Rythm Guitar

[DarkAngel]

Hi StoneDragon and everybody out there http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/wink.gif)

I started to learn playing guitar a few months ago, and regardless to finger exercises, scales and so on, when I just wanna have fun, I found my self playing only long burning solos or chord progressions. What I'd really like to try, is some of those licks played by the rythm guitar on some hot dance/funk tracks, I mean those single thinny notes played in backround, those notes that determine the groove and rythm of the track !
Could anyone help me by providing me with some of these rythms/licks ?

Many thanks in advance !!

[StoneDragon]

Hmmm... I have never delved into funk or dance type playing, but you can try this sort of thing:

Start by just playing one note with a steady down-up picking pattern. (I'll use o to represent the note you are playing.)

|: oooo oooo | oooo oooo :|

Now, relax the finger holding the note just enough that you get a dead string. (I'll use x to represent the dead string.)

|: xxxx xxxx | xxxx xxxx :|

Now, see if you can come up with a funky sounding rhythm pattern by alternating between the note and the deadened string:

|: oxxx xoxx | oxxx xoxx :|

or

|: oxxo xxxx | oxxo xxxx :|

Using your right hand to apply varying ammounts of mutting and accenting can really help to "funk" it up.

Once you have the rhythm established, see if you can add a couple of other notes into the pattern to get some movement.

Slap a wah wah and a phase shifter on your guitar and you will be in disco/funk heaven http://www.zentao.com/ubb/smilies/smokin.gif