How To Be a GREAT Rhythm Guitar Player

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[@M00nkat55]

Tim what pick do you use?

[@timpierceguitar]

Right now, a Dunlop flex 73 that is the larger one... But I've used lots of different pics at different times, and I tend to change them up occasionally :)

[@MashaT22]

@@timpierceguitarpicks could be a whole video subject - why people gravitate to certain pick gauges and styles. I don’t know how you’d do individual note with your precision level using a 73 gauge pick. I tend to switch up my picks sizes/styles/brands depending on the song, but I can’t pick out single notes with anything less than a .96 (strumming and single notes) or 1.14 (only single notes) because I need more rigidity. For me, a .73 would already be for faster strumming and no individually picked notes. Yet I see other guitarists using .73 or less (including lead guitarists!) for insanely fast shredding. Anyway, it would be cool to have a deep dive and examine why that’s so - and how you personally select and use picks. And more importantly, how long you use each pick before deciding it’s too worn and then chucking it. Thanks, Tim!

[@Man.Well93]

@@timpierceguitar try red bear picks

[@jeffrey.a.hanson]

@@MashaT22Lol my stepmom visited and first thing, “Why all the picks?!” Like I was crazy. I had no logical answer relatable to the real world lol. At a desk job, you might have a lot of pens, but not 30 variations. Doctors don’t think, “Let’s try that max grip .96 ultex scalpel with a precision tip for Johnny’s heart surgery today. Maybe the tortoise shell for Jane’s foot amputation…”

[@Joe-mz6dc]

Yeah you definitely want to try different picks and you want to switch out from time to time for sure. I find it kind of sad that some guys say this is the pick I use and that's it. I don't venture away from this pick... I use this pick for everything. Acoustic guitar and electric guitar. Six string and 12 string. Clean tones and distorted tones. This is the pick. Done. I think to myself, wow I don't think you're getting the whole story my friend.

[@tr5947]

Amazing that a master could be so humble. To get instruction from a player of Mr. Pierce's caliber would have been an absurd fantasy when I started playing guitar 50 years ago. It gives me joy to see how much its rightly appreciated.

[@moethibert3640]

Your the best teacher and one of the best guitarists I've ever seen, Thanks

[@bilray114]

Tim reminds me of a former guitar teacher of mine, who was a great teacher AND a great guitarist.

[@timpierceguitar]

Wow, thanks!

[@thunderingthelightning]

True Dat!!

[@JLalajabahl]

@@timpierceguitara good teacher would say *you’re…. But Tim is too classy and too amazing to be as vulgar as me. Love this channel❤

[@pjakobsen]

I’m sure teacher was great, but did he record on some of the biggest hits of all time? MJ and Crowded House..wow

[@sh1sh180]

As far as neck and shoulder pain, I found doing a dead hang from a pull up bar a few times a week loosens everything up.

[@in2livinit]

How long do you time the hang, and just one, or multiples each session. I'm rehabbing a C-7 fracture & will try anything for flexibility & relief.

[@Mtn603]

100% agreed. Hanging is so good (and often so overlooked) for our shoulders, like a lost art. Resets so much. Even just a light hang from a doorframe occasionally can provide huge relief.

[@sh1sh180]

@@in2livinit That all depends on your grip strength and what is comfortable. I stumbled onto this because of longevity videos saying if you can do a dead hang for a minute or two, you are in good shape. I found that my neck and shoulders fell much better and I can play guitar for longer periods of time now.

[@in2livinit]

@@sh1sh180 Thanks 👍

[@TheShink]

No joke, the kids swing set works perfect for that.

[@Longhorn.Rock_Roll61]

A good rhythm section is worth its weight in gold ✨️

[@chrisegg7936]

learning guitar by trying to copy third wave ska bands didn't teach me a lot but it certainly forced me to learn how to mute with my left hand

[@MrWilson-WithaPbass]

Love this Tim Thanks ! I am 50/50 "rhythm guitar and bass . Always working to get better .

