How to Stop Sucking at Rhythm Guitar

Going over some pointers I picked up along the way of teaching rhythm to guitar students that have absolutely no rhythm. No metronome required (because you wouldn't use one anyway) so start tapping those toes and bobbing yo head to the sick beatz!
If you like what we're throwing down in this video, check out the MasterClass I made on how to solo on guitar with another musician. You won't regret it!
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A little about me:
Sean Daniel is a man. A man of simple needs and desires. And the one desire, no, the one NEED, that stands above all is to spread the challenges, joy and intellectual stimulus of music to people of Earth and beyond.
Born on the mean streets of upper middle class suburban Chicago, Sean learned the ways of the world through the dizzying heights of success to the lonesome depths of failure and emerged with the promise of a better tomorrow reflecting in his eyes and fiery passion in his belly.
He plays and teaches guitar on his KZbin channel where he regularly releases original music and projects to the adulation of legions of fans, who often compare him to Chris Pratt and one time Ryan Reynolds. He’s currently in the market for a nice leather jacket.

[@THOMASMBYRON]

Sean, I’m an older player..been playing for years but certainly stalled on one level...during this pandemic I really wanted to improve and found your videos....They have become my daily classroom and so helpful! Thank you! You make practicing an addiction! On a side note, I’ve been a professional comedy writer for some of the biggest stars and shows for fifty years and I really get a kick out of your little opening monologues! All the best and thanks! Tom Leopold

[@Dmab661]

I just googled you Tom. Shame on me for not knowing who you are! Wow! What a career! Looking at your past success, I would guess that you are a guitar virtuoso by now! I’m going to try and learn from Sean based on your endorsement.

[@RC32Smiths01]

Rhythm guitar and rhythm in general is one of the most fundamental points and purposes of Music! Awesome information here to know man!

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks for checking it out!

[@RC32Smiths01]

@@seandaniel23 Definitely my pleasure man! You are very welcome!

[@upsidedownguitarist6803]

To true though rhythm guitar and drums are your timing your structure and basically 65% of the band work lol I mean you can noodle and do random solos and scales etc but it won't sound as good unless you got rhythm

[@muktappa]

@@seandaniel23 009

[@currentwork4353]

@@upsidedownguitarist6803 so*

[@ec8107]

I envy those with natural rhythm. I have so little that I've come to believe there is an empty hole where my soul is supposed to be.

[@seandaniel23]

The empty hole inside you is mostly due to being a Detroit Tigers fan.

[@adamf.4823]

You can develop it. Play a single note in time over and over for hours and hours. The sound of the note and the steady rhythm will eventually start to resonate in your bones. It's all about feeling.

[@CharlieRootsMusic]

I got too much rhythm, I get to going on the guitar and folks tell me it sounds like two three guitars lol .

[@shilohk38]

E C Some exercises to get help with rhythm. 1. get some drum sticks or tap out beats. If you don’t feel inspired drum to your favorite songs. 2. With your hand, rest it to mute every note. Pick up and down and say “1 E and A, 2 E and A etc. strum only on the numbers. Now try different combos, strum the 1 and the and or just the E and A and give a rest to the numbers. Once you have that down now try it with chords. Relax, and enjoy the process. Check out Rodrigo Y Gabriela they are the best rhythm guitarists on the planet, you will be inspired.

[@SeymourClevage]

It's nothing to do with rhythm. I can't dance or play drums to save my life but I can hear a strum once and replicate it perfectly. Its just the fact that some people are better than other people at certain things.

[@kurisu976]

Counting is one of my biggest challenges as a beginner. This helps a lot!

[@JerryDechant]

Thanks for this tutorial. Not that many people who make tutorials focus much on rhythm playing.

