing . I have been subscribing for around 18 months now and have recently been returning to some of the earlier lessons. I am happily surprised to find that my understanding of the guitar neck and my ability to play these practice tracks more nicely has so much improved in that time. Many thanks

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  8. Imerio A says

    December 13, 2025 at 2:44 am

    Very good lesson Brian. Please do some more on rythm playing. You have such clever and stimulating ideas. I am so happy I found you on web.

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  9. Olivier P says

    December 13, 2025 at 3:03 am

    Dear Brian,
    I agree with the comment above. Working on rhythm is helping me progress well.

    Thanks very much.

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  10. Jeffrey S says

    December 13, 2025 at 6:23 am

    Brian the slow track minus guitar still has the guitar.

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    • Brian says

      December 13, 2025 at 4:41 pm

      I’ve corrected this – thanks for catching!

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  11. John H says

    December 13, 2025 at 7:40 am

    Fantastic stuff Brian – You are the best out there teaching !!! Like Lesley above says – The variety of your content is soooo helpful !!!
    Thanks a bunch !!

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  12. Dale Y says

    December 13, 2025 at 8:12 am

    Good stuff. I like the shorter lessons.

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  13. Daniel H says

    December 13, 2025 at 8:27 am

    Interesting to see a timing analysis of strumming. I have simply “felt” the rhythm of playing songs for so long this lesson kind of spooked me. This is definitely not something I would want to over-think at this stage of playing. But I do like that you recognize and teach to the wide range of us looking to improve our guitar skills on Active Melody! That must be a challenge for a teacher and you handle it admirably.

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  14. Gary W says

    December 13, 2025 at 8:50 am

    Really good. More Rhythm please! 🙂

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  15. Richard C says

    December 13, 2025 at 1:55 pm

    Great leasson. As a 100% left hander, I chose to learn the guitar right handed (this was the advice rather than re-stringing or doing a Jimmy Hendrix) and after several years am now comfortable with this. However, am conscious that my timing and rhythm is not as good as it should be with me strumming with my ‘wrong’ hand. This lesson has really helped think about time, coming in ahead of the beat and relaxing my strumming hand. Thanks.

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    • Lesley O says

      December 14, 2025 at 2:41 am

      I am totally with you here Richard! I am also a left hander playing right handed. I am actually more left handed and ‘right armed’ (racquet sports etc) so thought playing guitar right handed would be fine. It’s ok, but am very conscious , like you, that my rhythm hand needs more work and practice. So lessons like this really help, and make the practice more fun.

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  16. Brendan G says

    December 13, 2025 at 3:55 pm

    Great lesson.
    Thanks Brian.
    Between these 3 lessons I’m going to try and put together a 3 minute song.

    Brendan

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  17. Torquil O says

    December 13, 2025 at 5:10 pm

    With stuff going on, the train kind of left me behind last week. This is a cool way to get my groove on and dive into my mixi-flat 7s and major 3rds! Thanks

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  18. Michael Krailo says

    December 13, 2025 at 5:43 pm

    My day was derailed by a series of broken strings that demanded a lot of work to repair for reasons I don’t want to get into. Suffice it to say, my guitar is playing much better after doing all the tweaks, fret polishing and new set of strings. This one really inspired me to just jam out on those three chords and come up with all sorts of variations that sound really good. There is beauty in simplicity. Thanks Brian.

    I just hope I can remember how I played all this stuff that seemed to come out of nowhere.

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  19. Paul M says

    December 14, 2025 at 6:00 am

    Rhythm guitar playing is so underrated-if it wasn’t for the foundation of the rhythm section there can be no lead.

    Thanks Brian, a wonderful spotlight shone on an undervalued area.

    Also the shorter lessons give me hope-that is, I may complete the lesson and feel good about it.

    I am a big fan of the micro lesson-small amounts of information that can be mastered.

    Thanks again Brian.

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  20. Jim M says

    December 14, 2025 at 9:11 am

    Okay! That’s how you play ahead of the beat. Thank you, Brian.

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  21. Pierre B says

    December 14, 2025 at 9:26 am

    This rhythm lesson breakdown reveals Brian’s superpower: pedagogy (instruction, mentoring and facilitation). We will be revisiting this lesson on a regular basis.

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  22. Rick C says

    December 14, 2025 at 11:05 am

    When I went to music-school jams, pre-COVID, “Franklin’s Tower” was always a wonderful jam. Now that I know more about the b7 scale, I’ll do better.
    The lyrics are transcendent, as are most Dead and Robert Hunter songs.
    You’ve taught us how to play what I couldn’t get right… the ‘before the count’ strum. Thank you.

    I’m retired and spend time practicing, watching TV.
    I follow your work… work on counting… practicing scales from each root note, Maj/min/b7.
    I might have a fret board voice someday… !!

    Thank you.

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  23. Raymond P says

    December 14, 2025 at 11:45 am

    I learned a lot from this Rhythm lesson. Very helpful.

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  24. Tony T says

    December 14, 2025 at 6:38 pm

    Thanks Brian- This was an excellent lesson for me, as I had no idea how to go about actually playing ahead of the beat!

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Recent Lessons

“Outside” Blues licks using the Mixolydian scale – Jerry Garcia Inspired – Guitar Lesson – EP625

Ragtime solo Blues Guitar – no jam track needed! – Learn how to create one – Guitar Lesson – EP624

Use chords to guide your lead and show you where to find harmonies – Guitar Lesson – EP623

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