Adding Spice With A Quick Riff

In the first lesson we looked at one way to inject life into a basic strum pattern, in the second one, how to add some spice through chord modifications.  This time we’re going to learn a simple riff that can be used to spice up your rhythm playing, and then we’ll roll all through together to see how much we can add dynamics to the basic Em, C major progression.

Click Here For Dynamic Rhythm Guitar

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Dale Justice
10 years ago

Great info!

chuck
chuck
10 years ago
Reply to  Dale Justice

Can’t wait to use the Riff! Thanks Jon!

Benn Walker
Benn Walker
10 years ago

I like the use of the hammer on in the riff. It reminded me that I can use the lead techniques I have learned and mix them in with plain scale runs embedded in the chords. Very nice.

Also heard you loud and clear, that sometimes less is so much more, when you play with emphasis. Thanks

James G Rush
James G Rush
10 years ago

Great info still enjoying the I IV V course

Brian Forster
10 years ago

Makes such a difference. Adapted this to a rhythm pattern I've created in 'G" and it's come together nicely.

Bill Frey
10 years ago

Really puts flavor in your sound! Good job

Rick Benallack
10 years ago

will i get lucky

Grady Dyer
10 years ago

Great insight. Am using this this weekend.

Bill Rowley
Bill Rowley
10 years ago

I like this. It helps but so does frequent practice. .

mickey
mickey
10 years ago

Just as I was in a rut…you come through with another cool lesson!

Marc Bonnet
Marc Bonnet
10 years ago

Just what I needed …

Martin
Martin
10 years ago

This lesson proves that it doesn’t have
to be complicated to sound great, really
appreciated it, I will certainly be using
this asap.

Douglas
10 years ago

very cool. love your lessons, helps me out very much

Richard Prochowski
Richard Prochowski
10 years ago

Thanks for the idea, Jonathan. With a few minutes a day, it'll be second nature. You, Colin and Griff helped get me back to playing guitar after a 40 year lapse. Thanks..

van rompaey inge
van rompaey inge
10 years ago

thi i great!!!!it started of with only a small thingie and now this sound great and i am going to teach it to my students too. thanks jonathan looking forward to your course!!!!!

van rompaey inge
van rompaey inge
10 years ago

i hope there will be a download option!!!

Roy Long
Roy Long
10 years ago

I am going in for open heart surgery on December 12. I was able to raise the money to send my son to the Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery but money will be tight during my convalescence . This would definately give me something to look forward to after my surgery. I will be out of work for a couple of months.

Barbara Czopek Long
10 years ago

I am going in for open heart surgery on December 12th. I was able to raise the money as a landscaper for my son to go to the Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery starting in January, but that took all of my money. I will be unable to work for a couple of months after my operation. I would love to improve my guitar playing skills during my time of convalescence . I hope I win his drawing. It will give me something to look forward to. Sincerely yours, Roy Long

chris cummings
chris cummings
10 years ago

Thanks, great lesson.
I feel like you are talking to me and not at me.
Well explained and fun to try.

Richard King
Richard King
10 years ago

I like it!

Hemalatha Anand
Hemalatha Anand
10 years ago

Simple and yet very dynamic stuff!! Great Jonathan. Keep it up !

Stanley Fitzgerald
10 years ago

I picked up the guitar after putting it down over 30 years ago. I can see this study to make improvement it my come back.

Mike Stenner
Mike Stenner
10 years ago

Enjoyed all 3 lessons. You have a nice style of teaching.

Willis Derry
10 years ago

Didn't care for your program until I saw this third lesson ,You keep it simple for us old pluckers,from will age 71:)

Bob Walker
Bob Walker
10 years ago

Love your stuff; I save every lesson you send out in my Google Docs 🙂

Happy Thanksgiving to you!

John A. Shaw
10 years ago

thanks, i'll give the little riff a try

Lynne
Lynne
10 years ago

I love the way you have built on each lesson and tied it all together….pearls of information ! Thanks

Rick Brown
10 years ago

Great series of lessons. They seem to be very helpful in the short time I have been using the techniques.