[@seanenglish3002]

Such a great lesson. Now I count all the time. When I am running or just walking, I count 1-trip-ell-la-3-and-and-4 and-1 etc. I know I am on time when the counting corresponds with the footfalls and I try to make up more and more complex combinations as I go. I learned the importance of counting, dynamics following the drummer from you and it has helped immeasurably. Great video Sean. Love your rhythm stuff.

[@TheKikoou]

another good point would be to get the rhytm feeling into your body in generel with for example: dancing, tapping your foot to the beat, shaking your head to the beat, snapping your fingers, drumming with your hands on a desk etc. it helped me a lot with the inner rhytm

[@evaderknives]

These days you don't "need" a metronome(though they are recommended), but another solution is to get on KZbin and search for play along drumtracks for guitar... That way, it's not just a click, you are actually playing to someone else... Back when I learned, I had a drummer move in & my playing increased 10 fold, now it's all available online... Hope all is well, take it easy...

[@seandaniel23]

Excellent advice my dude!

[@BlickInStead]

@@seandaniel23 It is excellent advice, but not all of can afford to move a drummer in. They expend a lot of energy and eat a lot.

[@Linnerd]

That’s a great way to improve indeed, it just happens to annoy me because I combine practice with warmup exercises.

[@Deuce_Allan]

Dave Evader Knives Can you pass along a link as an example of a simple drum track for simple beginners rhythm strumming? That would be helpful!

[@evaderknives]

@@Deuce_Allan Only the person whose channel it is can put links in comments, otherwise they get flagged as spam... Just type in easy drum beats for guitar in KZbin search(or any type of drum beat for guitarist).

[@tvsmurphman]

Great lesson.Rhythm is my biggest struggle. More like this please.

[@ruthhancock7665]

I recently purchased a D’Angelico acoustic/electric. Mine is a step below Sean’s, but it is still the finest instrument I have ever owned. Fantastic guitars!

[@dired292]

Wow you have impeccable timing Sean, exactly what I needed right now!

[@seandaniel23]

:)

[@ChrisJetton]

I would usually do a lesson with students where we got some drum sticks and just did rhythm, basic drum parts, and how to count along with the radio in the car. Then I would describe playing as kind of like skateboarding or roller skating. You'll wobble and weave and maybe bounce around, but just keep moving and stay on the board.

[@stevenmonte7397]

I had this video on repeat all day while i drove. For some reason, it made me hear all kinds of bass lines while you played. Drums are my first instrument, but I'm trying to learn guitar now.

[@sillsic]

This is a great lesson, I can see how this will help with aim.

[@ronlight7013]

Thank you, Sean, for gettin' so low down n' real when I most need it. You definitely cut through the "affectation" of guitar study methods with a good dose of the profane. Now, when R U finally gonna get that leather jacket?

[@lbasnuevo]

I needed this!... more rhythm lessons pleeease. Thank you. 👍

[@richwiz2]

There are not enough lessons on strumming techniques and keeping the rhythm on this site, so thank you for this useful lesson, Sean. I enjoy your sense of humor, as well; keep the fine lessons coming

[@TheWayneReport]

1. What's a metronome? 2. What if I can only count to 3? 3. Em is really just.a sad version of the people key of G 4. I ain't got no 4. I can only count to 3 Good lesson and video. Much better than : Down Down Down up Down

[@flugelblarghen]

How is it you know about relative keys but not a metronome or the number 4?

[@TheWayneReport]

Frodo 3/4 is good. It’s makes me want to waltz.... but I can’t waltz,😜

[@TheWayneReport]

flugelblarghen objects in the rear view mirror may be smarter than they appear... but only slightly smarter 😜

[@Rick-b6u]

I misunderstood your last example and have been playing 1 e + a, 2 e + a on E and A strings and the same on the gbe strings using the Em chord. After re-watching this, I now have 5 examples. I do use the metronome at 66bpm.

[@Profous222]

A good teachers are one in a million ; very hard to come by ! People with natural talent don’t need a guitar teacher; People who don’t have a talent but want to learn to play, need to find a teacher that knows how to teach !!!

