Robs Funk and Junk Podcast Episode 33 _ Let's talk about Rhythm Guitar

In this episode Rob talks about Rhythm Guitar. How important it is and sometimes how overlooked it is.

[@Groovetrapped]

Rob you speak every word that resonates and stuff that I have followed and still follow. There are many good guitar players, fewer rhythm players and even fewer good rhythm guitar players. It's an acquired skill. It's something no one can point there fingers and say that is good, it's a feeling/vibe that a good rhythm guitar player gives to th rhythm section that is worth a million bucks. Love your work. The word that you beautifully use is "Pulse". So correct. Love from Australia

[@raymondboye5946]

Lots of thruth being said. I enjoy listening a lot 🙂

[@Markyboogie]

🎸Playing rhythm in time!⏱️& making it feel good!,Is worth 1000 gigs! So so True!! 🥇Now Thats Gold! 🤜🤛 Thank You Rob!

[@joshjamesuk]

Rock With You! Possibly my favourite song of all time.

[@ehsaannoorani]

Great lesson Rob , great insight and advice :)

[@Clown321321]

Rob, I've been a fan of your work for years and now I'm just learning what a great, sincere person you are. Thanks for letting us in, appreciate it a lot and enjoy your channel a ton! Hope to see you at Jazz Around (last year's edition was great, seems this one might even be better ;) ) Greetings from Warsaw!

[@RobHarrisGuitar]

Thank you for your kind words. Yes indeed , fingers are crossed that we get o to play Jazz Around this year

[@Toneloc-pe5qo]

Hey Rob, completely echo all the positive feedback on here, you’re offering something pretty unique out there and is much appreciated. Titling the episodes as you’ve done here really helps btw!

[@RobHarrisGuitar]

Thank you. Re the titling I’ve just realised that. Noted

[@rockstarjazzcat]

Instantly recognizable, and so good that tune. Wow, touring with Numan must have been a trip. Hats off to you brother. Best, Daniel

[@mickeymarquez]

Hi Rob! Awesome episode, keep them coming, I really enjoyed it, great Job.

[@garrymavin_imotek]

Hi Rob, it was your rhythm playing that landed the Jamiroquai gig. Told you that you would get it 2 days before you even did it ! Still got some old lesson tapes.

[@RobHarrisGuitar]

Hey Gavin. Old lesson tapes..... i may need them to brush up myself . Hope you're well Gavin

[@owncompany8934]

Been doing our soul thing for 10 years now and I have 3 solos in our 35 song playlist, no one has ever mentioned the solos but my 'Nile Rodgers’ thing has been noted and appreciated, as much as I’d love to be a better soloist I get so much more from rhythm. Really enjoying your Funk ‘n Junk, keep up the prattling ……..is that a word 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@RobHarrisGuitar]

Hah,, prattling is a great word. It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing . Thansk for your message

[@stratcat9432]

A rhythm lesson from one of the best in the business! Yes!! 😊

[@RobHarrisGuitar]

Awww bless you. Thank you for your kind words

[@johnstannard6859]

love the podcast Rob!

[@NickGranville]

Alway enjoy your podcasts Rob! You’re a legend mate. And man, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve played rock with you. Rhythm guitar is where it’s at, as you said. Cheers

[@RobHarrisGuitar]

Hey Nick. Thanks dude. Checking out yore stuff too. Great work. Hope you’re well

[@knucklesprayer]

Love your channel man, for sure you are such an inspiration for so many of us, i love funk, love your parts in Jamiroquai and your approach. Also great advice and stories!

[@RobHarrisGuitar]

Thanks for your message. Thanks for watching

[@lucienne66]

I love your channel and your playing, Rob! Would you consider doing a lesson (or lessons) on how to adapt keyboard-based songs to the guitar, assuming you’re not playing with a keyboard player-for example, What You Won’t Do for Love. Also how to adapt songs that have several guitar parts to just one guitar, such as the Motown stuff, and also how you would play songs differently by yourself as opposed to with a band. Like for example, how do you make a rhythm part for Superstition sound cool when you’re just playing it by yourself with no band? Best regards from France.

[@neilhutchison3338]

Great question. It can be quite difficult to adapt keyboard parts for guitar. After all they can play many more notes simultaneously than we can. But the harmonic information can be reduced to a few notes. Rob does this particularly well. Mostly the bass player is playing the root note, so we can leave that out. The 5th of a chord is not that important either. That leaves the 3rd, the 7th, and any upper extensions (9, 11 & 13th). Those notes are really important. Personally I use RipX Deep Remix software where you can isolate each individual note in a chord. I think there may be a trial version.

[@paultjoneill2901]

Solos. You may not think so, but you are amazing at solos. You my friend are a natural😍. You have the the two most important qualities, imagination and heart. You FEEL the part. ps Steve L loved you! I know😁

[@cmm8622]

We love the waffling! Cheers.

