MIke Dawes - Brilliant Polyrhythms Lesson!

In this episode of Wood Vibrations, Mike Dawes teaches everything you need to know about polyrhythms, and how to incorporate them into solo guitar playing. For tabs, go to: www.guitarworld...

[@terrywin2661]

"Now play them together" . It was at that point that my guitar went flying across the room!!!

[@marks5039]

Neck went flying across the room five times while body went flying twelve times

[@AlphSlayer]

I need Polybrains to play it.

[@ILIKESCIFI]

I would need MULTIbrains dude!

[@an_38kitkashyap]

I need Polyphia to play this

[@rullpul136]

Polycocks

[@balrajbhati7274]

Not poly quad brain

[@maximpetric7279]

😂😂😂

[@AlergicToSnow]

I've been playing for decades and have never seen this before. Incredible. Love it.

[@brucebenson8140]

AlergicToSnow : Listen to (&watch) Michael Hedges. Michael passed away about 15 years ago in a terrible car accident but was one of the early creators of this type of playing.

[@forgottencas2272]

Along with Preston Reed.

[@danjoshmass]

As an earlier comment pointed out, these are polymeters, but I wanted to add that it's refreshing to hear polymeters used outside of progressive metal. As much as I love prog metal, I've always wanted to hear them used in a different context.

[@user-ow4km5zs5r]

"lets play it together" HOW?!

[@arijitdas8964]

count me in.

[@GistOfItMedia]

this shit is like calculus for acoustic guitar players

[@DipankarMahatto01]

lowermiddleclassy basically L.C.M of X & Y !!

[@jigongnnan]

;D

[@drealboy_]

This nigga is doing so much multitasking with how he plays guitar it's a no damn wonder he doesn't sing

[@reyhanvivaldi9597]

Polyrhythms in drum are way more confusing

[@LOLAP95]

@@reyhanvivaldi9597 no.

[@EonSloth]

Mike Dawes is my hero and the person solely responsible for me not giving up on guitar, topping that off with the fact that he played The Impossible at EuroBlast 2014 when he hadn't planned on it, just because little me asked due to it being my favourite song of all time. Mike is a gift to this world and one of the most gentle and kind beings I have had the pleasure of meeting. I would personally LOVE to see more lessons from him!

[@SanithMohanCase305]

This is how I was able to play this: using an electric guitar and turn the volume down all the way to Zero, synchronize, and then increase the volume. The struggle that everyone is facing is almost the same, 'being able to play them individually, but not able to play them together'...When I first tried to play this, I practiced continuously for an hour and was only able to get the synchronization for 3 to 4 times, and then back to 0 again and again.. In my case, I was able to identify that my brain is focusing more on the sound which was loud, i.e, the notes being played by the right hand. They are treble notes and the left ones are bass notes. Even if I started by playing the notes on the left hand, when the right hand notes were played, since they sound more loud than the left ones, my brain automatically started focusing only on the Tone coming from the Right hand notes, and thereby, messing up the left hand. So I unplugged my Electric guitar, and then played them individually to get the feel and the pattern, and then I played them together. This time I was able to Improve my synchronization. It's not perfect yet, but the improvement was considerably higher because now there was no sound, and I was able to focus only on the frets and the strings. In short, it was the sound that was messing up my synchronization, so I practiced with 'no sound'. And when it was improving, then turned on the sound. Everyone will be facing a different issue, and this was the solution I could come up with for the time being. Maybe someday I'll be able to figure out a different way. I've been playing the guitar for almost 6+ years, and yet, when I tried the Polyrhythm for the first time, it felt as if I am learning the guitar from scratch.

[@rachelearth]

Great teacher. Takes it apart, stays encouraging, shows amazing new ideas slowly. Thank you! Sounds beautiful too.

[@billwendt1256]

I went to Andy McKee's Guitar Masters show at the Freight. Three hours of this level of playing. Mike opened. Definitely my favorite show that year. Just jaw dropping.

[@kentuckyblugrass]

Is it just me, watching Dawes discourages the living hell out of me. This technique goes way beyond patting your head and rubbing your belly. Can't help but be absolutely captivated by his playing.