[@Nuker54]

A body in motion stays in motion👍 Words I've lived by through my 70 years and still going. Love your work Tim!

[@TR4Ajim]

Want to learn rhythm? - listen to Motown

[@GByePorkPieHat]

I’m learning EXACTLY what you just said. Playing, “Second That Emotion”, can be SO funky. I play and sing this tune, solo, combining bass and rhythm parts and it is SO much fun. Also fun to devise guitar parts for, “Just My Imagination”, and, “I Wish it Would Rain” -> same experience. Great comment!

[@ImYourOverlord]

*want, but yeah 🙂

[@Joe-mz6dc]

For rock, listen to Pete Townshend.

[@TR4Ajim]

@@ImYourOverlord fixed, thanks👍

[@ImYourOverlord]

@@TR4Ajim I'm all about the helping! Second helping, third helping... ;)

[@artemisXsidecross]

Your use of language is as well played as is your music; it is a great combination.

[@michaelscott356]

EXCEPT when he says "Your finger is laying". See above.

[@MickeyBitsko-bn1bu]

The guitar is absolutely a percussion instrument. This is one of the best demonstrations of that

[@TheRealxVincent]

As an autistic, it actually bothers me so much that the low strings are called the "bottom" strings when they're above the other strings. I understand it's that way because of the pitch, but my brain wants it to be where the string is physically located. Sorry for the rant, this has just always bothered me since I started playing 17 years ago. Great lesson, thank you!

[@xirknight]

Tim makes it look easy:) thanks Tim!!

[@foxfai1]

Man Tim, You made it look so easy. I just learned that first few years we train our left hand on the cords, and the next 10 years on the right hand to play accurately and freely. There is so much to learn. Thank you for the pointers

[@therealvenomousduck6180]

Tim, to help your arthritis you should cut sugar out of your diet. It’s very inflammatory. Keto quickly cured me of my arthritis and joint pain, and there are countless others who have the same results. All the best !

[@steveeckert8396]

Anybody else catch Joe Satriani on backing vocals on the Crowded House album?😳😳

[@jaywallis48]

Being a drummer, I've noticed when playing bass, piano or guitar, that the more I treat each instrument like percusion I sound better.

[@peelsequal]

Shout out to the late Wilko Johnson...

[@jeffroq]

What a fantastic lesson. Thank you Tim. The economy of effort thing I always think of Michael Casswell doing the Rory Galagher lick library lesson. Looks so effortless.

[@charliemitsios9251]

Greetings Tim! I’m not an amateur. I’m not even an amateur garage hack. But I won’t ever admit or quit. Your lessons are worth their weight in gold. Thanks!!!

[@jeffhughes1039]

Thank you Tim, you are a great instructor

[@timpierceguitar]

Thank you so much I really appreciate it

[@thomasjefferson3481]

You get one of the if not THE best strat tones with that strat I've ever heard.

[@cuisineavecjeff]

Seriously, it's f"/$%?&* insane

[@Martin-op3uo]

Nash guitars

[@cm-kl2wx]

@@Martin-op3uo Must be the pickups...no?

[@alfonzo9]

Incredible!

[@mmiller6873]

Valuable insight in this episode. I could listen to you play all day long. Thanks again for your instruction and tips. Well done!!

[@GByePorkPieHat]

Second the request for some Reggae content from Tim. 😊

[@patrickjordan2233]

I tend to agree...a light level of professional exercise (playing "deliberately") is a form of stretching + productivity? Les Paul epitomized (and employed it liberally) the exercise philosophy, playing almost to his last breathe... Because of it, even though his age was taking its inevitable toll on his hands, even in his last years, he could play @ a professional level (definitely not for hrs & hrs on end...) But at an amazingly high level, kind of @ his leasure...? Decades after others would have had to hang it up... I was fortunate to see him perform live several times in his Golden Years, always was amazed how he could play @ his age & arthritis levels... Watch him play during any of his tributes,.. Les Exactly lived what you're espousing, Rick! 🎉♥️♥️🎉 "...some people play while they live... others live to play..." Django epitomized this aspect...