[@seandaniel23]

You know it!

[@michaelw2108]

I like it, I need to practice 4 levels with my warm ups so I can keep improving and add enjoyment. I keep ignoring to count

[@bradcoukart3127]

Dude you crack me up. You're a really good teacher

[@jodyguilbeaux8225]

the 4/4 time would be 2 and the 4 are whats happening as the drummer plays his snare drum. 3/4 time =beat 2 and 3 on the snare drum= waltz. Then syncopation is finally mixed in, sometimes leaving out beats.

[@eduardswanepoel7060]

I'm not always sure which beats/notes to accentuate when practicing with a metronome. Could you please do a refresher course on how to incorporate a metronome into your practice routine? Thanks!

[@mertgunes9854]

I was just practicing my rhythm and you upload this

[@ceb4382]

Sometimes you just "whiff" on the string set. 10:39 Yup, if they stink, time to change them!

[@dillonhamrick2744]

Like Larry Mitchell once said: If they don’t like the rhythm they won’t stick around for the lead.

[@rizlovedaydream8424]

Thank you so much for made this video. It's helping me so much to understand Rhythm...

[@Oatmeal_Mann]

I like to play the E minor chord with my pinky and ring finger so I can move a bit more easily from E minor to an F major;but that's just me. Great lesson by the way.

[@BibleStorm]

It's good for other chords of the same shape as well. I've got a few songs where it makes sense to do it as you described.

[@CharlieRootsMusic]

I do it also , I rarely use my index finger . Just for full open c and f , other than. That I play the bluegrass way as I call it.

[@davidmacleod9313]

9:40 “Adding and subtracting”?!!!! Now you’re adding math?!!!! (Great lesson! I’ve been playing 50+yrs and still drawn to learning to improve rhythm. Thanks! 😊😊)

[@danny1959]

How dare you, Sir! I shall NEVER stop sucking at rhythm guitar.

[@cyberdevil657]

Thank you so much!! My rhythm got better in 4 minutes =D. You are amazing I'm subscribing.

[@Shineysideup1]

Great lesson. I’ve always known my rhythm was lacking yet I find it difficult to practice on.

[@chewyfingers1288]

I’ve tried the metronome. Due to youthful experimentation in psychedelics my perception of time Yo-yo’s. I tend to fall into the sound of the chords. Best way to explain it.😅

[@kagenotatsumaki]

I can attest to the fact that some people are born with rhythm and some aren't, some how, my Dad has absolutely NO rhythm at all, my Mom has a not great sense of rhythm and yet I've always been great with rhythm. I don't know how the heck that works, but there you go lol

[@georgebentley-ricardo9445]

I really enjoyed this lesson, very useful stuff indeed. Thanks for sharing and keep up the good work 😀👍🎸

[@riffkrusty36]

Thanks.! Easy explanation . Much understanding and will keep me in tempo without thinking. Great simple l! Thanks. Cheers

[@markbrookman8233]

I NEVER count... it's all about FEEL. I'm fortunate in that I can hear a rhythm, and just repeat it.

[@paulnienhaus5359]

Thanks Sean. This was a helpful exercise Paul

[@alfanunplugged]

Great lesson again... Thanks buddy...

[@seandaniel23]

Always happy to help!

[@raffyzoo2130]

dishes are piled up in the sink & i wud like an excuse note because my finger callouses can't get all wet and squishy

[@peterlewis3715]

Very helpful.

[@animemartialartsama3530]

Exactly what I needed today.

[@michaelw2108]

I use counting in my finger warm up on the fret up & down. I need to use this in the strumming part

[@tammieschiller397]

Question please Sean, so for example a fast paced song like take me home country roads, what is the counting for that?