S Shoko
S Shoko
10 years ago

I marvel at your simple approach. I can see myself causing emotions to certain listeners who will be hearing me already!

Gordon Lawrence
10 years ago

I want to add spice to the strum!

Herb Mundon
Herb Mundon
10 years ago

In Hawaiian Slack Key, there are “vamps” that transition or connect the verses. I can use this! Mahalo (Thank you).

Daireek Antwane
Daireek Antwane
10 years ago

what a cool technique /tip. gonna implement this right away. Another tool to ad to my bag of tricks!

Dennis Bertram
Dennis Bertram
10 years ago

Thanks Johnathan,
Great , I put the riff in between the verses and chorus which breaks it up with .more variety and emphasises the changing of tempo going into the chorus. Makes the song sound so much more with just that small addition/change. Cheers! Dennis Bertram

Jack Korlann
Jack Korlann
10 years ago

My main goal in learning and playing the guitar is to enter a mini vacation. Just you the guitar and the sounds you create. If you have gone fishing or sailing you will know what I mean. I am not into preforming but at some time I might enjoy playing along with someone. I think the Dynamic Rhythm Guitar course will help expand what I might be able to do on the guitar either during my mini vacation or playing with other musicians.

Mickey Duane
Mickey Duane
10 years ago

I hope I can win this course. Losing my house sucks. My wife being Ill and disabled sucks. Music is all I got to keep going and i need all the course help I can get. Every bit of information ties in to information I have gathered and helps with my playing.

Thanks

Sid
Sid
10 years ago

Good info. Feels like the words “ground control to Major Toms should be sung” to this riff. Ha just kidding.

Nelson
10 years ago

Been playing for awhile now, mostly fingerpicking. Ive been moving towards flatpicking and enhancing my chord transitions. Your Dynamic Rhythm Course is simple to follow without the usual flourish and confusion found on other video sessions.

Heidi
Heidi
10 years ago

That riff you played on the intro to the mini lesson was different than what was covered in the lesson. I guess it was a “teaser” of sorts. maybe a bit more advanced or complicated than you had time to cover in the mini lesson. Anyway, the info in mini lesson was very helpful and fun even if different than intro. 😀

Geoff Arnold
Geoff Arnold
10 years ago

And away we go! Good stuff. Useful.

Joe
Joe
10 years ago

Great Lessons

Kim
Kim
10 years ago

Great lesson. Hoping to apply this to my upcoming gigs.

Larry Densmore
10 years ago

Thanks for reminding us how the simple concepts are so expressive and necessary in our progress. Not to be forgotten.

Neville Horne
Neville Horne
10 years ago

Thanks Jonathan I’ve really enjoyed these three lessons and I also want to learn that initial intro 🙂

phil friden
phil friden
8 years ago
Reply to  Neville Horne

where are the first two lessons? i can only get 3/3 ?

Greg Meylan
Greg Meylan
10 years ago

Even here in New Zealand we’re learning guitar Boethcher style.

Ronnie Dupre
Ronnie Dupre
10 years ago

Jonathan,
I have picked up the guitar off and on for years but not until your Unlocking I, IV, V and Guitar Scale Patterns courses did I have any real understanding of the instrument. Now I am playing more often and enjoying it more just simply by having learned fundamentals and techniques from your courses.
I am very much looking forward to your new Dynamics course.
Thanks,
Ronnie

Alan
Alan
10 years ago

Really like this style … Fits well with my British/Canadian harmonic poetry & such … Please Gimme More !

ralph
ralph
10 years ago

great info

Bazil Dicker
Bazil Dicker
10 years ago

Thanks from Down under in Australia

Mike Stinson
Mike Stinson
10 years ago

I loved the 3 part series on how to make your playing sound more interesting using strumming, chord modification, and throughout in a riff. At 63 I need all the help I can get .
Thank you.
Mike Stinon

kathlyn
kathlyn
10 years ago

Who says life is almost over at 50. I just picked up the guitar at 52 and my debut for family and friends will be your 3rd lesson and that is how I roll.

scott dawson
scott dawson
10 years ago

hey awesome lesson cant wait for the dvd

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