Being a rhythm guitar player is sometimes overlooked as the spotlight often falls on lead guitarists who like to take center stage and shred like their lives depend on it. But rhythm is one of the most important aspects of music, and can be just as important as the lead. Today, we’re going to be talking about some great rhythm guitar chords for you to play at your next practice session.
It’s important for any rhythm guitarist to be able to fluently switch between different chords, so as not to break the rhythm. You also need to be able to stick with the beat, and have a few patterns up your sleeve to avoid having the song become monotonous and predictable. It’s also great for rhythm players to play with the other rhythm section of a band, such as the bass guitarist and drummer because, together, you can build up a really strong backing for the melodic players and vocalists.
Some of the easiest rhythm guitar chords to start with are open position chords, and they sound truly beautiful. Some great ones are Am, C, Em, F, G, and D, but there are several others. To practice, try playing each chord for a few bars before switching to another chord, and try out several different progressions to practice going between all the chords, which will help you in your fluency. Some great sounding patterns are Am, C, Em, and Em, C, G, D. Try starting with those and see what you think.
Other great rhythm guitar chords that are more suitable for heavier genres of music are power chords, formed from the root note and its fifth. These are great for playing under solos, and work really well with the palm-muting technique. Power chords form the basis of the rhythm for many popular songs in rock, metal and punk, and unlike open position chords, once you learn the shape for them, you can play them for any note on the fifth or sixth string. They’re extremely versatile, and great for any rhythm guitarist to know how to play.
Check out this VIDEO GUITAR LESSON ON BASIC CHORDS
Because rhythm is such an integral part of many songs, being a great rhythm guitar player who knows several different chords and types of chords will only make you an even better player. It’s also great for paving the way to playing lead, as you’ll be able to maintain your rhythm much easier. We all know there’s nothing worse than a lead guitarist with no regard for playing in time!
If learning chords and songs on guitar is your goal, I recommend you to check out these courses:
