| Although the two main types of guitar that you will | | | | allow switching without breaking the pace of the |
| hear about being described are either acoustic guitar | | | | performance. |
| or electric guitar, there can often be mentioned a | | | | In most popular music today the electric guitar has |
| third type, known as rhythm guitar, In actual fact, | | | | become the most dominant instrument as far as |
| rhythm guitar is not so much a make or style of | | | | rhythm is concerned, excepting the drums of course. |
| instrument, as clearly electric and acoustic are, but is | | | | However, acoustic guitar has certainly not lost its |
| a type of playing style. Rhythm guitar is a | | | | popularity, and remains a firm favourite as far as |
| performance method which uses the guitar as not | | | | rhythm is concerned within such music genres as |
| only an accompanying instrument to a vocal | | | | country, western, folk music and bluegrass. |
| performance, but also as a way of keeping the | | | | The rhythm guitar is most usually used to create a |
| rhythm of the music constant, in much the same | | | | beat or pulse which helps the other instruments or |
| way as drums are used to keep the rhythm or pace | | | | singers to keep the timing of the piece accurate. In |
| of a piece of music constant. | | | | many modern pop bands or rock bands this same |
| It is important to maintain a steady rhythm in music | | | | beat or pulse will be carried by both a bass guitar and |
| not only to keep the piece flowing smoothly, but also | | | | the drum kit. An electric keyboard or piano may also |
| to assist those who are accompanying the | | | | be used to help maintain the beat, and it may be that |
| performance either as musicians or singers. The guitar | | | | the roles vary throughout the piece, with the drums |
| is ideally suited to such a role, since the natural | | | | taking the dominant position within the rhythm |
| strumming or the guitar strings creates a natural | | | | section, then passing it back to guitar before the |
| rhythm. Rhythm guitar is simply a playing style which | | | | keyboard has a turn. The guitar is often the |
| accentuates this rhythmic strumming so that it is the | | | | instrument used to combine the rhythm of the music |
| chordal accompaniment of the guitar which is its | | | | with any significant chord changes, with other |
| most noted characteristic, rather than more subtle | | | | instruments playing their melodies, and supported in |
| plucking or picking. However, a guitar can be played in | | | | chord changes by the rhythm guitar pulsing or |
| such a way that it combines both of these methods, | | | | beating through the chords. |
| with the rhythmic strumming comprising the main | | | | The usual way of playing rhythm guitar, especially if |
| voice whilst occasional plucks or picks of the strings | | | | using an electric guitar, is to play what is known as |
| helps to create subtle variations which keep the | | | | triads, which are chords consisting of three notes, |
| performance varied and interesting. | | | | these being the root, third and fifth notes of the |
| This requires slightly more skill and knowledge, but | | | | chord. In some case four notes are used, with the |
| the basic rhythmic strumming is a straightforward and | | | | introduction of either the sixth, seventh or ninth |
| helpful way to use the guitar for any beginner, once | | | | notes to the basic triad. |
| the basic chords have become familiar enough to | | | | |