[@sapelesteve]

Great lesson Sean! Even if I can get some rhythm pattern down, my problem is that I can't coordinate changing chords fast enough to be able to play anything musically. Bottom line is that unless one has the built in talent for musical dexterity, they will never be able to become very good at playing an instrument. I am much better at making an Acoustic guitar than playing one and that will have to be good enough for me.

[@seandaniel23]

Have you ever thought about trying an open tuning and playing with a slide? Then you just move it back and forth as compared to changing shapes.

[@sapelesteve]

@@seandaniel23 Not sure what you mean? Maybe you should do a lesson on that subject. Thanks for the response!

[@seandaniel23]

I’m on it!

[@flowerpower555]

I used guitar hero to cheat my strum rhythm and force my strum hand to learn to keep a count, It was the best perk I took from that game I think was the strum rhythm that was transferred

[@waygone6657]

That was helpful, thanks 👍

[@seandaniel23]

Glad to hear it!

[@ULGuitar]

A Rhythm on 2:20 i used to play it 😍😍 now i see the lesson here

[@bad_azz_punk]

Thanks man I really needed this

[@markh.2899]

Great rhythm tutorial - now hand over that guitar!

[@christiedrahnak9059]

Amazing! Thank you so much!!!!

[@NolanGemini94]

Awesome👌 Very helpful.

[@playgtar]

Good news Sean. The Amazon Alexa has a metronome function. That could make things easy for a lot of players.

[@t5o7m]

Tried to follow you and I'm SO glad it ended before you got to "one ee and ah two ee and ah three ee and ah four ee and ah"

[@luckyfamilyman]

Foot tapping to the beat w a metronome until you take the training wheels off (The metronome) and you can tap foot yourself I

[@tammieschiller397]

i lose my rhythm/timing just ever so slightly, do you have a tutorial for playing smoothly and throughout the song and consistently, that's where i think beginner-intermediate players show themselves bc i've applied much of your tutorials for strumming so i think my problem lies in consistently smooth sounding. this tutorial has actually helped with this issue any others?

[@vinodkalabandi6752]

Great video, Expecting more videos on RHYTHM

[@russellford5433]

I'm not blessed with natural rhythm. Can't dance either! The handles along with the different dynamics is a great exercise.

[@ronday4210]

That’s it ✌️

[@danielweini6898]

great video thank you!!

[@runningwithscissors0911]

*sigh* me too! Thanks Sean ~ this really helps.

[@vikassrivastava7180]

One of the most interesting lesson... Hats off to you. Please make a lesson on how to count rhythm in Fingerstyle Guitar playing. Regards and respect from India 🇮🇳. 😊

[@lrave66]

Great stuff . More of how to make playing rhythm guitar more interesting. Thank you

[@Shirgho]

Good lesson, my man.

[@Guitarplayer724]

In the first two minutes, he almost mastered “A Horse With No Name “! 😃

[@HealmBreaker]

Amazing tips sean. I personally feel like I'm not improving much with the beginner stuff and am just going around in circles wrt being able to play songs. I can change chords but am not able to fully play songs yet

[@cardboard316]

Dont worry about this it's because your beginner like me. That's what you've got to do.. just keep going round and round with what you know, adding to it bit by bit, and one day over time youll be an expert. FACT!! Stay musical 🎸

[@HealmBreaker]

@@cardboard316 Yeah buddy, lets just keep at it. 1 2 3 4 , 1 2 3 4 , 1 2 .....

[@cardboard316]

Devilboy that's the 1 mate. When I first started I couldn't sleep in bed without thinking what ever position I was in became a chord. Like if i was on my side with an arm out it was an E, if i lifted my leg it became a G, curl up in a ball was a D, starfish was an F. Luckily it doesn't happen anymore haha

[@HealmBreaker]

cosmic politician lol that’s some commitment you have.