[@boojay111]

Ho Ho, I said that as he was explaining (the patting head etc.) but it is the numbers that get me every time as I can hear key changes but no idea if they 3/4 or 6/12 or whatever they are. I have tried and tried to understand but no. I will stick to giving up, patting my head and rubbing my tummy, that's easy!

[@zoratatsumaki9181]

This is an advanced technique that even 10+ year professionals have trouble with. I'm sure you're fine.

[@CatsCoffeeGuitars]

Does anyone else find it much easier to count it as 6/4 rather than 12/8? The length of the note values in 6/4 (one, two, three, four, five, six) makes it simples and maybe groovier to count than one...twelve (12/8).

[@rosettastoned2194]

i was wondering the same thing

[@idleliquid]

I think it's because he needs the pattern of 5 to play out in complete twice during the pattern of 12.

[@GattlingGuitarGuru]

The pass the god damn butter one is a true polyrhythm, the song example though is more of a polymeter- polyrhythms typically match up on the downbeat, say 4/4 and 5/4-each would be a slightly different tempo so every beat one lines up. A polymeter is more than one meter, but the tempos are the same so there is a phasing effect so they only line up every so many bars.

[@poorquay5732]

Shut the fuck up.

[@yigitalpdikmen331]

@@poorquay5732 The guy says true. If you disagree, then you don't write anything. Be respectful.

[@trpackz2848]

For anyone trying to learn this and having trouble playing both figures at the same time. This really helped for me. Just play the figure with the right hand non stop and try to only add the first 2 bass notes of figure 1 and 2. Hope this might help someone.

[@michaeloflouisiana9469]

Playing polyrythems has always been a huge challenge for me. Keeping two seperate times makes me fall apart everytime. I was about to give up and head back into my Sacred Training Grounds when he said, "pass the goddamn butter". I can't give up after hearing that 😂

[@ApiolJoe]

Actually, depanding on the signature of both your rythms, you might need less than X Ys and Y Xs (if it makes sense). these numbers are just true for every rythm you might try, but some couples might come back together faster than X and Y times (let's take 6 and 8 for example, they meet back up first at the 4th six and not the 8th six. They still meet also at the count you gave though). Just a little clarification so that people trying out with this don't get confused because rythms meets back up faster than they expected.

[@anthonydevito1298]

"So there's this part" nice "And now there's this part" nice I can do that "now play them together" wait what

[@makmamaam3482]

this is all cool and all, but I got an issue, How do you play them together

[@roblozier]

You're like an updated, modern day Chet Atkins! Thanks for the demonstration :) Not sure I'd ever play that but that is some awesome playing.. I have since downloaded some of your music on my Apple Music account :)

[@JulienMARY]

I need polylives to reach this level ...

[@bleachcheeks4837]

That fretted riff sounds like the garoh melody from golden sun. So beautiful, def learning it

[@rockguitar3431]

Your lesson is so useful. Please continue make you lesson . thank you so much

[@realistikvideo]

Thank you so much for this lesson. Your ballads are nothing short of amazing!!

[@divinasi0n]

This lesson we're going to be looking at: *POLYMETERS*** Polyrhythms are when you have two rhythms on top of each other that start and end at the same point. _Polymeters_ - as demonstrated in this video; generally don't end at the same point. A musician who uses them in their music and is giving lessons should surely know the difference and should not be disseminating incorrect information.. In fact - the title of this video should be _"Brilliant _*_Polymeters_*_ lesson!"_ Peace

[@leviathan8815]

I hate it when people mess that up

[@MRX123MRX]

So in that case; is a drum beat with kick on 1 and 3, and snare on 2 and 4 a polyrhythm?

[@adino20]

at 1:25 though he correctly performs a 4 over 3 poly-rhythm but describes it as 3/4 over 4/4 like how you would describe a poly-meter. He was wrong about two different things at the same time... poly-wrongness.

