Rhythm Guitar: Opinions?

[podiumboy]

The problem with rhythm guitar players is that they are usually just the guys who know how to strum chords, but not good enough to play lead. I'm running into problems because everybody we play with on Rhythm guitar turns out to be this lazy, lethargic player who can't be bothered to do much of anything except G, Em, C, D.

They're usually the guys who don't know their scales, or much of anything besides open chords. What makes a good rhythm guitarist to you people?

 

[Epitaph04]

A guy like James Hetfield.

 

[JmJ]

Jimmy Nolen and Keith Richards are a couple of my favorites. Great at creating grooves.

 

[254 stringer]

Somebody that actually has rhythm and some feel, I consider Adam Jones of Tool one of the best rhythm guitarists ever.

 

[mellowinman]

Hardest position to fill in any band, especially rock.

The guy has to be good enough to play lead, but NOT WANT TO.

 

[Hamlet7768]

I'm not a huge fan of rhythm guitar. I like bands where the guitars change roles, like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. That way you get two unique styles of soloing and two unique styles of backing guitar, as well as a chance for harmonized solos!

 

[Stewie26]

I played rhythm guitar in a band for a few years and took the position very serious. To sum it up, its what you with your right hand that makes you a truely good rhythm player. A good rhythm player has to be be tight and right in the groove and pocket with the bass and drums. When its done right it adds to the overall percusive dynamic sound of the band. If the rhythm player is sloopy with his right hand, the band will sound unprofessional.

 

[Mystic Michael]

The problem with rhythm guitar players is that they are usually just the guys who know how to strum chords, but not good enough to play lead. I'm running into problems because everybody we play with on Rhythm guitar turns out to be this lazy, lethargic player who can't be bothered to do much of anything except G, Em, C, D.

They're usually the guys who don't know their scales, or much of anything besides open chords.

Maybe at the Bush League level. At the pro level, it's a different matter.

Most pros don't specialize that much between lead & rhythm guitar: you either play guitar or you don't. IME, the distinction is already antiquated, and is rapidly becoming obsolete - a throwback to the Sixties.

That said, a guitarist who does specialize in playing rhythm guitar - and makes a point of playing it well - is every bit as accomplished in his own right as any wild & wanking lead guitarist.

Some of my personal favorites (in no particular order):

Malcolm Young
Alex Lifeson
Peter Townsend

MM

 

[bassteban]

IMO(only because you asked)is that labelling oneself a *rhythm* or *lead* guitarist is inherently weak. Be a musician and play whatever part you can to make the gig your b***h.

 

[beefandbones]

Rhythm guitarists generally play chords. Lead guitarists generally play scales. That's just the way it is. Sure, ideally your rhythm guitarist is curious enough about his/her instrument to learn new techniques, new ways to voice chords, ways to groove with the rest of the rhythm section, and so on. They should probably know their scales, too. But playing scales is not generally something that rhythm players are called upon to do very frequently - that's why they are rhythm players and not lead players. Rhythm guitarists are kind of like generalists as opposed to specialists. They are often (but not always of course) also singers and songwriters, like John Lennon, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, Keith Richards, Joni Mitchell, Andy Partridge, Ray Davies, etc and have an eye on the global picture rather than the details. I'm having difficulty figuring out whether you have unrealistic expectations of your rhythm guitarists, or whether your bandmates are actually lazy.

 

[Roy Vogt]

As someone has already posted, at the Pro Level (not necessarily Rock Star) guitarists are equally adept at Rhythm and Lead. The guys I typically work with can play any type of acoustic guitar with lead or rhythm (nylon string, 12 string, steel string and Nashville tuning) and then turn around and play virtually any style of Electric from Rock to Telecaster Country to George Benson Jazz and John Leventhal soundscapes and keep it totally in the pocket.
I have made records with great guitarists like George Marinelli (Bonnie Raitt), Brent Mason, Kerry Marks (Opry Staff Band) and Pete Huttlinger (National Fingerpicking Champion/John Denver) and they can play great rhythm that keeps the band in the pocket and turn around and play scorching leads.

 

[Spectrum]

Jimi Hendrix.

 

[RoadRanger]

At the bar level it's hard to find a guitarist who can lay back and play rhythm well. If you find someone that can do it value them .

 

[pklima]

Yes... a gentleman is someone who knows how to play a solo, but doesn't.

Maybe try looking for female singers who also play guitar, I've had some decent luck there in that they can play more than open chords, though the main problem seems to be that they'd rather sing and not play guitar at all or only on some songs. Or look for a "utility guy" who can play guitar, keys and maybe something else too, and of course sing. Maybe even a bassist who also plays guitar - Jive mentioned in another thread that's what a lot of his gigs are. A hip-hop producer who happens to play guitar might be the best rhythm guitarist ever. But maybe the key is to not look for a guitarist who just calls himself a guitarist.

 

[Downunderwonder]

The guy has to be good enough to play lead, but NOT WANT TO.

or be happy playing the rhythm.

A good rhythm guitar is just as important as a good drummer. I could care less what the lead player is doing when drummer and rhythm gat and me are cooking. If he's any good he'll be playing out of his skin thanks to the rest.

 

[jaywa]

Nile Rogers is the alpha and omega of rhythm guitars AFAIC.

The way you know when you're working with a real rhythm guitarist is when it doesn't feel like you're working at all.

If there's any "fighting" at all between the drums, bass, rhythm guitar and keys (if applicable) -- and anyone with ears can hear it as plain as day when that's happening -- then at least one of those players isn't up to snuff.

 

[SteveHeissner]

My opinion: In some bands a rhtym guitar player is just not needed. Especially if the bass player is competent. There are many exceptions of course, but in the average weekend warrior bands I've played in, more than one good guitar player was not needed. My current band is drums, guitar, bass, and lead singer. Other than our sound man, we don't need any more members.

 

[Phalex]

If you have a rhythm guitar he should stick to playing rhythm. IME if you have 2 guitar players, they will both end up wanting to play lead at some point. There's no foul in trading roles but if you are playing rhythm, play rhythm dammit!

Years ago, I had a rhythm player that was absolutely awesome in that role. He'd play with a pick, he'd do finger style, whatever the song required. I also found him to be a joy to watch because he'd play all these weird looking chords that I swear took at least six fingers to pull off.

The lead player spontaneously put him on the spot once, pointing to him mid song and making him take a lead. It was actually pretty cool. He played chords with his left hand and did some sweet picking with his right. It wasn't a conventional "lead" per-say, but I thought it was pretty cool.

 

[Munjibunga]

I saw a description of Skunk Baxter as the Doobie Brothers' rhythm guitarist once. What th' ...?

Anyway, I like a rhythm guitarist who can play lead. It comes in handy when you're playing songs by bands like the Allman Brothers. In my current band, we have a rhythm/synth guitar player who really adds a lot of versatility.

 

[electracoyote]

What makes a good rhythm guitarist to you people?

Basically, the opposite of what you describe.

Good rhythm players understand voicings, intervals, which intervals to accent, and, of course, they should be experts in rhythm and syncopation.

Rhythm guitar players who hack out the same open string or barre chords in the same positions, all six strings blasting away, can really clog a mix and drag a band down.