[@Erich560]

Great Video ---- Thaks man

[@kilroywasere6706]

Great info thank you👍😀

[@richlight]

Cool lesson , I can use all the help I can get because I find myself falling in to similar patterns . Any advice on finding new ones without just learning them from other people. More finding them on my own would be preferred . Just go back to counting and feel? I have a hard time wording what I want to say or ask sometimes but hopefully you get what I mean

[@red4life848]

I was told I was a bit out of time I said that's fine but I'll have my time it's fine 👍

[@thomasedsall7699]

Sean, you're killing me with the Em chord!! I really want it to go to C 😂😂

[@andrewmcarthur3843]

Or D!

[@richlight]

Lol that classless E minor chord😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣 sorry couldn't resist

[@nicholasse7enfold]

May I know the what's the exact model of the guitar?

[@toblue7451]

OH< Lord SEAN ! This Is so Me ! ! ! ! ! ! Ol West

[@seandaniel23]

Happy to help!

[@toblue7451]

@@seandaniel23 HAY SEAN ! I'm Going To KEEP This Video & Play IT OVER and Over & Over Until I Pass Away ! ANT Then they Will PLAY This Again at My FUNERAL ! hahahahehe............ Ol West

[@leebraly3904]

Cool video. Thanks for sharing.... where's that dog gone metronome?.

[@danielburford6754]

nice guitar man!

[@richardfromcornwall5492]

Lovely looking guitar. Brilliant video applicable to all levels of player. Can you signpost a video you've produced on strumming with a pick (not strumming patterns) because I'm still catching my pick on the strings - usually on the 'up-strum', please?

[@lyndonchamberlin]

Sounds like how you're holding your pic. Try choking up a little.

[@JustWhyFFS]

"...you'll know that I'm a bit of a savant when it comes to not improving at something, despite years of doing it." Ah, a fellow fuck up. It was getting lonely on this plateau.

[@guidobrunellijr.3]

I'm that guy... thanks I'll work on it. :)

[@siweltap3856]

Awesome titles! My music channel could use some inspiration thanks again for an awesome video!

[@aingmamire913]

Nice guitar

[@danielfort4345]

Very nice

[@SuneHansen1979]

What a beautiful guitar. Which guitar is it?

[@yamraaj4529]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@dbszepesi]

I do suck at rhythm....or I am pretty sure I do so....thanks for this.

[@dinopalangdan4586]

More action

[@dingopes3847]

i like to use metronom when practice ,scales..

[@anthonyhill9414]

The caption is blocking the notes I can't c nothing

[@maxwellhavins8078]

Yo yo homie Sean D. Do you do guitar lessons over skype?

[@nelsonw2096]

Is it just me or is the sound different from the video on this one?

[@mantashaft]

Rocky Racoon

[@mrbigstuff6149]

Yeah you could have shown how to set up that sliding bit in the metronome. Also how not to over wind and brake it.

[@FaithHopeLove77]

can do all that unless I sing :( lol

[@MrAmisto]

In western music then yes down stroke with down beat, African and middle eastern music do not have these limitations.

[@Seltaeb_]

What you don't play is often more important than what you do play

[@thebikehippie6562]

I prefer to count 1 2 1 2 1 2 1 2

[@thebikehippie6562]

Or Scooby do be.. I know, messed up, but it works😀

[@genchonqkoisitam6995]

[@dachba213]

The stupid metronome makes me sleepy

[@Texas1836Band]

A really good lesson but still pretty difficult for us rhythmically challenged white guys . Lol

[@MacKinnon2k13]

I'll hold off salty comments if you do some more rhythm training and possibly incorporating single notes too. Thx.

[@BibleStorm]

Or you could just try not being salty about somebody giving you a free guitar lesson. fuck

[@aidanmccoy5964]

Anyone else find it odd that he focuses so much on accenting the 3, while most simple rhythms accent the 2 and 4? I know this example is more of a country swing feel, but most rhythms are not built around the 1 and 3. He seems to make it seem that way in this video, accents are often 2 and 4 which is kind of the basics of a lot rhythm.