[@hoisin75]

The guvnor

[@SeanVarley100]

This is such a practical lesson. So many players don't spend enough time developing the skill to mute on demand. I think it is the secret to making the guitar talk. I also had a Nash S63 with HSS Lollar pickups. I sold it for some cash. It is one of the guitars I do miss.

[@toploadtele]

Tim is the such a good teacher! Having been a drummer in my younger days makes a hugh difference with timing and pocket as an old gray headed guy working on playing guitar today... Thanks for the tips Tim!

[@Uke-Tuber]

Tim, my guitar hero 😍

[@abelincoln95]

Bukovac said his body is out of alignment from years of guitar playing....

[@minstinct280]

TIM IS A LEGEND!!

[@bertpainter8385]

Just a thought on arthritis, tendonitis etc. Like Tim says play as much as you can without causing excessive pain. But if you work with hand tools or anything involving some sort of work load on the hands, playing guitar afterward will be tough and probably painful. At least for me it is. It's the thumb joint that really is the problem. When that joint causes pain, is just about impossible to do any grabbing type motions. Even a strong handshake will cause paint. I have to choose one or the other on any giving day. Winter is best for playing guitar as there's not much you need to do outside, hopefully🤞

[@philipmarsh3522]

Since you referenced Nash guitars … my friend has a Nash Strat and lets me borrow it from time to time. I’ve seriously considered just taking it and leaving the country lol. Not sure what he does but the resonance and just the neck feel are excellent. Some builders just have the magic. Such a gifted artisan.

[@JoeGtars13]

I really like my Nash guitar too. Super quality.

[@grahamnunn8998]

Great video, Tim. I love showing students how to mute strings with the fretting hand - the best ones take it and run with it. Some great examples here. Frusciante is a monster rhythm player, I am get the impression he has constantly develops both his technique and theory. I am not even a big Chilli Pepper's fan but I love how inventive he is.

[@MrGavinspoppop]

tried lead ....nfg ....now I play to my singing

[@ddugan64]

Amazing playing as always. What's the name of the chilli peppers song?

[@jm9101-y4y]

Can't Stop

[@christhacker9450]

Tim is the bomb. Impeccable timing and feel.

[@00xanawolf00]

Tim, you just blew my mind. I didn’t know you performed and recorded those parts on Don’t Dream It’s Over! No wonder I’ve always loved that song in regard to my obsession with the guitar and tone!

[@joergenlang]

I think that information about holding the pick, posture, tension in the body and physical exercises would easily justify their own video series. Saying this as an acoustic guitarist. Thanks Tim!

[@carlsalazar4490]

Love the sound of your Strat. I’ve spent so much money to recreate the sounds of my favorite guitarists. I finally gave up, life got in the way.

[@shawnok1]

Great as always Tim..I'm in love with that guitar

[@jakyru1981]

Spectacular explanations, lucid because they are SIMPLE!

[@analogalien]

Great lesson, Tim. What pickups are in your Strat??

[@michaelscott356]

3:40 Tim, you are the best session guitarist in the history of the planet earth! But for the sake our children, AND the future of the English language, please say "When your finger is LYING next to the string" (as we do in English)... Not LAYING. CHICKENS LAY. (and eggs are involved). Everything else lies. Thanks. Now continue being the best!

[@harrysearia1784]

Thank you Tim for sharing!!!! That tone was AMAZING!!!!!!