[@johnbifulco707]

I dont think he was speaking in literal musical dictionary terms. I think he used polyrhythm because its essentially the closest to laymen's terms. Most people can understand the concept of two separate rhythms, and visualize that when described that way, even if technically speaking it is incorrect. Like the difference between a "riff" and a "phrase", again, im assuming he is catering to guitarists that don't have huge music vocabulary and is oversimplifying the verbiage of the concept.

[@marinooliveira4204]

divinasion Uh! 😒

[@franklingauthier-parker7253]

I'm pretty sure this is polymeter, not polyrhythm, but still a great lesson. Loved the piece and will certainly check this guy out.

[@izzykilman6820]

Thank you for taking the time to show me this! Great polyryth, poli , ple eh... great tune!

[@EaglehawkMoonfang]

Been practicing hard lately. Feel I'm improving fast and this exercise is exactly what I needed, though didn't I know I needed it lol

[@dr.vincentdada7867]

Hi Felon, what materials do you have for practice?

[@EaglehawkMoonfang]

@@dr.vincentdada7867 currently, Giuliani's 120 right hand studies for guitar. Also working on learning a few different songs via tabs. Got guitar pro a few weeks ago and absolutely love it. Aside from that, just having fun and goofing around with my guitar a few hours each night

[@richardpark997]

Amazing Musician !!!

[@SuperGorak]

aren't POLYMETERS different time signatures overlapped meeting after x messures and a polyrythm the subsequent result but could also be two different 4/4 rythms?

[@SuperGorak]

***** wtf the guy isn't full of shit. he got a term slightly wrong but a polymetric rhythm is still polyrhythm

[@SuperGorak]

I don't think you quite got the concept of this video right. I think it's just an introductury lesson for everybody who doesnt really know what a polyrhythm or meter is. His lesson makes it really obvious for a layman just how simply 3 against 4 or 5 against 6 (like in the video, what you called "bogus" :D ) is structured and sounding and how common it is in pop music, making people realize "Huh, I get it, I can do it", hopefully inspiring them to push themselves. Cuz maaaaaaany aspiring musicians have a learned fear of pushing themselves, not seeing progress but only normal failures while practicing, giving them a little confidence boost. Remember that this is commercially uploaded video, that needs a catchy title for marketing porpuses. Many people are aware of that. Please keep that in mind

[@Ty17983]

Correct, everyone seems to confuse the two so much that they terms are interchangeable now.

[@sterlingmckeandnet]

Well alrighty, Mitch! :) We all look forward to you posting performance or instructional videos on.... well, anything. Be careful when you judge.

[@marinooliveira4204]

Polyrithyms are two rithyms in one Polymeters are two instruments playing in different time signatures

[@gamermanliness9746]

so talented. I like it

[@BANDUNGCOUSTIK_BENICHKYVANJAVA]

Great leson

[@bagurkbagurko9137]

Wonderful!!!

[@DavidTheBaker1]

"confuse your neighbours and scare your dog.." I think might have pulled that off a couple times before...

[@Mini-vi8oo]

Finally got this xs worth learning

[@curtblack686]

'now play them together' yeah alright mate will do giz a sec, cheers

[@ManosRK]

Now that's an awesome melody!!! Too bad I don't have a capo.

[@bulzah]

10 euros good one:)

[@TomStrahle]

I've used a pencil and a couple of rubber bands when I didn't have one.

[@ManosRK]

I tried it too back in the day! It didn't work that good, I don't know why.

[@TomStrahle]

Haha, definitely a poor man's solution. The key is two or more good rubber bands.

[@ManosRK]

+Tom Strahle True lol! Yeah, maybe that's why. I was too scared to force it though, I didn't want to mess up my beautiful Yamaha! :P

[@caponi14]

What a fucking beast man. This guys acoustic skills are insane

[@Martin-jk2ng]

I hope people appreciate drummers better now. Great playing and ideas from Mike.

[@stanstolarski8325]

I only have an inexpensive Alvarez acoustic guitar but I'll give this tutorial my best shot Mike . . . It certainly looks like a bit of a challenge . . . Thanks . . . All the best & stay well !!!

[@rs-xr3ty]

Masterful and beautiful and way over my head

[@abcrx32j]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't this a polymetric instead of a polyrhythm?