[@davidhamill8752]

Brilliant Podcast Rob. Great advice about the importance of rhythm playing and learning the ‘standards’ 👍😀

[@frannyp46]

Great tips and advice here Rob. I think lead playing should have the same approach as rhythm where you have a bunch of information and you distill it down to be less but more effective. I love soloing over non diatonic chords because you can’t jump into your familiar boxes and think music is going to happen. By analysing the chords and singing a melody helps for me. If you can start with a big rough diamond then polish it to a small shiny one. Thanks for the informative lessons.

[@archiewiles5512]

14.40 golden advice mate

[@kingcal53]

Hi Rob, great episode. You're an absolute machine of a player, one of my favorites alongside Chris Buck and Kirk Fletcher. A couple of questions. 1) If you were starting to learn guitar from scratch is there anything you'd do differently? 2) Are there any up-and-coming guitarists you like that we should be keeping an ear out for? I can't even comprehend some of Matteo Mancuso's playing! Thanks, Ian in Reading.

[@user-eg2yg9ig7r]

Just have pleasure to listen to the words of wisdom. At same point i admire you short solos and the rythm plauing ( whish is so robust and precise). anyway , your words about the playing in the band and soloing are so correct. People need the show and general overview. When you play a guitar solo -most probably only the guitar pleayers(not onle funk) and musician ( who plays any instrument) can evaluate this. MUch Love from Russia, Rob!

[@francoislepage8227]

Brilliant, as a lead guitarist since 30 years, I've never experienced such a good explanation on the importance of the rhythm guitar. You're perfectly right: lead guitar do not pay your bill and we are - as guitarists - the only ones who believe that guitar is the most important thing. I will now try to do it simpler, easier and with more melody orientation. Thanks :)

[@robertotrender3414]

Very inspiring thoughts Rob!!

[@nickfitchguitarist]

Hey Rob! Great episode 👍👍

[@RobHarrisGuitar]

Thank you Nick. I will get back to your message by the way

[@paultjoneill2901]

Sounds like Good Times to me 😍

[@doganariz]

What a great lesson🤘🏻🙏🏻

[@davidsmeaton3082]

Another great podcast Rob and absolutely spot on re rhythm playing. With the function band I get a few solos during the night but I share them with a sax player, and she is a lot better looking than I am so, so gets the focus! 😂 You mentioned Get Lucky and it reminded me of the lesson we did at Jonny's place in Spain and how, when there are no keys, you don't just have to play chords all the time.

[@luisfilipevieira-filfil-]

Thanks à lot for your lesson. Amazing 🙏

[@daviewhatley3665]

Enjoy hearing you play

[@DragisaBoca]

"Solo is there to give the signer a break." Damn, profound. :)

[@eraf2135]

The rhythm is what hooks most listeners. The solo is typically in the second half of the song and you've probably already decided if you like/dislike the song well before the solo starts. My toddler completely ignores me when I solo but when I play rythmn she'll start dancing or noding while playing with her toys ❤ It's not a stadium audience but it's the best i got 😅 Great podcast Rob! One of my favourites so far!

[@RobHarrisGuitar]

Hah. Same with my kids when they were young. They love a groove. Thanks for listening :)

[@gimmeagig]

I'm subscribed, but this is the first clip I see of this. And it's already episode 33! What happened?

[@amancalledlimey]

Hit the nail on the head Rob ....!

[@jimknopf0766]

I fully agree, guitar was built from the beginning as a percussive instrument to accompany a singer. Look at flamenco. . Beside lute players in the ancient times. But even there, the "Minnesänger" was the main act, not the guitar. Hendrix was clever: Play maximum loud guitar with big amplifier rigs and sing loud.

[@Juan-ct9rh]

Mr. Harris. I would like to ask about more tutorials for Jamiroquai songs and that there are no tutorials here on KZbin.? main vein and soul education would be very good candidates

[@gimmeagig]

I'm a bass player and I'm lucky. Whenever I play a solo, the singer in the band gives me a big setup. Introduces me and all that.Everybody in the band stops playing and it's just the drummer and me. People don't have a choice, they have to pay attention to what I cook up. All I have to do is make sure I don't suck LOL

[@MaEasy_official]

Thanks! 👽❤🤟

[@chriskarampa]

Thanks for the great podacast Rob! I wanted to ask you what model the guitar you 're playing is. I want to make a budget version of an HSS strat and I think I could use some inspiration.

[@KenithCopeland]

man, those pacificas are looking better and better

[@davidhamill8752]

Hi Rob. Any chance Trioniq would head for Dublin? ✌️

[@ConstantinoOfficial]

What guitar is that?

[@neilhutchison3338]

Hear hear. I don’t want to be unkind here, but most of the guitar players that I know don’t have good rhythm chops, and sometimes can’t even play in time. So-called bedroom guitarists spend way too much time on lead playing imo. I’m lucky enough to have been playing with a Jazz/Funk band for the last 20+ years and I love playing rhythm guitar. I’m not a great soloist but tbh when you’re playing with good musicians (particularly keys, Sax & trombone) you don’t really need to be. I think of myself as part of the rhythm section.