[@stringlocker]

The first thing that goes as you get older is high-speed down picking

[@Rockingruvin]

Great comment about limitations of gear. I have a multi pedal from 20+ years ago. I rarely deviate from the first setting. Hybrid British-American rock amp clean model , stompbox option (tube screamer), effect option (chorus, flanger, etc.) and then delay. I've tweaked it a bit, but it's close to stock. And I run I through a Marshall DSL 100, 4x12 greenbacks, and no matter what guitar I grab, it sounds virtually identical. My 52 reissue tele sounds like a F'ing Boston guitar. And my leads sound like Jimi on a bad night... lol

[@darrinheike1495]

I do forearm and hand stretching. Also what I calla “chicken wing stretch”. It’s easy to find on KZbin. It’s a P-90 X stretch. Its money

[@DrRussPhd]

Want to hear great rhythm playing? Listen to John Lennon's playing on "I'm Happy Just to dance With You".

[@ACFreeBe]

Page , Hendricks and Clapton... You said you didn't get like those guys... I think you got a little more then they did. Peace ✌️

[@chadnikolaus8793]

Excellent video, great info on how to fret that a lot of KZbin instructors kinda leave out. ALSO, WOW you played on MJ's Black or White huge fan of that song.

[@cantfindamerica877]

Hey Tim , Ya we’re getting older and that doesn’t help either. I’ve tried a million pain creams, blue goo, or general dollar , blue pain relief, it’s cheap and works. Keep Rockin,

[@premanandgiri4140]

Thankyou, Tim that’s so well explained Playing with other folks is just great but can be a steep learning curve! Keeping it simple is one of the hardest things to do, and the muting really sharpens the whole thing up. Especially with a compressor, (e.g Cali ‘76) don’t you think?

[@didyeah_bluesband2282]

Hi Tim, i'm 59yo, frenchman, play guitar since my 14to. Some says that I rock, but I never got really satisfied of my guitar playing, I find it poor and always play the same things for years. With your video that I just recently discovered, looks like that your approach could be the one I need : play less but better, double stops....Could you tell us what you did with johnny hallyday, who is a legend here in France ? Was he cool at the studio ? Did you met him ? Peace Tim and thanks.

[@ikeeubuah]

Great video!! Have you ever heard of Pigeons Playing Ping Pong? Scrambled Greg is one heck of a rhythm section.

[@WickBeavers]

It's interesting to hear you play 8's. I always thought I was a wimp choosing 9's! Thanks for preserving my manship. As for tuning your neck and leaving the cover off the truss rod screw... I heard there's a guitar builder who makes the truss rod nut so openly available the act of tuning your neck is equivocal to tuning your strings. I'd subscribe to this 100%.

[@carolynm.7530]

How do I keep my pick from rotating and moving around. It's so frustrating!😖

[@kungstu22]

Tim: I truly love you. But you should really stop dragging your top-dollar strat behind the truck. =)*)

[@37BopCity]

My favorite rhythm guitarist is John Lennon. Not only did he play wonderfully creative rhythmic parts in the classic Beatles songs and his solo efforts, at the same time he could sing sing wonderful harmonies and melodic lines like nobody else. That's extremely difficult to do for the rest of us mere mortals. "Yer Blues" is a great example.

[@Joe-mz6dc]

Another great song for guitar rhythm: INXS - New Sensation

[@SeekerStardust]

I miss my Fender S 😭 she sounded just like what u got there. great tips tho. awesome work Tim

[@klav34]

How to be a great rhythm guitarist? Wait another few months and AI will play it perfectly for ya. 🤣🤣

[@jbm11235]

Less is more. Yup. That's really good. Less also lets phrasing show through.

[@dananthony6258]

Dam Tim, what didn’t you play on ? Geee’s dude. They should make a movie of Tim’s life.

[@TheFuriousTee]

So much gold here, I wish KZbin was there when I started

[@ThePanchomack]

Hey Tim - that´s a great lesson! playing to the songs than stop it and play on your own is a great advice. Just came back to this recently and it works great. I also found that my if i really focus to loose the wrist and get the pocket my overall sound and dynamics get way better. And man i love the tone you get out of this guitar. Very nice top end and tight and smooth at the low strings. Would you mind sharing which amp you used ?