[@brandonTHEshiados]

This guy is real knowledgeable and an amazing player. Wow.

[@illuminatiCorgi]

I died at the, "Pass the God damn butter...", lyric :')

[@NeonBlazeMusic]

Amazing, this will be fun to practice.

[@TheUltraGamer98]

awesome!!! I suck at rhythm guitar and I will try this P.S I can't believe i counted 12 times correctly

[@mikehutchinson2972]

This is brilliant, love it! Great composition. Technically 12/8 has the beat every three quavers. You are playing a very clear 3/4 with the beat every two quavers (in the left hand).

[@danielevans1201]

oh my, i cant believe i have only just found you as id have studied you ages ago had i known. cant wait to get home and try some of your stuff and hopefully become a lot better in a good few months or so.

[@Leo-cq9zr]

Im buying a guitar today.... this was a great lesson...this young man is absolutely awesome. .

[@dr.vincentdada7867]

How are you ?

[@Ghandjaloodah]

Sounds beautiful!

[@dickiedick100]

I am polynaised. 🤪 This is so high school guitar playing and even I never will learn this I found it superb. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@gregmirr]

Great lesson interesting patterns and well explained ..thanks

[@RFWMusic]

Wow, wonderful ! 😊

[@guitardudeguy3139]

Awesome lesson..very interesting technique! Very beautifully done!

[@marvinrey79]

you guys should check out Andy McKee, greyson erhard and Donovan Raitt, i think they show this style very well and if you guys want to challenge yourself learn a song or two by them !

[@matyourin]

I was lost when he tapped that 4/4 and 3/4 example at the introduction... The rest i understood mathematically, but to me it looks like youve got to be a robot to pull it off... Just incredible 🤯

[@whitelion204]

For 4/4 and 3/4, just divide a bar into 12 beats. 4/4 will hit every 3 beat on beat *1,4,7,10* and 3/4 will hit every 4 beat on beat *1,5,9*. So the 4/4 and 3/4 polyrhythm will look like this: (1) 2 3 (4)(5) 6 (7) 8 (9) (10) 11 12 Pass - - the god - damned - butter --

[@caspermaster-com]

Amazing guitarist, musician, presentation, inspiration:)

[@austin50100]

Great lesson, can't wait to see more.

[@trapOrdoom]

you're actually such a sick guitarist. much appreciated video, it's hard to find a bunch good of visual and verbal explanations of a polyrhythm . that's amazing playing though honestly.

[@trapOrdoom]

& I'm getting you're album now, off rip.

[@whitelion204]

I would like to correct Mike Dawes a little bit about the cycle ending where the two rhythms meet up: In general, it isn't necessarily true for rhythm X to play Y times and vice versa to complete a cycle. Instead, X should play *(least common multiple of X and Y) / Y* times (and vice versa). In example, let's say we have a polyrhythm of 4/4 and 6/4. The least common multiple of 4 and 6 is 12. So rhythm X should play 12/4=3 times (instead of 6 like Mike said) and Y should play 12/6 = 2 times (instead of 4) to complete a cycle. And this is just for the polyrhythms that share the same *note value* (4 in 3/4, 4/4, 6/4,..). For polyrhythms that contains 2 rhythms with different note value, their cycle will be more difficult to calculate.

[@DeathShark00]

that is basically what he said. he's using 12 and 5. the first common number would be 60. 12x5 =5x12. =60. or 30 if you want to count to 6 instead of 12.

[@whitelion204]

+tom balmer yeah i know he's correct but it is just this very case. I just want to generalize the formula since he didn't mention anything about the common multiple number.

[@psavelli65]

Great explanation - thank you for clearly explaining it

[@shubhamghojage2825]

you helped me a lot ... made my day

[@GeorgeNashMusic]

Good thing I just started learning The Impossible. This will help a lot, thanks :)

[@RGPEDROSA20]

So beautiful.

[@Glufius]

I loved this lesson, where it's extremily thorough, and it's a nice melody and fun technique to learn. however. is it really a Polyrythm? The first example shown (pass the god-damn butter) is a polyrythm, but the "riff" in The Impossible, well, isnt' that multiple timesigatures played at the same time? instead of rythms..? or is it just me ?