[@wesleymarkmusic403]

Great lesson and great inspiration. Thank you sir.

[@SimpsonMusicProductions]

2:15 Joe Satriani backing vocals? 😮

[@thedude5702]

I really like some of these more beginner videos. I love your more advanced stuff but my playing ability is not there yet

[@dparel]

Hey Tim… do you have a video on dialing in strat tone(s). Your strat tone is amazing here!!

[@akukelilipan]

Man, your guitar aged beautifully

[@JJ-dh4bq]

Great suggestion for playing and trying to stay loose. I actually sit on a drum stool when I play at my gigs now. I get a lot of comments from a fellow band member and also people that come to see us play about me sitting down on stage when we perform. I ask them where is it written down that a musician has to stand when they play. If you can perform and play better sitting why not !

[@itsjavaman]

21 minutes in... Did you try to make a mistake and couldn't?

[@georgedickson1410]

Jazz standards are a hell of a way to boost your rhythm playing.

[@mattmengel4622]

Who gives a ##$# how you played/ play the parts . How do you get that tone ?!!

[@randalljohnson2]

Pride and Joy's intro has left hand muting while wailing away with the right.

[@WhackyPackages]

Tim what color pickguard is that on your Nash?

[@GearzillaGuitars]

I like the concept of a motor for the right hand if you look at Cory Wong his motor is always running full tilt

[@georgemuncal534]

Hi @timpierceguitar your tone is nice and sound good. how do you setup that?

[@MonkeyDLuffy-cq2lo]

can you please add a part of talking about how to get the tone or patch at the end of each tutorial video? It will be like a bonus section talking about gears and the settings, which will be a lot of fun.

[@GigaBrowser]

Try another camera angle for the close up shots. Can't see a damn thing

[@Ianforcements5669]

Tim, do you count out your rhythm in your head? I find that so confusing.

[@mikeqp10]

Hi Tim! Love Your channel and content!

[@acdclexu6296]

i dont know why i only like strats if they beaten up as hell maybe because im more a gibson guy because when i like a gibson i love it to play it in and see how better it gonna if you give ur gibby some love

[@alexandercoombs6725]

What kind of lollar pickups are these?

[@iloveaviation-burgerclub-a8145]

Leave all the gimmics and tsingeling and then add simplicity to it.❤

[@IvorMutch]

I'm still trying to get the solo strum to Peggy Sue, so this is over my head.

[@bryantcochran5065]

People will notice my nails and ask if I play guitar. My lefts are just to the finger tip, the rights are long for finger picking.

[@jeremeydonovan8286]

Dude the second my fingernail hits the rosewood I gotta clip em. Ebony Maple eh.

[@FinPhysio]

My rhythm is mostly basic chord playing 😂

[@mauriceee1434]

I started guitar at 61 by 121 I can play like that.

[@ChiIeboy]

5:22 Reminds me of the intro to _Jive Talkin'_

[@kennethmuxlow8626]

Fine rythym lesson tim thank you love that guitar... Would you do some christmas covers.. The monkees what would santa do? And house of broken gingerbread thank you

[@revhead]

"Motion is lotion" for arthritis. Turmeric also helps

[@АлексейКозаев-я6й]

Классный дядька) Спасибо за урок!

[@akasgsvirgil9503]

I great rhythm guitarist make their mistakes in time.

[@getridoffakenews1]

Dang, I wish Guitar was as easy as you make it.

[@matthiasscheffler548]

These pickups are sick. The rest is sick, too

[@calebmatty5060]

1:00 sounds like Gang of Four

[@coycarlson4979]

As ALWAYS - GREAT INSTRUCTION 🎸YOU are INDEED a MASTER on the fretboard and know how to “ GET IN THE GROOVE “ 👍👍👍🙂🙂🙂🙂✌️✌️✌️✌️