[@Glufius]

just found the answer lower down in the coments, ignore this one :D

[@Usualeclectic]

Is he using silk and steel strings? Those are lightweight and carry a resilience to them that’s smooth but also is great with a pickup and mic. Anyway fingerstyle is fun for me..this lesson was super cool. Just learned some new chords haha nice!

[@chrisfarrugia5397]

Beautiful

[@vrendus522]

Nice stuff Mike. Paying close attention to your teaching. Can't thank you enough. p.s. Beautifully played.

[@R_Thomp]

Great playing!

[@drzucke]

When he says "hammer" do you think this might be code for "take a hammer to your guitar because you'll never be able to do this which will cause an inferior guitar playing induced depression"?

[@LOKESKYWATCHER528]

Great lesson man. Thank you for sharing it.

[@pontepolentepontepi]

Great lesson!

[@willferridrums]

This isn’t really a polyrhythm. An easy way to think of this is that his left hand is playing a repeated grouping of 6 eighth notes, and his right hand is just playing a grouping of 5 sixteenth notes.

[@Gibson1961SG]

Fucking love this guy.

[@RodneyGuitar]

Great tutorial Mike!!

[@brianralph5036]

beautiful

[@RobinMeys]

I enjoyed that a lot ! Thank you !!

[@Chille0]

gonna be that guy, technically i think its not x played y times and y played x times i think it should be essentially the least common multiple to put it mathematically (5 is prime so for 5 it happens to always work out in the x*y/y*x way but it wont always be that way)

[@kimlock9440]

Great 💫

[@maxmoseley7490]

5:51 I was focusing so hard to understand the alignment then he throws in some more junk and gives me a stroke

[@UAxFunnYo]

Great explanation :-) First time i got to understand how polyrhythms actually work :-D

[@mrsaskriders]

I feel like I'm back at twinkle twinkle Little Star when I listen to you. I just learned how to play classical gas and my brain is full.

[@davidwright8989]

I love ghost notes

[@steveozone4910]

Hey Mike. When you play figure 2 at the end of the second bar have you tried hammering 9 pull of 8 on the a string? I think it adds a nice dynamic like when you change the pattern to the end of the 2nd bar figure one. Really cool melody though. Keep it up :)

[@Pequin1000]

What he said

[@route4555]

Awesome dude!

[@Andybaby]

Damn, I was hoping this would suck, because who can be bothered with the extra complexity.. but the song is just...amazingly beautiful.

[@poldilaab14344]

1:15 that laugh tho!

[@h.3257]

amazing!

[@tommybear4458]

this guy's is superhuman for real real real

[@P78ful]

This is why I am a bass player !!

[@mccalltrader]

thats beautiful bro!

[@Rxbandit421]

Lol I love the acoustic version of scarlet there at the intro

[@angelcastellanosmartinez2412]

I wonder what pickup is installed that sounds so brilliant

[@andysspam]

This is all well and good Mike, but human beings are never gonna be able to do this.....

[@SnipySnob]

Nice stuff Mike, obviously well performed but you came off very charismatic and entertaining to keep the attention of the viewer

[@trevorwilliams632]

I struggled to get the volume out of the hammer on notes until I put a set of 13/56 gauge strings on a guitar .

[@Knosferatu]

Too good

[@masonbass1887]

Mike!! If you could tell me what you were playing at 2:20 with a tonewood with Andertons music co, I would be forever grateful.

[@paulbeades6681]

Excellent teaching, really clear. F all change of playing this :-)

[@larevolt1913]

Man, what you're doing its great and the video is quite instructive.. But do not confuse polyrithm with rythmic displacement. In short, the hypnotic one you're talking about its called rythmic displacement. While polyrithms are quite groovy. Polyrithm would be like, triplets over eight notes, or sixteenth notes over triplets, or whatever (it lasts one bar). Displacement takes place by overimposing two time signatures with the same tempo and forming a pattern that moves within the base one, which is what you're doing here.

[@Tharaka-ky7uw]

I gret ful sir....😘😘😘😘